Today’s Wall Street Journal, Personal Journal, has an interesting article entitled “Want to Be CEO?  You Have to Dress the Part,” by Christina Binkley.  As Binkley explains, smart dressing in job interviews and at the office can be a real minefield, given the wide range of differing corporate cultures.  A pinstriped suit, white collared shirt, and dark tie may not work well in a company with a casual culture, like Google.  Likewise, donning your favorite pair of jeans and sneakers may be frowned upon in a traditional law firm.  For job interviews, Binkley recommends calling the hiring manager’s assistant or the recruiter to ask about the appropriate look before showing up for an interview.   

 For women, Binkley cites the following looks as no-nos:

• Tight shirts
• Low necklines
• Dangling earrings
• I would add short miniskirt, halter top, and fishnet stockings to the list (Believe it or not, I’ve seen all three at my workplace).

For men, it’s:

• untucked or wrinkled shirts
• digital sports watches
• drooping socks
• I would add here BELT (To avoid other co-workers getting an eyefull more than they bargained for).

Other advice in the article by Business-etiquette consultant Anne Marie Sabath include:

• A maximum of three accessories for men, like a watch or wedding ring
• ironed shirts at all times
• This is a classic: dress for the position you are seeking, not the one you are currently in.

Some people might think merit should trump appearance.  But the bottom line is that appearance does matter, not only in an office setting or job interview, but also in self-employment situations.  You command more respect and you gain more credibility if you are appropriately dressed.  My husband used to wear sneakers, shorts in the summer, and untucked shirts at his workplace, which has a casual dress code.  However, when he was promoted to a management position at his high-tech company, he immediately began wear slacks, tucked-in shirts, and real shoes (i.e., no sneakers).  Not only does he look and feel more professional, he feels that he commands more authority by dressing the part.  Personally, I would have liked him to dress that way before he got the promotion, but better late than never.

 My office has a corporate casual culture, but many of the women do wear suits to work.  Although I used to never wear suits unless we were meeting with outside parties, I realize that the suit does convey a sense of power and authority.  I also find that it is easier to put on a suit, instead of trying to match a regular blouse and slacks.  It’s actually kind of like a uniform, which I don’t mind.  When you’re just trying to get out of the house in the morning, one less thing to worry about is a good thing.