20 Oct Anatomy of an … Appropriate Workplace Outfit

Workplaces these days are more open than they used to be, which gives women many more options for dressing professionally—and with flair. That said, unless you are Mark Zuckerberg, there are still rules, if unwritten. 
These head-to-toe guidelines from expert Eunice Liriano can help you blend personal style and professional image.

NECK AND EARS, ARM AND HAND
(re: jewelry)
If you adore big, bold jewelry but work in a conservative setting, make your statement with a ring or bracelet. Big, flashy earrings and necklaces, because they’re near your face, can be distracting.

BUST
(re: cleavage)
“I don’t think cleavage is ever acceptable in the workplace,” says Liriano. “Leave it for after five.” If you’re big busted and it’s hard not to show cleavage, you might wear a simple camisole for coverage.

TORSO
(re: overall outfit choice)
Find ways to express yourself within the norms of your workplace. “I’m not a suit girl,” says Liriano. 
“So when I worked in a corporate environment, I’d wear a knee-length sheath and add a beautiful cardigan in a different color. It was still corporate, but very much me.”

AIR AROUND YOU
(re: perfume)
Try using a scented lotion instead of perfume. You can still wear the fragrance you love, but in a way less likely to overpower your coworkers.

SKIRT
(re: length)
Short skirts are acceptable—within reason. But if you can’t bend over to pick up a pen without showing the world more than anybody should see at work, then yours is too short.

HEELS
(re: height)
If you’re petite, you may feel more confident in three- or four-inch heels. Just make sure you can move with ease. As Liriano says, “If you’re wobbling into a meeting, clearly you’re not wearing the right shoes.”