Power Dressing for Women in Business [Photo Courtesy: CNBC Squawk Box]

Power Dressing for Women in Business [Photo Courtesy: CNBC Squawk Box]

When I began my professional career in the early 1980s, women were very concerned about presenting a professional image. The women’s movement of the 1970s propelled us into professional positions such as engineering, finance, computer science, and business. It was very common to walk into a meeting and be the only woman in the meeting. We knew that when men looked at us, they didn’t see us as engineers, computer scientists, financial analysts, doctors and lawyers. We knew they viewed us a secretaries, maids, cooks, coffee-getters, and conquests. Therefore, it was critical that we present ourselves in a professional manner. I sought information on “career success for women” from books, magazines, newsletters, seminars, and videos. What I learned was that men are very visual, and first impressions set the tone for the encounter. When a man first lays eyes on you, he evaluates you and makes an assessment. He sizes you up. Remember the old adage, “you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.” Therefore, we knew it was critical for us to present a business-like, professional image and to act in a business-like, professional manner. What a woman wears, and how she wears it is part of her image. How a woman wears her hair is part of her image. How a woman wears her make-up and how much make she wears is part of her image. It is unfortunate that women have to take all of these external precautions into consideration when preparing for work, business meetings, conferences, etc. But it is still a man’s world, period. Women must adjust, accordingly …

What to Wear

  1. Blazers (to cover chest and hips)
  2. Slacks (to cover legs)
  3. Shoe Heels No Higher than 1″ – 2″ (6″ spike heels make men think of one thing)
  4. Button Up Blouses w/ Collar
  5. Scarf to Camouflage  Chest
  6. Minimal Make-Up

What Not to Wear

  1. Low-cut blouses or dresses
  2. Tight blouses, sweaters, dresses or pants
  3. Short dresses (hemline above the knee)
  4. Shoes with heels higher than 2 inches

Hair

Young women may not realize it, but hair is a turn-on for men, particularly long hair. When a man looks at a woman who has long, flowing hair, he wants to run his fingers through it. When I was working for a man who was 10 years younger than me, he actually touched my hair while I was showing him a document on my computer screen. I was sitting in a chair, and my back was toward him, so I did not see what he was about to do, and I decided not to react. I stood up and removed myself from the situation by saying I needed to use the restroom! My advice to women who want to keep their hair from becoming a distraction, they should:

  1. Wear hair short, i.e., shoulder length or above
  2. Pin hair back
  3. Put hair up
  4. No glittery objects in hair
  5. No bright hair colors such as pink, purple, red, orange, green

Breasts

A man cannot concentrate on anything you say if he is looking at your breasts. The frontal lobe of a man’s brain shuts down when he is looking at your body parts, therefore do everything you can to cover them up.

  1. Never ever show your cleavage.
  2. Make sure your nipples are not showing through your clothes.
  3. It doesn’t matter what size your breasts are — cover or camouflage them with a jacket/blazer or scarf.

Wrap-Up

I know it’s not fair that a woman has to take all of these precautionary measures to be perceived and treated in a professional manner. But like my Auntie M says — it is what it is … You must play the hand you are dealt.

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