What to wear, what to wear.
While BizSense usually focuses on the nitty-gritty local business news, we’re not so naive to think that clothes and appearance don’t play a role in business. A sharp outfit can make perfect business sense. So this week, and with the help of reporter Amy David, we chat with a fashion consultant to help guide those of us who might veer off course occasionally.
Diana Seaman is the founder of Radiant Style Made Simple, a local image consulting business that’s been helping men and women with their wardrobes since 2008.
She is a former fashion consultant for Stein Mart who also spent more than 20 years as the director of product development for Lynchburg-based shoe company Craddock Terry. She’s also been a buyer for Nine-West, Mulberry Neckwear and Fossil Watches.
BizSense caught up with Seaman to find out what exactly is appropriate to wear in the workplace, where business men and women go off track and what her company does to help those pour souls.
Below is an edited transcript.
Richmond BizSense: What mistakes are women making when it comes to the business dress code?
Diana Seaman: Wearing clothes to work that are too tight, or too low cut. Things that are so tight they look poured into it. It doesn’t look like you’re ready for business.
RBS: What mistakes are the men making?
DS: For men it’s tough. More places are going business casual, but there’s a difference between business casual and sloppy. You need to look professional, it’s a business.
No T-shirts with an emblem and no flip flops. They think its okay especially in the summer. I’ve had clients ask why they can’t just wear flip flops and a pair of jeans to work. Come on, that’s sloppy.
RBS: So is it more men that are clueless about what to wear to work or is it the women, too?
DS: Definitely the women. Women have so many more choices. They’re given cues from fashion magazines and movies. They don’t see anything wrong with what they’re wearing because that’s what’s out there. You need to look serious.
RBS: What do you recommend to your clients to wear in a business setting?
DS: Suits are uniform for men. They need to be well-groomed. Clean-shaven as possible especially if you have face-to-face time with clients.
If it’s a casual atmosphere you can wear a collared shirt like a polo, but if it’s a formal occasion definitely a button down. Men have a lot of choices they can go to Macy’s, Dillard’s, Men’s Warehouse Joseph Banks …
A skirted suit is considered the most formal for women. In the summer nice tailored pants, a shirt and a cardigan to go over it. You don’t always have to wear a jacket. You can wear flats too. Heels are fine, but stilettos should be saved for the weekend. Three inches at the most. Have something work appropriate that doesn’t show your toes.
RBS: What about jeans? Are they acceptable?
DS: Make sure they are a dark wash. Be conservative.
RBS: How important is your work attire when you compare it to things like finances, the success and growth of your business, keeping employees happy, etc.?
DS: People like to say oh I don’t judge a person by their looks. You look ay someone and you’re going to have some type of evaluation instantly. If they’re not dressed professionally people aren’t going to have faith in you. You want to feel like the person is serious about business too.
I think the client or customer feels better about you and it gives you more credibility in the workforce.
RBS: Is the dress code the same for say a CEO of a company as it would be for other employees or are there different standards depending on your rank?
DS: There’s an old saying, dress two levels above you. Someone you want to look at as a mentor. Take Bill Gates, every time I get on the Internet and look he’s wearing a suit. So yes, the higher up the more formal you should dress.
RBS: Does it vary depending on what type of industry you’re in?
DS: It’s important what kind of work they do. I think in industries if you have face time with a client you don’t have to wear a suit and tie, but you should still wear khakis and button-downs.
For example, the fashion-retail industry, you don’t have to look serious, but you don’t want to look inappropriate. The more creative the industry, the more you can deviate from the classic suit and still look professional.
RBS: Who are your typical clients and how do you help them?
DS: My main client base is people 35 and up. If I have a man as a client, it’s their wife that hires me.
I will go to their homes and look in their closet. I tell them to get out everything they haven’t worn in two years and get rid of it. I color code everything then get all the dresses, jackets, pants put them together, and then I put outfits together. If I have to take them to shop there’s no more than three or four basic things they need to buy.
My minimum is two hours and it hardly ever takes above that. I try to use stores that apply to the person’s lifestyle. I try and make it as cost effective as possible. Part of what I base my business on is dressing on a budget. I shop sales and outlets for bargains. It’s important for people to try and stay within a budget and use what they already have.
What to wear, what to wear.
While BizSense usually focuses on the nitty-gritty local business news, we’re not so naive to think that clothes and appearance don’t play a role in business. A sharp outfit can make perfect business sense. So this week, and with the help of reporter Amy David, we chat with a fashion consultant to help guide those of us who might veer off course occasionally.
Diana Seaman is the founder of Radiant Style Made Simple, a local image consulting business that’s been helping men and women with their wardrobes since 2008.
