A dress can be an appropriate and comfortable choice for your office wardrobe, if done correctly. Follow these guidelines when shopping for dresses to wear to work
Start with the Basics
- Look for a dress that is knee-length or slightly below the knee. A shorter dress will look provocative and inappropriate for work, while a longer one will likely appear matronly and unprofessional.
- Choose a solid-colored dress or one with a fairly conservative pattern. Good colors are black, white, neutrals, grays, blues. A very brightly colored dress or an elaborate pattern, for example, might be too eye-catching for the office.
Make the Dress Work
- Pay attention to the top half of the dress. You may be faced with some problems here. A lot of cute dresses are either too exposing in the chest area or are halter tops. While these dresses may be great for a summer party, they are definitely inappropriate for the office.
- Simple clothing items that can transform these dresses from party to office are the camisole, the shrug, and the jacket. Not only will these items cover you skin, but they will give the dress the casual look you are aiming for.
Accessorize Wisely
- Keep your jewelry simple, small, and minimal. Too much jewelry worn with a dress will make you look like you're dressed up for a wedding reception, rather than work. It may also be distracting, especially if your work involves contact with clients. For example, don't wear chandelier earrings or a large set of bangles.
- As with jewelry, keep your shoes simple and professional looking, not flashy. Examples of shoes that work are mary-janes, flats, peep-toes, pointy-toes, closed-toes. Bad choices are sandals, athletic shoes, or special occasion shoes.
A well-chosen dress can be more flattering than the usual pants and shirt combination for the office. It can hide more flaws, while looking feminine and chic. Dresses cinched in at the waist and empire-waist dresses (line is raised above the waist) are great choices for most body types because they create the illusion of flattering feminine proportions. Shirt-dresses are also a workable option. Look for a dress that fits your body well. Remember that your aim is to look polished and casual.
