How to Dress Like a Female CEO: The Complete Guide

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How to Dress Like a Female CEO: The Complete Guide

The time it takes to make a first impression is somewhere between 33 and 100 milliseconds. Despite the headway women have made in climbing ranks or leading entrepreneurial ventures in the fast-paced and cut-throat corporate world, the time it takes to make a first impression could be the only window to establish their authority in a meeting room dominated by suits. In this case, the significance of a personal style that exudes confidence, leadership qualities, and intelligence cannot be stressed enough. Mastering the art of sharp, professional dressing that screams “lady boss” can take time and a trial and error period. To give you a headstart and steer clear of style faux pas, here’s our detailed guide on how to dress, from head to toe, like a female CEO.

Consider the Work Culture sharp

Are you leading a team in an extremely corporate environment, or is it a more casual setup such as that of a startup? Consider this question first and foremost. Your style should be able to adapt to the existing work culture and your job demands. For a firm with a strict professional dress code, go for classic formal pantsuits in core colors. Jazz up your plain pantsuits with classic shoes such as pointed-toe heels or a pair of patent leather brogues. For a casual look, take inspiration from Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe to team a stylish t-shirt with a blazer and fitted jeans or a knee-length skirt. Pairing dress sneakers with a pantsuit could also fuse comfort and style together.

Mix Suits & Dresses Together

Suits are a staple wardrobe item for the modern businesswoman. When selecting them, choose colors of black, gray, or navy and go for high-quality fabrics such as cotton or wool blends. Good tailoring is important for crisp trousers with good fits and structured jackets covey sophistication and poise. 

You can also switch from power suits to dresses to channel your elegance and femininity. Take your pick from the vast Sofia Dresses Collections that offer various cuts, lengths, and prints. Choose luxurious fabrics with modest neck and hemlines for a refined look. Take inspiration from Barrister Amal Clooney who frequently dons colorful dresses with patterns. Complement the dress with a light pearl necklace or earrings for an elegant style.   

Stock up on Basics

A businesswoman’s time is limited, which calls for quick decisions of wardrobe and style each morning. Make that easy by working on wardrobe essentials that are easy to put together when you are in a rush without compromising on a refined, professional look. Stock up on crisp collared shirts, blouses or sweaters, fitted black pants, knee-length pencil skirts, and tailored blazers. Keep plunging necklines and garments with graphics or slogans out of the work wardrobe. Go for silk, cotton, and cashmere fabrics.  

Be Meticulous

You need to communicate confidence and authority as well as creativity through your appearance to instill a sense of security in your team towards your leadership. Be it corporate style or casual mode, your dressing must convey one key message in each one of its elements: meticulousness. This means tailored, well-fitted dresses without any dangling threads, wrinkles, stains, or moth holes. Clothes that require constant adjustment and fiddling give off a clumsy, instead of a mindful, vibe. Shoes must always be neat and polished. 

Find Your Colors 

The notion of wearing only neutral colors in a professional setting is now outdated. Save for overly bright ones, colors emanate sophistication and make you appear more approachable. Moving beyond the black and navy, play around with color to find a palette that works best for your skin tone. Look up the style of fashion designer Victoria Beckham, who frequently wears monochromatic tones, pale pinks, blues, and reds to complement her skin tone and minimalist style.

Keep Makeup Natural

It makes practical sense to keep the cat eye and contouring for evening parties and simplify your makeup routine for an easily achievable natural look. For a professional setting, Bobbi Brown suggests a tinted moisturizer or concealer for blurring blemishes, soft brown eye shadow, a cream blush, defined brows, and lip color. Highlight only one of your best features — glowing skin, groomed eyebrows, defined eyes, etc. For eye shadows, go for warm neutrals with natural-looking textures and finish. For lips, bold lip color can make a statement but requires frequent touch-ups. When in a rush, you’d be good with colors that add a natural tint to the lip without going too glossy.  

Pay Attention to Shoes

The expression “shoes make an outfit” rings true for professional dressing just as much as otherwise. Thanks to fashion entrepreneur Natalie Massenet, we all agree that be it conferences, meetings, or photo ops at networking events, every business affair demands a pair of shoes to suit its mood and setting. While you may be attracted to style, do not overlook comfort when choosing shoes for work. Thankfully, there is a range of shoe styles that don’t sacrifice style for comfort or vice versa. Add a classic pair of black heels, chic oxford suede ankle boots, and leather loafers to your everyday wardrobe. Go for muted tones and stay away from open-toe or flashy options.

Accessorize for Elegance

Appropriate jewelry, glasses, and bags can add an air of sophistication to your work outfit. Add a luxury watch to signal professionalism, rich taste, and status and stand out in a professional business environment. Add a statement belt to your pantsuit, or wear a light pendant or small dangling earrings with dresses for a touch of femininity. It makes sense to carry a briefcase in place of a casual bag or purse. Opt for a number of bags in neutral tones so they can be mix-and-matched with your dress and shoes. For a more personalized look, go for bags in a range of colors to suit specific pieces in your wardrobe. 

Hair for the Last Touches

The final consideration for a sharp and professional look is how you style your hair. Consider a pixie cut or a bob for a chic look and a convenient hair routine in the morning. If you have coils, you can twist, taper, or crop your Afro or pile the hair into a high Afro puff. Let down your short or middle-length hair and use a flat iron for a sleek appearance of wavy or curly hair. Long, straight, curly, wavy, or braided hair can easily be put into a bun or a ponytail for an elegant look. Side part your hair for a classy, professional look, or play around with a middle or zigzag part.  

Conclusion

Walking into a meeting room, the first impression you make, even before a hello, is how you present yourself. A sharp-dressing style exudes professionalism and high self-worth, which are key in opening up new opportunities for your business by building a perception of power and shrewd acumen. Our guide to dressing like a female CEO covers all elements of ‘dressing up’ that, put together, can mark you as the businesswoman everyone should look up to for style and career inspiration alike.