How to look high-end at work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this situation, OP, it sounds like you need to find a stylist to help you put together a few outfits and give you tips for buying in the future.

Agreed. This is way too open ended of a question.

Agreed. Really hard to give advice if you think you're starting at zero.

[Anonymous]

1. Think classic, well made, proper fitting clothing. Ex: Brooks Brothers, Pendleton, Talbots. Invest in some basic pieces that you can build upon.
2. Choose color palettes that look good on you, but as a general rule pick black and/or navy as your basic colors and work off of them. Get a nice black/navy 3 piece suit (jacket, skirt, pants). Add in some silk blend tops and non iron button downs in colors that look nice on you. Don’t go for a lot of colors though. No patterns except maybe one or two here and there.
3. Get a couple of twinsets that you can wear with a black/navy skirt/pants.
4. Good haircut, smooth, shiny hair regardless of color.
5. Nice, subtle makeup. Go to a makeup counter for help.
6. Some good quality, simple pieces of jewelry. Better to
Wear the same pearl earrings everyday and have them look nice than cheap jewelry.
7. Buy some good shoes and a nice bag. You’re going to have to spend $ here. Don’t skimp. Think Ferragamo.

[Anonymous]

OP, maybe you look just fine. After all, you got the promotion looking exactly like you look today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, maybe you look just fine. After all, you got the promotion looking exactly like you look today.

+1

Women get mad they are judged on looks but then obsess about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blonde hair. Fresh manicure. Well fitting clothes. 3 inch heels. Size 8 or smaller.

This is me 100% and I disagree with you on the blonde. I am naturally blonde and I do not advocate going blonde unless you are already very light. Shiny dark hair is beautiful and women with dark hair rarely have the coloring to pull of blonde. It can also end up looking very fake and cheap.

Maybe you don’t have face that goes with it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Think classic, well made, proper fitting clothing. Ex: Brooks Brothers, Pendleton, Talbots. Invest in some basic pieces that you can build upon.
2. Choose color palettes that look good on you, but as a general rule pick black and/or navy as your basic colors and work off of them. Get a nice black/navy 3 piece suit (jacket, skirt, pants). Add in some silk blend tops and non iron button downs in colors that look nice on you. Don’t go for a lot of colors though. No patterns except maybe one or two here and there.
3. Get a couple of twinsets that you can wear with a black/navy skirt/pants.
4. Good haircut, smooth, shiny hair regardless of color.
5. Nice, subtle makeup. Go to a makeup counter for help.
6. Some good quality, simple pieces of jewelry. Better to
Wear the same pearl earrings everyday and have them look nice than cheap jewelry.
7. Buy some good shoes and a nice bag. You’re going to have to spend $ here. Don’t skimp. Think Ferragamo.

This is not what I see the successful women wearing at my work (big company). They tend to have a more stylish, contemporary look -- lots of color, pretty body conscious suits, statement jewelry.

[Anonymous]

If you were going to buy a $400 dress and $500 shoes, it would be more effective to buy a $200 dress, $50 shoes and spend the rest on blow outs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blonde hair. Fresh manicure. Well fitting clothes. 3 inch heels. Size 8 or smaller.

Does the blonde advice apply to women of color as well, or should we assume that there's no way we can look in-charge/"high-end"/polished

Lol no. White woman here and I feel the opposite about blonde hair on people who aren’t Scandinavian. I think it looks trashy past your early 30s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blonde hair. Fresh manicure. Well fitting clothes. 3 inch heels. Size 2 or smaller.

Fixed that for you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Think classic, well made, proper fitting clothing. Ex: Brooks Brothers, Pendleton, Talbots. Invest in some basic pieces that you can build upon.
2. Choose color palettes that look good on you, but as a general rule pick black and/or navy as your basic colors and work off of them. Get a nice black/navy 3 piece suit (jacket, skirt, pants). Add in some silk blend tops and non iron button downs in colors that look nice on you. Don’t go for a lot of colors though. No patterns except maybe one or two here and there.
3. Get a couple of twinsets that you can wear with a black/navy skirt/pants.
4. Good haircut, smooth, shiny hair regardless of color.
5. Nice, subtle makeup. Go to a makeup counter for help.
6. Some good quality, simple pieces of jewelry. Better to
Wear the same pearl earrings everyday and have them look nice than cheap jewelry.
7. Buy some good shoes and a nice bag. You’re going to have to spend $ here. Don’t skimp. Think Ferragamo.

This is not what I see the successful women wearing at my work (big company). They tend to have a more stylish, contemporary look -- lots of color, pretty body conscious suits, statement jewelry.

