Dress Smart Women: Wardrobes That Win in the New Workplace

This book is spot-on accurate. I grew up in an exclusive area full of well-to-do people and long-time "well-bred" families. The information in here may seem outdated at times but it is still the right info if you want to make it big-time. There are people and companies that still follow these styles. If you just want to do-alright or be happy in an average job, this book will make you shine above the rest and will give you the extra push needed during an interview. If you are applying to an ivy league college, this book will help you fit in. If you have some common sense and can adapt the information in this book to your current job needs, then use this book as a guideline. Remember, don't outshine your superior! If they dress like a slob or like they shop at ross or macy's, your brooks brothers suits might intimidate them. Many jobs may require you to be less formal, but the information here reminds you that you are an employee, not a prostitute, college kid or someone who has no idea how to dress. Your job as employee is to inform your employer that you are capable and NOT to tell them what music you like, what style you wore in high school and cerainly not to tell them that you are a hottie, even if you are. Oh, and navy is not always the right colour. Dark grey should be the first choice, navy is the second choice. Have fun being the best you can and looking it, too!

This book is Molloy's Dress for Success illustrated. And my one complaint with Molloy is that there were no photo illustrations. The items featured in this book are completely real, and are geared towards professional working women, not ladies who lunch, downwardly mobile women, clerical women, or "girls." This book fills a nice gap between Molloy and Kendall Farr, who in the Pocket Stylist tells you how to buy clothes that fit, but does not seem to care about looking "smart" and educated.

For many years, I have had "Women's Wardrobe" by this writing team, and have referred to it whenever I was revisiting my closet space issues. As a character actress of many years, writer, and day-jobber, my closet tends to clothe many "people". These books really help you pare down your fashion thoughts to the essentials. Some will find the pictured examples and the thoughts on appropriate work wear extremely conventional... but most work places ARE very conservative, especially when it comes to interviews, business meetings and public appearances. I think the only thing lacking in this book is an entire section about injecting yourself, your personality into this framework. They do mention this, but there could be more. However, to be fair, this is not their intent. This is SIMPLE, how to do it with less clothing, simple rules, few pieces to make things work well - and they succeed completely. As an observer of people, I kept thinking how especially useful this book would be for several young friends who were leaving college and struggling with the mental dissonance of "what I wear should not matter, it is who I am and how I do my job" as contrasted with the tyranny of workplace dress codes. As a feminist idealist, it shouldn't matter what we wear. As a pragmatist, we all know that how you dress does matter, as much as looks, speach, cleanliness, and what school you attended. As an actress, it is a large part of creating a character: what you wear says things about who you are, how you think, how you live, and what you aspire to. This book adresses all of that, and gives a marvelous basic guideline to build your thoughts of self-presentation AT WORK around. If you are re-entering the workforce after many years, changing careers, or changing areas of the country, there are hints here. There are kernals of truth here that artists and dot-com slackers won't like to hear much, but if they're smart, they will. Karl & Patty, thank you for the present!

This book does an excellent job of getting you from nothing to wear to a closet of every possible wardrobe nessessity for the office. The organization is fantastic, going from one interview outfit and then starting a collection of business appropriate clothing based on four suits. Great book for someone getting a promotion, returning to work after a leave of absense, or a new college graduate.

This book is broken down into three sections: the interview, succeeding in the job, and getting a better job. It fits anyone that works and give excellent advice. Of course, the pictures are a wonderful asset. This would make a great gift for any career woman.