Dressing The Part: Five Wardrobe Tips For Business-BuysAs obvious as it may seem, while sweatpants and polo shirts aren't exactly considered "office attire," some people make eyebrow-raising mistakes when picking out their outfits every morning to work.

ByMay Rostom

意见expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

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As obvious as it may seem, while sweatpants and polo shirts aren't exactly considered "office attire," some people make eyebrow-raising mistakes when picking out their outfits every morning to work.Startups, hoodies are okay- in private. When you're pitching your business, you really do need to dress the part.

Whether you're on the hunt for a new job, a promotion or even a little raise, looking your best can go a long way. Leaving a good impression will boost your chances and is considered an integral part of climbing the career ladder. Investing in a fine shirt, a properly tailored suit or even a good cashmere scarf will not be overlooked. Here are five tips to help you revamp your wardrobe:

  1. Quality over quantityUp to a certain point,pricereally does affect quality. Make sure you buy less items- opt instead for better-grade pieces. Always aim for durable fabrics like cotton, wool, linen, and silk, and avoid synthetic fabrics like polyester that wear off more quickly, and have an unflattering "sheen" to them.
  2. Maintain your wardrobeRead the labels before washing your newly purchased goods. Taking good care of your clothes will save you money on not having to buy replacements. A good drycleaner can do wonders, but try them with one piece first before giving them the lot.
  3. Be trend-obliviousWhen you're investing in new office-appropriate attire, forget aboutfashion. Classics and solid staple items in neutral shades always hit the spot when it comes to business dress. It's better to have three good white shirts than one terrific red one.
  4. Seasonal shiftsBuy items that you can wear all year long. Light cardigans, loose nice-quality scarves, button-down shirts, and medium-weight suits are all-year investments so don't be afraid to splurge on these.
  5. Find the right fitIt doesn't matter how expensive your new suit if it looks sloppy. What matters more is does it fityou? Always ask the specialists on-hand for help when it comes to picking a suitable garment fit. If (like most people) you're disproportionate, find a good tailor to adjust measurements to fit. A second important rule of thumb? The people who work in these better boutiques are trained to know what type of cut and form is best for your height, weight and frame. Don't ignore recommendations from experts when it comes to tailoring and fabrics.

Dress as you want to be perceived: professional, serious, and confident. Tons of human resource studies reinforce the idea that your appearance can really make or break the tone of your first impression. Besides, who doesn't want to look their best?

May Rostom

Curator, Entrepreneur Café

可能Rostom馆长吗Entrepreneur Café, a new daily digest of stories fromEntrepreneur Middle Eastto fuel your day at work.

May has been in the fashion journalism field for more than five years, with over 500 articles published in online and offline mediums. Working closely with some of the biggest fashion brands in the region, from creating, curating, and developing content to aggregating and pitching for content from several fashion and beauty outlets in the Middle East, Rostom’s experience is multicultural and vast. She was formerly a senior lifestyle editor/writer at MSN Arabia, and she has also worked with TRESemme Egypt as a fashion expert.

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