Dress to Impress!

1. Dress to Impress! What does a real pro look like? What is appropriate dress for State Leadership Conference or business interviews? Kendra Harders, State Secretary Richard Chen, State Parliamentarian

2. The Importance of Dress • First impressions are critical • Start with a positive impression rather than a negative one • Dress is the first thing an employer or your peers see when greeting you • Dressing properly gives you the competitive edge • Dressing properly provides a positive first impression

3. Grooming • Hair: • Clean, neatly trimmed, well groomed • Doesn’t need to be a fashion statement • Fingernails: clean and trimmed • Perfume/cologne: wear minimal to none

4. Accessories • Jewelry: keep to a minimum; no flashy jewelry • No more than one pair or earrings • No more than two finger rings • One watch or bracelet to avoid looking over-dressed • Wear stockings that match the suit you are wearing • Absolutely no visible piercing for men

5. Dress Shirts • Long sleeved dress shirts make a better impression than short sleeved • Conservative colors • Solid white or light blue work best • No flashy colors

6. Ties • Silk ties project the best look • Conservative patterns • Stripes, solid • The color of the tie needs to complement the color of the shirt

7. Shoes and Belts • Dress shoes should be worn for all business occasions • Shoes need to match the color of your pants • Cordovan shoes match with all khakis • Belt needs to match the color of the shoes • Medium quality belt, but it needs to look nice

8. Business AttirePerformance Event Attire for Women • Matching suit jacket and knee length (or longer) skirt or pants • Conservative colors: navy, black, gray, brown, etc. • No open-toed shoes • 1 – 1 ½” heels are standard • Always wear hose

9. Business AttirePerformance Event Attire for Men • Dark-colored suit • Charcoal, black, dark brown, or navy • Suits should have 2 to 3 front buttons • Leave the bottom button unbuttoned • Suit should fit • Sleeves and pant legs should not be too long or too short • Nice collared, long sleeve, buttoned down dress shirt • About one inch of the shirt sleeve should show below the jacket sleeve when arms are extended

10. Casual BusinessSLC Test Taking Attire Women • Dress shirt/blouse • Dress slacks, khakis or trousers • Non-athletic socks and shoes • Knee-length or longer dresses/skirts • Suit jacket (optional) Men • Long sleeved, buttoned down, and collared dress shirt • Ties • Dress slacks, khakis or trousers • Non-athletic socks and shoes • Suit jacket (optional)

11. Casual/SLC Dance Attire • Don’t wear anything you want; trying out the new fashion trend is risky • Conservative dress • You may wear jeans if you donate to the FBLA Special Fund; otherwise khakis or khaki shorts are acceptable • Jeans should not have holes or rips • Nice T-shirt or a polo-style shirt • Athletic shoes and socks or sandals are appropriate

12. General Tips for Dress Success • Conservative is always the safest route • Investigate the employer or group where you are presenting • Wear an attire that would allow you to fit inwith the group • Call the human resources office of the business where you are interviewing and ask about the dress attire