Five Ways to Look More Professional at Work

photo credit: Emerson Fry

Perception is reality, especially when it comes to your image at the workplace. It's important to always look your best because you never know who you're going to meet. Here are five simple ways to look more professional at work. 

1. Makeup – it’s important to look “put together” at the office and one way to pull off this look every morning is to apply a light makeup; basic foundation, blush, mascara and lipstick/lip gloss. When you go to work without makeup, women tend to look a little tired or what people use to ask me, “are you sick?” I don’t think you have to wear a lot of makeup to look professional, but I do think you have to look like you got up early and spent time getting ready in the morning. On the other hand, don’t overdo your makeup. Try and limit the amount of eye liner, eye shadow and lipstick when getting ready for work.  

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2. Hair – A women’s hair is more important to looking professional, than one would think. Do you ever wonder why news women always have short straight hair? Because it looks professional and it’s not distracting to the viewer. If you’re running short on time in the morning and you have a rubber band crease in your hair, opt for a soft bun, sock bun or try something new like this style.  I often use dry shampoo throughout the work week. It gives my hair a little lift and refreshes my hair. If you don’t have dry shampoo, lightly apply baby power to your palms and use throughout your hair. Here’s a tutorial.  

Oh yes, and never go to the office with your hair, wet or damp. That basically tells everyone in the office, “I overslept this morning and only had 15 minutes to get ready. You’re lucky I even showed up today.”  

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3. Clothes – Wearing clothes that fit you properly are important for your professional imagine because it tells people that you’re important. It’s rare that you see Executives in oversized suits. Yes, they probably have a little more disposable income to spend on an expensive suit, but you can look just as presentable with proper alteration. It pays to spend $15-$30 for alteration on pants, jackets and dresses. A great resource on how to get your clothes to fit properly is Alternations Needed, by Kelly. Her outfits are always fitted perfectly and it shows that it pays to spend a few extra bucks to get the perfect fit. 

Along with getting your clothes tailor, make sure your clothes are ironed and static free. If you think a shirt is too wrinkled, don’t wear it to work. Working in a corporate office, I rarely see people with wrinkled suits. So just remember, if you notice, so will the people who might potentially hire you in the future.

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4. Shoes – Find a cobbler and make them your best friend. If your shoes start to scuff or the heels start to wear down, get them cleaned and re-heeled.   It generally costs $10-$15. It will be worth getting a facelift for your favorite work shoe. You can also invest in a shoe sponge, I have one near my closet and use it on a weekly basis. You’d be surprised how often people pay attention to your shoes, especially in the corporate world. So if you ever wonder why those men stop and get their shoes shined at the airport and mall, it’s important for their image to have a clean and shinny shoe.

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5. Bags – Limit the handbags you take into the office. Living in NYC, I see a lot of women walking around with 3-4 bags. I understand that before and after work you have a million things to do. But if you walk into the office with 3-4 bags every single day and your boss or your “future boss” sees you, they’ll  start to question your organization skills. If you must bring a bunch of bags to work, try going into the office early and try to beat everyone to the office. If you go to the gym in the morning, rent a locker to alleviate taking another bag to work.