She is a former fashion consultant for Stein Mart who also spent more than 20 years as the director of product development for Lynchburg-based shoe company Craddock Terry. She’s also been a buyer for Nine-West, Mulberry Neckwear and Fossil Watches.
BizSense caught up with Seaman to find out what exactly is appropriate to wear in the workplace, where business men and women go off track and what her company does to help those pour souls.
Below is an edited transcript.
Richmond BizSense: What mistakes are women making when it comes to the business dress code?
Diana Seaman: Wearing clothes to work that are too tight, or too low cut. Things that are so tight they look poured into it. It doesn’t look like you’re ready for business.
RBS: What mistakes are the men making?
DS: For men it’s tough. More places are going business casual, but there’s a difference between business casual and sloppy. You need to look professional, it’s a business.
No T-shirts with an emblem and no flip flops. They think its okay especially in the summer. I’ve had clients ask why they can’t just wear flip flops and a pair of jeans to work. Come on, that’s sloppy.
RBS: So is it more men that are clueless about what to wear to work or is it the women, too?
DS: Definitely the women. Women have so many more choices. They’re given cues from fashion magazines and movies. They don’t see anything wrong with what they’re wearing because that’s what’s out there. You need to look serious.
RBS: What do you recommend to your clients to wear in a business setting?
DS: Suits are uniform for men. They need to be well-groomed. Clean-shaven as possible especially if you have face-to-face time with clients.
If it’s a casual atmosphere you can wear a collared shirt like a polo, but if it’s a formal occasion definitely a button down. Men have a lot of choices they can go to Macy’s, Dillard’s, Men’s Warehouse Joseph Banks …
A skirted suit is considered the most formal for women. In the summer nice tailored pants, a shirt and a cardigan to go over it. You don’t always have to wear a jacket. You can wear flats too. Heels are fine, but stilettos should be saved for the weekend. Three inches at the most. Have something work appropriate that doesn’t show your toes.
RBS: What about jeans? Are they acceptable?
DS: Make sure they are a dark wash. Be conservative.
RBS: How important is your work attire when you compare it to things like finances, the success and growth of your business, keeping employees happy, etc.?
DS: People like to say oh I don’t judge a person by their looks. You look ay someone and you’re going to have some type of evaluation instantly. If they’re not dressed professionally people aren’t going to have faith in you. You want to feel like the person is serious about business too.
I think the client or customer feels better about you and it gives you more credibility in the workforce.
RBS: Is the dress code the same for say a CEO of a company as it would be for other employees or are there different standards depending on your rank?
DS: There’s an old saying, dress two levels above you. Someone you want to look at as a mentor. Take Bill Gates, every time I get on the Internet and look he’s wearing a suit. So yes, the higher up the more formal you should dress.
RBS: Does it vary depending on what type of industry you’re in?
DS: It’s important what kind of work they do. I think in industries if you have face time with a client you don’t have to wear a suit and tie, but you should still wear khakis and button-downs.
For example, the fashion-retail industry, you don’t have to look serious, but you don’t want to look inappropriate. The more creative the industry, the more you can deviate from the classic suit and still look professional.
RBS: Who are your typical clients and how do you help them?
DS: My main client base is people 35 and up. If I have a man as a client, it’s their wife that hires me.
I will go to their homes and look in their closet. I tell them to get out everything they haven’t worn in two years and get rid of it. I color code everything then get all the dresses, jackets, pants put them together, and then I put outfits together. If I have to take them to shop there’s no more than three or four basic things they need to buy.
My minimum is two hours and it hardly ever takes above that. I try to use stores that apply to the person’s lifestyle. I try and make it as cost effective as possible. Part of what I base my business on is dressing on a budget. I shop sales and outlets for bargains. It’s important for people to try and stay within a budget and use what they already have.
Thank goodness BizSense talked to Diane. I am so tired of going to business functions where other female professionals look anything but professional. It is a parade of short skirts, low cut tops, and stilletto heels, (or worse, spike-heeled sandals, so everyone can see your toe rings). I really feel that these women are projecting an image that is setting professional women in Richmond back 50 years, (think Mad Men). I want people to view me as a professional that has a good brain, not a Barbie-doll.
Ditto! We have a woman who wears sexy tight high cut low cut stilletto “disco” outfits. She looks like a hhmmm…. and the men eat it up. One day she pulled a Monika Lewinsky with her whale tail thong underwear sticking up out of her low cut pants. And she wonders why the other women are uncomfortable around her. I agree with Anne’s comment 100%: these women’s outfits only reinforce the bigoted belief that woman can get ahead by dressing like tarts instead of using their brains and abilities. It just hurts the serious nontarty dressed women’s credibility.