Kim Johnson Gross - Chic Simple Dress Smart Women: Wardrobes That Win in the New Workplace

Text by Kristina Zimbalist

Photographs by David Bashaw

Set Stylist Renee Yan

Editorial Consultant Matthew Mol

Copyright 2002 by Chic Simple Ltd.

All rights reserved.

Hachette Book Group, 237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Visit Chic Simple at www.HachetteBookGroup.com

First eBook Edition: September 2002

ISBN: 978-0-446-55369-8

The Warner Books name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

DO YOU DRESS SMART?

You only have seven seconds to make an impression. Clothes make the differencedress smart.

CHIC SIMPLE is a primer for living well but sensibly. Its for those who believe that quality of life comes not from accumulating things but in paring down to the essentials. Chic Simple enables readers to bring value and style into their lives with economy and simplicity.

It is possible through the skillful manipulation of dress in any particular situation to evoke a favorable response to your positioning and your needs.

JOHN T. MOLLOY
New Dress for Success

Dear Reader,

To paraphrase John T. Molloypeople do judge a book by its cover. Right or wrong, its the real world. Dressing appropriately in todays workplace is essential. Your clothes are the first impression you make whether on a job interview, representing your firm to a new client, or making a presentation within your company. Bottom line: You should always dress for the job you want, and for your professional goals.

But today the simple act of dressing can be confusing. Mistakes can be costly not only to your budget, but to your career. Dress Smart offers practical guidelines and sound, simple advice to help you determine your best professional wardrobe.

This book has been culled from our own experience as consultants, but in these pages we also share the personal experiences and advice of successful women in a variety of industries who discuss the importance clothes have had in their careers. And throughout Dress Smart we answer questions we receive daily on the Chic Simple web site (www.chicsimple.com) from women around the country who are plagued with real work wear questions.

We feel that the two Dress Smart books (weve also written a companion to this book, Dress SmartMen) are the most important of the 25 Chic Simple titles we have published over the last 10 years. Why? Because Dress Smart will give you the confidence that accompanies dressing appropriately and with authority. Whether you want to get a job, be a success at your present job, or get a better jobDress Smart is the first crucial step because small investments in your wardrobe lead to large payoffs in your career. Dont hesitate to invest in yourself.

Now go get dressed.

Kim and jeff

The more you know, the less you need.

AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL SAYING

HOW TO use this book

Its broken into the three major aspects of your work life/career:

1. GET JOB (hard to work without one)

2. SUCCEED IN JOB (good idea)

3. GET BETTER JOB (better is better)

At each stage, Dress Smart reviews the issues you should be aware of, concrete ways to convert the ideas into clothes, and examples of how to work those clothes into everyday life. We use the image guides to do the translating; each critical stage ends with a sample closet.

1. GET JOB. If you are leaving college and going out into the job market, if you are reentering the job market after a mommy track interval, or maybe you just decided to get serious about the whole job/career thing and want to shoot for something different, this is the section for you. The principles are the same no matter which circumstance describes you.

2. SUCCEED IN JOB. Youve decided that work is a significant part of your life. You are serious about taking it to the next stage and you want never to worry about whether you look appropriate or not. No matter the moment or opportunity, your clothes should be a secret asset.

3. GET BETTER JOB. Great, you did it, achieved a major position. Now what? For years, men have dressed for leadership, from military uniforms to power suits. Now its your turn. You go, girl, and Dress Smart will show you how. Its easy: Turn the pages, read, look, and think about what you want your clothes to say about you.

SEXPOT SEEKING SUITABLE POSITION

Dear Kim and jeff,

I am interviewing for an advertising position and am considering wearing a more modern outfit than a traditional suit. Because it is advertising, I want to show some spunk and creativity. My suit is black, and I wear an ivory blouse and two-inch pumps with it. Instead, I am considering a black silk suit with pinstripes, a very short skirt, a lace camisole, textured black hose, and black three-inch sling backs. Any thoughts?

Sling Back Curious

Dear Sling Back Curious,

Creativity doesnt mean sexy. A very short skirt, lacy camisole, textured hose, and three-inch sling backs will get in the way of your message. A male interviewer may be uncomfortable with your appearance, and a female may be annoyed. To show your individuality, wear your black suit and add a decorative pin, necklace, or scarf, or replace the ivory shirt with one in an interesting print. The sling backs will work with nude or sheer black hosiery. The goal is to look professional, not like youre going on a date.