10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

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  stacyjo07/29/08 Reported as spam
  1

  dress for success

  Nothing beats a well fitting suit for a woman or a man...one that can be very conservative or a little more upbeat with accessories. The advice I got early in my career was to dress like the C level people...it's been one of the best things I've ever done and continue to do. Better to spend a couple paychecks (or more) on one great suit that will do double and triple duty than to blow your money on ill fitting clothes that will never make you look professional.

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  mbronny07/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  Wearing your gangster outfit on casual Friday = permanent underling.

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  lesmcdaniel07/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  I think these suggestions are good, but I think there is also the risk, if considered too well-dressed, of not being taken seriously, especially as a woman in a technical field. I'm an engineer and work in Sales, and if I wear a nice suit or slacks and top, I get comments like "you're all dressed up." Sometimes I feel I would advance more quickly if I didn't wear make-up and acted like a man...

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  Melpo07/29/08 Report as spam
  4

  Some additional thoughts

  I hate to say it but it does matter. I work in the IT space so it is inhertently casual, but those who make it to management and higher tend to dress better.
  
  polo shirts vs dress shirts
  jeans vs dress pants (they can still be casual dress just as long as they aren't dockers)
  cleavage vs a more conservative blouse
  panti lines vs actually looking at your behind in a mirror before going to work
  conservative jewelry vs none or overdoing it
  
  and the one I really hate to say for fear that people will accuse me of being a female version of a neanderthal...
  
  lipstick vs none - actually psychologists have tested this and shown that women who wear lipstick are seen as more intelligent. Sorry to those of you who hate the stuff but that's the way the world still works.

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  rayna663307/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  Good one!

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  babs197607/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  I recently got the "dress more professional talk from the head of HR". It came as a surprise considering I dress conservatively 99.9% of the time. The motivation behind the talk was because I'd worn a tank top under a cardigan and my cleavage, apparently, was a little too revealing.
  
  I've just been promoted to the executive office and, as an emerging leader, I'm learning that my business casual days must cease and desist if I'm to continue advancing.

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  littul@...07/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  Great article! Short, sweet and gets right to the point!

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  Dare2Btrue07/29/08 Reported as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  A little lacking in detail. Where is the substance? Was expecting a LOT more from this articel...

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  dpekin@...07/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  Hey lesmcdaniel - response #4- don't do it. "You're all dressed up" could be the only acceptable way to say 'you look nice'. Take it as a compliment and say 'Thank you'. Don't walk away from your self to fit in. Continue to be looked up to and admired for having self-esteem. Then, knock their socks off with your brillance and technical ability. Men don't want you to pretend to be a man, they just don't know how to respond to you being a beautiful woman. Don't worry about it. They'll either figure it out or they won't - but that is their issue, not a reason to change yourself.

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  TolaSimple07/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  This is good (short & concise) but would have expected brief explanation. Not too comprehensive.

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  babajustin07/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  This is great stuff and worth trying out!! I was told a very long time ago by a friend (female) that if I ever wanted to get any kind of attention from people I must ensure I kept my hair neat and tidy, wore matching belt and shoes (i.e black belt over black shoe and brown belt over brown etc),be clean shaven all the time, ensure my clothes are well ironed and my shoe well polished. It really does not cost that much to dress nicely but the dividends are a lot more than one can imagine.

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  dacho07/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  People that look good get pay better.

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  Miss Cybernaut07/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  What does it mean - I always wished to have long hair, like when I was 15. Should I turn back to boring short hair just because I have a new job?? No one would like to have unhappy employee....

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  tlswavely07/29/08 Reported as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  It's true! Research in organizational psychology confirms that we like those best who are most like ourselves. Thus, the more like your boss you are, the more he or she is naturally predisposed to liking and taking notice of you. If you want to advance, you must become more like those who have the power to promote you, and that includes dressing like they do. You don't have to "clone" them, or give up your personality to do so--and you shouldn't. The point is that your work attire should resemble more what your superiors wear, than what your peers wear. If your peers generally wear khakis and polos, but your superiors wear dress pants and dress shirts, then you should probably be wearing dress pants and dress shirts.

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  WULAIMOT07/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  Great Article, keep the fire burning.

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  1234Jetlag07/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  Remember, you not only have to look good, you have to smell good (or at least NOT smell BAD)

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  eijneb07/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  Ever heard of the expressions "dressing for success", "power dressing" and "clothes make the man"? These are all true especially in the corporate world. It's about a good combination of form and substance. If you have the substance (skills, qualifications and talents), why not improve the form (the total packaging) too?!

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  ravi_37307/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  Good but not fit for all the works such as i do thats i.e. shopkeeping.
  
  else, anyway thanks for sharing success for others.

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  Dave.J07/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  Thanks for the article... and comments. I appreciate hearing what others think about how people dress, whether I agree or not.
  
  I recently received a comment from a constituent that I worked with very little. Her comment was that I always wore a nice tie, even when I was overdressed. It's amazing the impression you have on others, without realizing it.
  
  Keep the articles and comments coming!

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  mowlabapa07/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  I agree with the article, dressing well to look presentatble not only helps you succed at work but also motivates oneself and keeps your energy high at work...therefore it has has a positive effect on your emotions hence performing twice as much at work, it is an energy booster!!!!!

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  ropaj679507/29/08 Report as spam
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  RE: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

  Dress like the people who are in positions that you aspire to be in dress. Or, another way to look at it is to dress like the people one or two levels above you dress....
  
  When you look the part people can visualize you in that position. A lot easier than trying to convince someone that sees you often that you can or would "clean up" for the right job.