Dress for Success: Fashion to Propel the Upwardly Mobile

Be Practical
Don't wear anything that will make you uncomfortable, or which will make you appear foolish under practical circumstances. Dress appropriately for the professional situation. If you have to work with your hands in the dirt, don't show up in club gear. Don't show unnecessary skin, and consider which way you might be bending throughout the day. You may want your shirt or your skirt a little longer than you originally planned, but when you are at work trying to hoist your shirt back down, it is already too late. Use your head.

Look at your bosses
You've probably heard this before, but the advice is true. If you want to fit in somewhere, you have to mimic what they wear. If you want to be management in your company, look at what the managers wear. Don't break your bank to match their brands, though. Go for knockoffs dressed up with quirky accessories to make the outfit your own, and they'll never know you've been cloning their clothes.

Wear Clothes that Fit
Nothing turns a good outfit sour like a bad fit. If your clothes are too tight, you can end up looking like a squished sausage. Never underestimate the power of a trip to a good tailor. A talented seamster or seamstress can transform an inexpensive pair of pants into a fashion masterpiece that is perfect for your body alone. Find a tailor who can stitch fine seams straight into delicate fabrics and you have a winner.
You can also learn to tailor clothes on your own. Check online for pattern instructions, or, if you are a completely clueless beginner, check your local community center for sewing classes. Learning to sew and make basic alterations can do wonders for a low-budget wardrobe.

Keep it Simple
When designing your dress wardrobe for your perfect successful future, keep the color scheme simple. Choose a basic wardrobe of black and grey, and use subtle color accents to dress up the outfit. Remember that color can affect your mood, so think about how you really feel about a color before adding it to your outfit for the day. If you need an energetic day, choose red to give you a vibrant and social glow. If you intend to make some money, use a bright hue of green to accent your outfit for the day. If you need to look authoritative, choose navy as your outfit accent.