Professional Dress, "Business Formal"!
Developing your professional image is a MUST as you progress throughout college. You’ll have interviews for internships and jobs, etiquette dinners, brunches, lunches, dinners, and all kinds of events where you’ll need to present yourself in business style attire! Of course, this isn’t really something we were taught in high school. Who really knows the difference between business casual, business formal, and dress casual? Well, you’re about to find out how to dress to impress and be confident knowing you're dressed for the right event!
This post is all about "How to Dress Business Formal".
Business formal is a style you’ll mostly wear for very “dressy” events, important ceremonies such as graduation and public promotions, very professional interviews and meetings, and anything else that calls for it! This style typically incorporates a business suit of a matching color such as greys, blacks, or navys. (the darker the suit, the more formal!!)
For men:
A button up collared shirt (keep the shirt color simple), with a jacket (highly encouraged, but not mandatory) and pants of the same color, a tie (this can either be bold colored or a simple color), dark colored socks and shoes matching the ensemble.
*You can add a pocket square into your jacket, or cuff-links to add some accessory, and be sure to keep cologne scents to a minimum; you don’t want to distract from your appearance!
For women:
A dress pant or dress skirt with a matching jacket (highly encouraged, but not mandatory) in colors like greys, navys, and blacks, underneath the jacket you can wear a button up blouse, dress material shirt, or collared shirt (just be sure it doesn’t hang below your suit jacket). Your shoes can vary depending on your outfit; professional heels, ballet flats, and certain styles of boots are acceptable. Makeup should be used minimally to present your best possible natural/business look.
*Perfumes can be distracting in business formal settings, so be cautious when applying them. Jewelry should accent your wardrobe, not BE the wardrobe; simple jewelry works best and keeps the ensemble professional.
The main goal of business formal is to be neat, pressed, and presentable!
