Dressing for work is harder than dressing for any other activity. You need to dress professionally, but you also don’t want to stifle your individualism. Many work outfits feel too restrictive and uncomfortable, which naturally makes you feel less confident when you wear them.
Your work clothes should have the opposite effect – they should give you a jolt of confidence so you feel good heading into the workplace. It’s much harder for women to feel this way than men, but here are some great ways to dress like a professional while exuding confidence!
Wear A Statement Shirt/Blouse
Wearing a suit to work makes a lot of sense, but traditional suits can make you feel very awkward. Thankfully, many brands are tailoring suits more to female figures, so that’s a great start. It still feels like something is missing, which is why you should wear a statement shirt or blouse.
Ditch the traditional options and opt for a confidence-boosting piece, like a tailored corset blouse. These blouses come in short or long-sleeved options and retain professionalism, yet empower you to feel good about yourself. They compliment your figure and make the entire suit look way better and well-fitted. You immediately feel better about your appearance in the mirror, which helps you strut into the office with your head held high.
Lean Into Your Accessories
Every outfit needs a set of accessories, and this is so true for work suits. They’re boring on their own – but think about things you can add to them to convey a sense of power to those around you. Men do this all the time with cufflinks or fancy watches, though there are so many ways you can project self-assurance, too.
Watches also work as a fabulous accessory for women, but don’t forget about classic options like jewellery. Wear some punch rings and bold earrings to add to your look and refine your suit. It makes you look super assertive, especially when your jewellery catches the light and glistens. You look like you’ve got your life figured out, which is the hidden secret to appearing confident!
Accessorising is a quick way to refine your style and remove uncertainty. You look like you wear a suit better when you compliment it with accessories. As well as jewellery and watches, think about adding some sunglasses to your daily outfit. Even if it’s not that sunny, some shades make you look like a boss.
Find Your Colours
Playing around with different suit colours will help you stray away from boring and traditional suit ideas. Everyone walks around in black, navy or grey suits – so why don’t you switch things up and try something different?
Consider your normal fashion sense and the clothes you wear outside of work. What are your favourite colours? Which colours make you feel the most confident because they look good on you? Be bold and buy suits with brighter colours to help you stand out in the workplace. Some of you might cringe at this idea because you don’t want to look too “different” – but that’s the point!
Confidence mainly comes from other people’s perceptions of you. If you stand out with a cobalt blue or dark green suit, then coworkers start treating you with more respect. You look like someone who doesn’t care what other people think, and this makes you appear like a confident being to them. They treat you with more reverence, which then makes you feel more self-confident anyway.
Plus, you always feel better about yourself when you like what you’re wearing. It’s why most of us hate wearing boring work clothes – they’re so bland and restrictive; it sometimes feels like you’re constantly attending a funeral. You feel more alive when you’re adorned in pops of colour, so it’s a great way to bring boldness to your work look.
Wear Powerful Footwear
Footwear is a big deal for work outfits. You’ll never feel confident if you’re walking around in soft flats. Heels give you that boost of confidence you’re looking for, though they have some impracticality factors. You could wear normal shoes or trainers on the way to work, swapping to heels before you enter the office.
Or, you could go for footwear that makes you feel and sound powerful. We’re talking about heeled footwear that makes a loud sound against hard floors. You want people to hear you coming from a mile away – it’s the ultimate sign of assertiveness and poise. Coworkers will naturally associate the sound of shoes on a floor with something they look up to and respect.
There are loads of shoes like this, but you ideally want ones with a chunky heel. They’re easier to walk in than high heels and more confidence-exuding than flats. Plus, the chunky heel gives you an extra few inches of height, which will always add to your confidence. You feel the urge to stand up straight and tall rather than hunch over.
Accentuate Your Favourite Features
What are your favourite features? We’ve all got at least one, so think about the parts of your appearance that bring you the most joy. It could be the curve of your hips, your legs, a broadness to your shoulders, etc.
The easiest way to know this is by considering what clothes make you feel the best. Look at some of your favourite outfits and see if there’s a pattern. Then, take your work outfit and find ways to accentuate your favourite features. If you love the way your legs, hips and bum look, then opt for tailored trousers that create the perfect silhouette.
Your favourite features don’t have to relate to your body – some of you may say your eyes or lips are your best features. In which case, use your work outfit to compliment them. This could go back to the colour point for your eyes; pick something that makes them pop. Utilise makeup to bring out your lips or facial structure if those are your favourite features, and so on.
Taking all of these points into account, it is possible to dress professionally while feeling more confident at work. Look like a boss in your suit, but make subtle tweaks here and there so you actually enjoy what you’re wearing. When you like how you look, you’ll feel less self-conscious and more assured.
