Expert Views:
Women's professional attire is more individualistic than men's, but there are certain rules all women must follow. Every woman should cultivate a style that best reflects her own personality and taste. It is particularly worth mentioning that in formal occasions, women's clothing should avoid being too short, revealing, or transparent.
Expert Suggestions:
There are three basic types of professional women's wear:
1. Suit skirt sets
2. Jackets or unstructured tops
3. Dresses or two-piece skirt sets
Among these three types, the color and fabric of each should be considered. The suit skirt set is the standard professional attire for women and can create a strong image. Single-breasted tops can remain unbuttoned while double-breasted ones should always be buttoned (including inner buttons). Wearing a single-colored suit can make one appear taller and slimmer. Suit skirt sets come in two types: matching sets where the top and skirt are made from the same material and color; non-matching sets where the top and skirt differ.
Color Selection: The best colors for professional suit skirt sets are black, navy blue, gray-brown, gray, and dark red. Refined checks, prints, and stripes are also acceptable. Be cautious when purchasing red, yellow, or light purple two-piece suits as their colors may be too eye-catching.
Shirts: Shirt colors can vary widely as long as they match the suit. White, cream, and beige coordinate well with most suits. Silk is the best shirt fabric but dry cleaning might be expensive. Another option is pure cotton, ensuring it's starched and ironed flat.
Underwear: Ensure underwear fits properly to maintain smooth body lines. Wear suitable undergarments and ensure their color doesn't show through.
Scarves: When selecting scarves, ensure their color includes elements of the suit color. Silk scarves are preferable as other materials may not look as good when tied.
Socks: Women wearing skirts should pair them with thigh-high stockings or pantyhose. Common colors include nude and black, with nude thigh-highs being most appropriate with long dresses or cheongsams. Socks should fit well to avoid slipping or appearing uneven. Avoid adjusting stockings in public and ensure sock edges don't show below the hemline. Patterned socks should be avoided as they draw attention to the legs. Carry a spare pair of sheer stockings in case of runs or snags.
Shoes: Traditional leather shoes are the most popular choice for professional use. They are comfortable and stylish. Heel height should ideally be between 3-4 centimeters. In formal settings, avoid open-toe sandals, strapped-back shoes, or toe-exposing footwear. Shoe color should either match or be slightly darker than the outfit's bottom portion. Matching shoe and outfit colors from bottom to shoe can make one appear taller. Shoes in neutral colors like black, navy blue, dark red, gray, or brown are recommended. Avoid red, pink, rose, or yellow shoes. Even in summer, white shoes carry social rather than business connotations.
Handbags and Briefcases: Handbags and briefcases are preferably made of leather and should not have designer labels visible. Women's briefcases can be either hard-sided or soft-sided. Practical colors include black, brown, and dark red. Wallet color should match the shoes, but the briefcase need not.
Fun Facts:
Four Traditional Women's Formal Attire:
Regular Formal Wear: Top and skirt made from the same material and color, optionally with hats and gloves.
Small Formal Wear: Backless floor-length or trailing single-color dress.
Grand Formal Wear: Chest-revealing backless single-color trailing or non-trailing dress, optionally with matching hats, long silk gloves, and various head ornaments, earrings, necklaces, etc.
Cheongsam: In China, the formal attire for official social occasions is the cheongsam. Summer cheongsams can be made from cotton, silk, or linen fabrics, while autumn-winter versions can use velvet or colorful satin. When wearing a cheongsam, accessories like shoes, jewelry, and decorative items should be coordinated. Wear high-heeled or medium-heeled leather shoes in the same or similar color as the cheongsam. Fur coats, wool coats, short jackets, cardigan sweaters, and square wool shawls can complement the cheongsam.
Case One: Poor-Quality Suit Mistakenly Identifies Businesswoman as Secretary
A delegation of domestic entrepreneurs went abroad for an inspection tour. Among them was a female entrepreneur who, despite wearing a suit skirt set, was consistently mistaken by foreign personnel as a secretary. This was because the material quality of her suit was poor, the craftsmanship wasn't meticulous, and the design was overly flashy, making it inconsistent with her identity and leading to the misunderstanding.
Case Two: Open-Toe Sandals Leave a Bad Impression
A female principal visited a successful female entrepreneur in her 50s. While waiting outside the office, she felt nervous thinking about the entrepreneur's reputation and achievements. However, upon entering the office and seeing the entrepreneur, her tension immediately disappeared, replaced by increased confidence. She noticed the stout female entrepreneur wearing a very short suit skirt set and open-toe sandals, which significantly diminished her impression.
Case Three: Civil Servant Wearing Children's Clothing Creates Awkwardness
A business delegation attended a conference out of town, where a local government institution assigned a female civil servant in her 30s to receive them. Upon meeting her, the delegation members exchanged puzzled glances, wondering, "Why is she wearing children's clothing?" It turned out the lady had chosen a patterned fleece top and flashy seven-eighths pants to appear younger. Especially, the collar and lace of the top resembled children's clothing, resulting in the opposite effect.
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