+1!!! Looking out together does not have to mean boring! Color can be work in a very professional way. Lots of women in my office wear high end statement pieces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:C-suite office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Think classic, well made, proper fitting clothing. Ex: Brooks Brothers, Pendleton, Talbots. Invest in some basic pieces that you can build upon.
2. Choose color palettes that look good on you, but as a general rule pick black and/or navy as your basic colors and work off of them. Get a nice black/navy 3 piece suit (jacket, skirt, pants). Add in some silk blend tops and non iron button downs in colors that look nice on you. Don’t go for a lot of colors though. No patterns except maybe one or two here and there.
3. Get a couple of twinsets that you can wear with a black/navy skirt/pants.
4. Good haircut, smooth, shiny hair regardless of color.
5. Nice, subtle makeup. Go to a makeup counter for help.
6. Some good quality, simple pieces of jewelry. Better to
Wear the same pearl earrings everyday and have them look nice than cheap jewelry.
7. Buy some good shoes and a nice bag. You’re going to have to spend $ here. Don’t skimp. Think Ferragamo.

How old are you, OP? This look above might work for some but I feel like it's for 60+ women (with apologies to all the stylish 60+ women I know). This list could have been drafted 30 years ago. Fashion has moved on, even for professional women. I'm a lawyer and I never dress like this. It's hard to advise because we don't know anything about your size, shape, age, profession, and also what you like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Think classic, well made, proper fitting clothing. Ex: Brooks Brothers, Pendleton, Talbots. Invest in some basic pieces that you can build upon.
2. Choose color palettes that look good on you, but as a general rule pick black and/or navy as your basic colors and work off of them. Get a nice black/navy 3 piece suit (jacket, skirt, pants). Add in some silk blend tops and non iron button downs in colors that look nice on you. Don’t go for a lot of colors though. No patterns except maybe one or two here and there.
3. Get a couple of twinsets that you can wear with a black/navy skirt/pants.
4. Good haircut, smooth, shiny hair regardless of color.
5. Nice, subtle makeup. Go to a makeup counter for help.
6. Some good quality, simple pieces of jewelry. Better to
Wear the same pearl earrings everyday and have them look nice than cheap jewelry.
7. Buy some good shoes and a nice bag. You’re going to have to spend $ here. Don’t skimp. Think Ferragamo.

How old are you, OP? This look above might work for some but I feel like it's for 60+ women (with apologies to all the stylish 60+ women I know). This list could have been drafted 30 years ago. Fashion has moved on, even for professional women. I'm a lawyer and I never dress like this. It's hard to advise because we don't know anything about your size, shape, age, profession, and also what you like.

I recommend striking the twinsets and the pearls; they are so dated and old lady looking. High ranking women can be much more edgy these days. If you watch youtube I think Dominique Sachse is a good example of a stylish powerful woman. She spends big bucks to look so good though, so be warned!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Think classic, well made, proper fitting clothing. Ex: Brooks Brothers, Pendleton, Talbots. Invest in some basic pieces that you can build upon.
2. Choose color palettes that look good on you, but as a general rule pick black and/or navy as your basic colors and work off of them. Get a nice black/navy 3 piece suit (jacket, skirt, pants). Add in some silk blend tops and non iron button downs in colors that look nice on you. Don’t go for a lot of colors though. No patterns except maybe one or two here and there.
3. Get a couple of twinsets that you can wear with a black/navy skirt/pants.
4. Good haircut, smooth, shiny hair regardless of color.
5. Nice, subtle makeup. Go to a makeup counter for help.
6. Some good quality, simple pieces of jewelry. Better to
Wear the same pearl earrings everyday and have them look nice than cheap jewelry.
7. Buy some good shoes and a nice bag. You’re going to have to spend $ here. Don’t skimp. Think Ferragamo.

How old are you, OP? This look above might work for some but I feel like it's for 60+ women (with apologies to all the stylish 60+ women I know). This list could have been drafted 30 years ago. Fashion has moved on, even for professional women. I'm a lawyer and I never dress like this. It's hard to advise because we don't know anything about your size, shape, age, profession, and also what you like.

Then, what would you add or change about what the PP shared?

Many years ago, I was at a think tank where there were only two tiers: admin and scholars. I had to change my look over a weekend, when I realized that my look was more "admin" (whatever that meant at the time) than "scholar." I only bought a few pieces, followed the PP's general advice, and finished out my year there. The staff was amazing and resourceful. It was not an insult to be mistaken for an administrator, it's just that I would miss out on invitations to presentations or collaborative work. Once I had my sling backs and sheath dress, I started being taken a lot more seriously.

I'm now a Consultant, wearing leggings and a tunic-length t-shirt while teleworking.

[Anonymous]

It largely depends on age, position, and profession..

But the most elegant and professional woman I have ever known was early 40s, CEO, and wore the following every day:

-Dark suit, no shell
-large pearls; always earrings, sometimes a short necklace too. Occasionally earrings of yellow gold close to lobes, no necklace
-Great volumous blow out to hair
-Pumps

Hope Hicks did a fabulous younger version of this look with navy suit/dress she wore for the hearing near the time she resigned