Power dressing

Power
Dressing
for
Women..
The
Concept
www.ArchitectureDesignCareers.com
1

First Impressions
90% of our impressions
are formed within the first
20-30 seconds on meeting
a stranger.58% of our
impressions are based on
how we look, 33% on how
we sound and 7% on what
we say.
www.ArchitectureDesignCareers.com 2

Do ClothesDo Clothes
Really Matter?Really Matter?
Since about 90% of
you is covered by
apparel, the clothing
you choose makes a
significant impact.

POWER
DRESSING
FOR
INDIAN
WOMEN

TRADITIONAL OR WESTERN?
Whichever style you opt for, the keywords
are comfort and style.

There is no point
struggling with a
floating dupatta or
a wayward saree
(unless you are
used to it and can
carry it off with
élan) while giving
that boardroom
presentation.
6

Work clothes for
women have
graduated from
sarees to salwar
kameezes, from
westerns to
what are called
Indo-westerns.

Fusion Fashion
for comfortable
workplace
clothing…..

Short kurtas, styled with
trouser-like pajamas,
look chic and very
Indian. Stoles and short
scarves have replaced
difficult-to-manage
dupattas

Long Tunic
like Kurtas
are being
teamed with
pants as
well.

The comfort factor is
crucial in this regard,
which is why
western outfits are
popular across the
age board among
women. The
emphasis is on fuss-
free, wash-and-wear
clothing.

The look is vibrant
yet understated.
Jackets, popular
with older women,
are getting shorter
and more flattering
to body contours.

Shiny nylon and
bright nail paint are
a strict no-no .
Make sure the nail
paint isn’t shiny
and avoid colours
such as black, red
and orange. Hair
should not be
falling all over the
face.

Flat-front trousers,
three-fourth-length
tops, cotton-linen
blended shirts in
bright colours,
multiple-function
jacket suits, and long
wrap-around skirts
are among the many
options here.
14

One is on the larger side,
wear loose fitting clothes.
Take into effect the size.
Cuts should be classy.
Basically, one should
follow the guidelines that
one did while in school
— neat uniform, polished
shoes, well combed hair.

Elaborate
embroidery has
been replaced with
crystal buttons,
slick necklines and
textured
silhouettes.

Sensible and
comfortable shoes,
in soft leather and
neutral colours,
complete the
corporate look for
today’s women. All
that remains it to put
your best foot
forward in the
workplace.
17

Corporate colours are grey,
black, navy blue, brown and
white. The Indian palette is a
national asset and can be
skillfully corporatised into
pleasant but unfrivolous
pastels and solids like beige,
beige-coral, deep rust,
terracotta or tone-on-tone
shades of green, blue and
even red.
18

Even for business
casuals,
sleeveless is
unacceptable. It's
either a formal
collared shirt
teamed with a
pair of formal
trousers (never
jeans) or a skirt.

For a formal
occasion, business
suits are ideal or a
knee-length skirt.
The shortest is four
inches above the
knee. No visible
cleavage.

Trouser length should
be one and a half
inches from the floor
to the back of the
heel. Buttons, belts
and fly of the trouser
should be neatly
aligned.

Bad corporate wear
includes heavily
embroidered clothes
and flashy colours.
Clingy clothes,
transparent blouses
and georgettes. Noisy
jewellery. Bright
footwear, silver and
gold sandals and
open-toed chappals.

These days, when
women are equally
comfortable chairing
boardroom meetings,
corporate dressing has
taken on a whole new
meaning.

When it comes to working
women, dressing up is all
about blending the casual
with the chic. Nothing too
loud or flashy, but
definitely a mix of buttoned
up business basics along
with a weekend casual
business attire. The idea is
to be a little conservative
yet stylish without going
the casual way.

Sophistication
Sophistication can be achieved
with smart accessories and
colour combinations. In the
last few years, however,
corporate dressing has, more
or less, come to mean trousers
and shirts. So, if that’s what
you are comfortable with, and
you have the figure to carry
off pencil trousers, then why
not?

However, not all
women are ready
to do away with
sarees and
salwar-kameezes
yet, and these
Indian dresses are
still considered
‘formal’ by a
many blue-chip
companies

But, more and more
women in their 20s
are opting for western
attire. Semi-formal is
an all-time favourite
as it suits many of
those who attend
meetings and then
probably meet up for
cocktails or dinner.

Also, there is a wide
range that you can
choose from. Style apart;
opt for cotton, Lycra and
linen, as they suit all
weathers. Linen and
Lycra trousers maintain
their crease and fall, and
with a little care, they
can retain the new look
for a couple of years.

Choose colours with
care. All-time
favourites are black
and white. But
browns and beiges
are making inroads as
well. For the
weekends, reserve
more feminine
colours like mauves,
peaches and pinks.

Jewellery
When it comes to
jewelry, stick to the
bare essentials. Go for
smart sleek designs for
a sophisticated and
professional look. Ear
studs, a single
bracelet, a slim chain
and pendant combo
for the neck should do
fine. www.ArchitectureDesignCareers.com 30

There’s nothing to beat
small diamond
solitaires for the ears
in terms of simple
class and elegance,
and platinum is the
power dressing metal.
But since not all can
afford it, gold will do
fine too.
31

Handbags
There are a range of
ladies’ leather brief
cases available in
the market. Though
expensive, these go
a long way to
create the right
image.

So invest in
one…
Equally smart
will be a leather
bag in black or
brown.
33

Watch Out
An elegant wristwatch
is a must to complete
the look. Leather
straps and wide-base
simple ‘masculine’
watches look sexy on
any woman’s slim
wrists. The other
option is to go for the
ultra feminine slim
gold or silver chain
variety.

Footwear
Now this is very important. The right kinds can perk
up your entire attire. Leather shoes would go well
with semi-formal western wear and sandals would
be fine for Indian outfits. No bright colours, sequins,
crystals... keep them plain, yet latest in style. If your
job stretches to long hours, heels must not be so
high as to cause discomfort. You definitely can’t
remove them for a while and put your feet up,
remember that!

The heel on
the shoe
should be
about 1 1/2
to two inches
high

Hairstyle
These are the times of wild styles and wilder
colours. But not for you to try out for office.
No bizarre platinum streaks either...
37

Hair colour, if you
must opt for one,
must be natural and
should also
complement your
complexion .

If you are sporting
a short, bouncy
style, leave it
open. Else a
French knot spells
class, a French
chignon or bun
projects a no-
nonsense attitude.
No ponytails ,
please.
39

Nails
Short, well-
manicured nails
and well taken
care of hands.
.

Long nails with
exotic , over-the-
top shades are for
the filmy babes.

If you must use
nail paint, go for a
single tone in light
shades of peach,
silver or pink.
French manicures
are ideal.

Makeup
Minimal.
Naturalistic.

Pastel shades of
lipstick with a light
eye liner should do
fine.

You’re dressed like
a winner. Now,
look into the
mirror and perfect
the winner look
and attitude.
Square that
shoulder, stand
straight, look in
the eye. And
stride ahead in
the ladder of life.www.ArchitectureDesignCareers.com 45

Power dressing

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