How To Impress In Casual Dress
Collegestudents need to accept the fact that when they are trying to make an impression on prospective employers, professors or basically anyone outside of their dorm there are a few simple things to consider in order to be taken seriously.
The main thing to keep in mind as you move beyond lecture halls and frat parties is to leave athletic clothing behind unless you are actually working out. Consider the time of day and the location that you are dressing for. Mornings and early afternoons are generally more casual and the later you go out, the more formally you should dress. If you want to play it down, that’s fine – pair a casual top with dress pants or a dressier shirt with (non-ripped) jeans.
Once you’ve graduated and found your first career job, every day matters when it comes to how you dress. Even very casual work environments require that you show respect for yourself and others; dressing well is a good way to start. Shine (or repair) your shoes, iron your slacks and always have clean hair. Remember to present yourself professionally and not as if you are on your way to a bar or a sporting event. Retail stores are full of budget-friendly attire so you don’t have to break your budget as you build your career wardrobe.
Going out. Dress appropriately for every different event. Even going to a burger joint warrants some thought as to how you are dressed. Leave the over-ripped jeans for cleaning your house and show a little style when you eat at a restaurant. When you attend a party, show your host that you appreciate being included and show up in an unwrinkled, well put-together outfit that includes accessories and wraps in case the weather cools down after dark. When going to a wedding, let the time of day of the ceremony dictate how formally you and your date should dress. If the reception is in a ballroom, is there really any doubt as to how formally you should dress? A beach reception, of course, calls for more casual dress but still it is an important event in the life of someone you care about.
Unless you’re laying low and staying home, you should continue to put some effort into your weekend attire as well. While it’s become commonplace to shoot off to the supermarket in yoga pants and ball caps, consider upping your game whenever possible. You just don’t know who you’ll run into, right? Even one nice accessory can take you from rumpled to ready.
Take a good look at some magazines or catalogs and decide what kind of dresser you want to be as your life after college takes off. While it’s never too late to reinvent yourself, heading out into the adult world is a great place to start.
Marjorie Jones has writtten more than 200 articles on subjects which include online degrees for learning disabled adults and financial aid for online college graduate study.