Outfit Inspiration for Different Careers

Have you been feeling in an outfit rut? Tired of wearing the same thing every week? Is what you wear the last thing on your mind but also the first thing to stress about in the morning? I’ve got you! Whether you’re a banker, lawyer, tech guru or marketing whiz, I have some ideas to refresh your look.

When you’re climbing the corporate ladder, the last thing on your mind is what you’re wearing. In between meetings with the C-Suite and managing teams, you don’t have time to ponder on if this scarf goes with your shoes, or you may not even have time to accessorize at all. But as your image is your visual resume, we should definitely make sure you look the part. My solution? Easy-to-follow formulas that you can recycle with different items in your wardrobe!

You might be asking yourself if there is really a difference in how someone should dress if they work in PR or tech. That’s a valid question, and the answer is yes! As the old adage says, “dress for the job you want”. If you want to work as a lawyer, you need to dress to the nines and channel your inner corporate girlboss. If you want to work in tech, you need to dress more casual (yet professional) to fit in the tech/ start up culture. Every industry has a spoken and sometimes unspoken dress code. Once you understand the environment, your role within and most importantly your ambitions, then we can create a tailored wardrobe for your career goals. If you are looking to take this step, sign up for my professional wardrobe makeover course.

My goal is to make getting dressed in the morning easy, enjoyable, and the jumpstart to your working day that leaves you feeling confident and empowered with your image.Here are a few looks I’ve loved recently and that I’ve broken down into formulas below based on your career field.

Tech

When we think of tech industry fashion, images of “tech bros” in a hoodie, man satchel and beanie can come to mind but that’s not the look we are trying to emulate here. ;)

Most tech companies are very casual so it gives you room to express your own style a lot more, but you still want to keep to that more laid-back look yet professional. Dressing professionally when working in tech is a balancing act between looking a little bit casual yet put together.

So, if you are someone who loves to dress up, that doesn't mean you need to start wearing sweatpants - and please don’t! But it does mean stripping things down a bit: avoid high heels, over-accessorizing, and wearing every color together. The goal is to nail the “elevated casual” look.

Formula 1: Colorful sweater + Your version of basic jeans + Colorful bag (similar to sweater) + flat shoes

Formula 2: Striped tee shirt + Slip skirt + Black blazer + Black bag + Favorite sneakers

Finance

If you are a woman in finance, you may feel pressured just to wear a gray pantsuit, and if that works for you, that is great so please keep what feels right for you.. But if you’re looking for a more powerful look that still feels feminine, I have some ideas for you. It’s true, finance does not allow you to show much of your individuality, but we can use your accessories to make a statement.

Formula 1: Blue Striped shirt + Navy silk skirt + Nude pumps (optional beige + navy blazer)

Formula 2: White long sleeve shirt / Top + Neutral sleeveless sweater + Black jeans / pants + Black pumps/ Flats

Communications (Marketing/PR)

Marketing, PR, communications or anything creative is more about image. Looking professional is essential, but the true differentiator is looking a little bit unique. You want to show that you are just as capable of handling the quantitative aspect of the job as the creative side. The amount of creativity you should use while putting together an outfit will depend more on the industry you work in. For example, if you are working in beauty, you can be a lot more creative than if you are working in, say, banking. The good news is you can wear way trendier, street-style-esque clothes!

Formula 1: Colorful suit + Neutral top + Black belt + Black purse + Metallic pumps

Formula 2: Black vest + Fitted white button down shirt + Jeans + Colorful purse + Black pumps/ Flats

Law

Contrary to what Suits may have taught me (think about Donna and all her colorful dresses!), if you’re a lawyer, you still have to adhere to a more conservative dress code. There isn’t usually a lot of room for individuality. While this may sound like a recipe for boring and repetitive, it doesn’t have to be. I have the perfect outfits, even for lawyers working at the most traditional law firms.

Formula 1: Colored suit + Thin black belt (love!) + Beige or Black blouse + Beige or black purse + Beige or black pumps

Formula 2: Dark sweater + Dark blazer + Dark midi skirt + Neutral structured handbag + Neutral dark block heel / loafer

With so many important things to take care of, we can get easily frustrated with our wardrobes, but with a little styling, we find that there are a lot more hidden outfits in our wardrobes. Every time you see an outfit online that you love, don’t feel like you need the exact pieces to recreate the outfit, try breaking down the look instead. And if this all seems too challenging to tackle on your own, take a look at my professional wardrobe makeover course for a guided method on building an easy and versatile professional wardrobe!

Bises,

Lili