Dress for Success: Tips from Women In Business

As women transition from students with a passion for business to young women in the workforce, our wardrobe morphs with us. Often, we think that at a certain age or with a certain career there are aspects of fashion that we need to give up, such as bright colours, short lengths, intricate patterns and textures, and the list goes on. However, after hearing from the three guest speakers at Dress for Success: Thuy Nguyen, Sierra McNeill, and the keynote speaker Veronika van Wollen, the common misconceptions of fashion in the workplace were torn to shreds. 

Thuy Nguyen, the Founder (She-EO) of Boss Babe Lashes, explained how her fashion sense and beauty is a reflection of how she feels about herself and her confidence level. Nguyen explained how often women rely on clothes and makeup and to give us confidence when in reality our inner confidence is what makes the clothes and makeup look good! Nguyen stunned the audience in her dark-toned floral blazer layered over a little black dress. The outfit was a perfect testament to Thuy’s message: Do not be afraid of patterns, textures, and most importantly statement pieces. 

Although Sierra McNeill’s expertise is directed towards male suits, her tips on choosing the perfect fit and professional patterns are valid for both men and women. McNeill’s experience and education with suits shone bright in her presentation as she explained the importance of fit; not too tight, but not baggy. How do we know the best fit for a blazer? Well, as McNeill explained, one must be able to cross both arms over each other without restriction, however, when one’s arms are relaxed there should not be more than 3 inches of extra fabric in the back. Oversized blazers are in style, yet a well-fitted blazer is ideal for a professional work environment.

As for the keynote speaker, the Vice President of Sales for Market One Media Group, Veronika van Wollen spoke about the importance of maintaining uniqueness and personal style whilst still dressing professional. For Veronika, working in a very corporate environment means playing with colours and textures, rather than cuts and lengths. Her full pink suit showed off her love for monochrome outfits while simultaneously maintaining very professional attire. Veronika explained that no matter the occasion she will always match the dress code with a touch of personality to make her feel confident, sexy, and powerful. It is critical to embody the culture of the office/company yet, to still always maintain one’s individuality, you do not have to wear black everyday!

Overall, the powerful women who presented at Dress for Success allowed each young woman in business the opportunity to understand how to dress professionally while still promoting inner beauty, confidence, and individuality. Clothes are not meant to disguise who we are, rather they are meant to express our true selves.