By: Ms. J

If you haven’t already noticed, working women’s attire has been evolving over the past couple of years. Gone are the rigid skirt suits and in place are unique outfits that the match the personality of the person wearing it.

This trend away from women’s suits is dependent on your corporate culture. Your corporate culture dictates the dos and don’ts of what is acceptable in your company from clothing to your email signature and everything in between. Before you forgo suits completely, look around your office. Find a woman of stature who you aspire to be one day. How does she dress? Is she in a suit every day or only for certain moments such as office meetings? If she is not in suits, what does she wear? Is it age appropriate? Work length appropriate? What colors does she wear? How does she hold herself? These are questions to think about as you evaluate your own wardrobe.

Now I am not saying to go out and imitate her exact wardrobe, but rather take some cues from her and incorporate your personality into it. Always have on a hand your staple suits. Black or blue, skirt and pant suits are starter staples to have for any occasion. These days dresses, skirts and pants of any range (except denim) are acceptable attire for work as long as the length and fit are still in the appropriate range spectrum for the environment. Check your corporate policy manual to find out specifically for your job what you can wear just to be sure.