Being a young woman on a university campus is empowering. From the buzzing technologies and classrooms to the professional opportunities, I couldn’t think of a place I would rather be during this time in my life. As someone who oftentimes stretches myself too thin, it can be overwhelming to balance the stress of constant meetings, deadlines, responsibilities, and networking opportunities, with attending class and doing homework in between.
In order to maintain a calm and collected mindset, I turn my clothing into something I can be proud of. From my shoes to my smile, I maintain confidence by presenting myself in a professional manner. For me, stylish attire and respectable accessories keep my presence upbeat throughout the day.
What constitutes a professional style?
I like to start with my body. Keeping groomed nails and fresh-cut hair are the first steps that I do to maintain a presentable appearance. A trim every few weeks, as well as a simple nail touch up are things that stick with your body, no matter the time of day or night. Waking up early is empowering. To me, there’s nothing better than opening my well-rested eyes at 7 a.m. and feeling ready to conquer the day. I walk into the restroom and freshen up by splashing cold water in my face—this automatically wakes me up and tightens up the skin in my face. I like to use a light face lotion offered by First Aid Beauty. It is important to maintain your facial skin because that will be with you for the entirety of your existence. Depending on my mood, I try to avoid heavy makeup. Usually, a simple mascara or lip color feels great.
Starting with my trousers, I try to wear a nice pair of pants that will be comfortable, as well as presentable. For someone like me who works in an office, it is necessary to keep a respectable appearance that my coworkers will honor. I love Ann Taylor’s simple gray ankle-length trousers. They pair well with any color of shirt or shoes, and they are comfortable enough to wear from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Blouses are trickier for me. I try to stay away from V-necks, so finding a comfortable shirt that is still business casual can be a challenge. Keeping the essentials in your closet gives you a lot to work with. A few long sleeve or ¾ sleeve shirts in white, black, gray, and navy work well with almost anything. Preferably, I stick with either button down shirts like The Oxford or cotton ¾ sleeves like the ones that extend past my lower back.
Shoes are one of the most important parts of a wardrobe because they carry the weight of your body throughout the entire of the day. I struggle finding comfortable shoes that are also appropriate for the office. There’s no way I would wear my Air Jordan’s into the office. I like to have the three essentials on hand in my closet: loafers, flats, and heeled boots. A pair of pointed nude d-Orsay style flats will always look good, but wearing them around for hours at a time can be painful, so I try to hold these to an “event only” lifestyle. Comfy loafers like Coach’s Arlene Moccasin are presentable for long days on your feet.
These are the basics of my wardrobe as I live in and out of the office. These pieces are not only comfortable, but give me an heir of confidence in the professional environment. Next time, I’ll be discussing the accessories every professional woman should own.
This article first appeared in Singular Magazine.