Curious about how a CEO should dress? Deciphering women’s workwear can be difficult, and if you’re in a C-Suite position, the decision likely feels even more pressure-packed.
Whether you just got the promotion of your dreams or you’re ready to revamp your wardrobe, dress for success.
Here we’ve put together our top tips for female executives, direct from our team of stylists. We’ll tell you why dressing well is important and share our 3 must-have power wardrobe staples.
(Read through to the end for tips on finding women’s office workwear for CEOs this fall.)
Table of Contents
Why is CEO Clothing Important?
CEO clothing is important because it’s more than just fashion; it’s a representation of your personal brand. Dressing well reinforces your personal image within your organization and with clients.
The right attire can boost your confidence, improve your first impressions, and make your communication more effective. For women, we recommend investing in quality women’s workwear that reflects your sense of style while looking put together.
3 Women’s Workwear Staples for CEOs
A strong foundation is the key to having a functional and stylish closet. For office workwear, women’s wardrobes should contain the following:
- A power jacket
- A great fitting blouse
- A low-maintenance dress
Keep reading to find out why.
1. A Power Jacket (or Two)
A perfectly tailored modern blazer in a core color like black or navy is a pillar for female CEO style.
A blazer jacket conveys power and authority, but as creator Salina Williams demonstrates, it can also show off your personality.
This statement piece of a jacket aligns with her brand. It’s creative, bold, and anything but stuffy. Of course, if you work in a more traditional environment, you may need something more conservative. For most CEOs, a black jacket and a navy one are essentials. The black works for more formal occasions and the navy feels more approachable.
Stylist tip: Combine your jacket with women’s workwear pants or skirts and a pair of flats for an easy outfit formula.
The bottom line? Pick a jacket that makes you feel powerful and puts out the message you want others to receive from you.
When it comes to women’s blazers, fit is key. A tailor can ensure that a blazer looks like it was made for you.
2. A Great-Fitting Blouse
Women’s workwear blouses are those professional wear workhorses. You can wear them with trousers or women’s workwear skirts in endless combinations. You can dress it down with jeans and heels or pair it with your power blazer for a big meeting.
The classic white button-down should be in every female CEO’s wardrobe, and other core colors are equally versatile.
A luxurious fabric like silk feels as good as it looks and is wearable even in the warm summer months.
While you can never go wrong with core colors, blouses are also a great way to incorporate prints. This plaid one CEO Emma Grede wears above is a great example. As the founder of Good American, she needs an outfit that captures her business smarts and fashion know-how.
The plaid pattern and luxe material feel polished without looking “old” or “outdated”.
3. A Low-Maintenance Dress
While we love women’s workwear tops and bottoms, we also can’t recommend a low-maintenance dress enough.
Time is money for CEOs, so getting dressed quickly is incredibly valuable — and there’s nothing quicker than a low-maintenance dress.
A dress that hits right around knee-length feels professional, and you can add in your own personal style through accessories.
Stylist Tip: Try adding a waist belt, stylish glasses, or a pair of animal-print or metallic heels.
Find Women’s Office Workwear for CEOs this Fall
As the seasons change, so should your wardrobe. Elevate your professional image with these key pieces of women’s workwear. From tailored women’s workwear jackets to versatile dresses, you can refine your style.
How? By working with Next Level Wardrobe this fall. Sign up for our personalized styling services so you can step into the season with confidence.
