I was talking with a stylist friend a few weeks ago trying to glean a little bit of her magic and she said something I found curious. “We are a walking billboard,” she told me. “Every time you get dressed and pick things to wear, you are telling the world a little bit about yourself.” This resonated with me in multiple ways. Now that I’m branching out into wardrobe consulting, I have found that I’m thinking more purposefully in how I dress for appointments. I find when I shower, fix my hair and dress for the day, I feel more professional and dare I say it, people treat me a bit differently as opposed to when I show up in my workout clothes, hair piled messily on my head. Maybe it’s It’s just a slight mental adjustment for the person I’m interacting with and how I carry myself. 

My college-aged daughters have been going on interviews the last few weeks and again, I am reminded that they too are a walking billboard. This process is fairly new to them, and they’ve looked to both my husband and me for guidance. When they are away at school, their 8 a.m. “billboard” says, “Hey, I’m a college kid … I just rolled out of bed to make it to class, maybe had a fun night last night. I’m fully prepared for snow and warm sunshine.” However, their 10 p.m. billboard says, “I love clothes, working out and my friends. It’s 95 degrees out and I like Zara and Free People.” But showing up to an interview requires another billboard, one that says, “Hey I’m young but am professional and know how to read a room.” This look isn’t always easy, especially since our sense of formality as a society has waned over the last few years.

My husband works in staffing and they’ve seen it all. They’ve had people show up to interviews in shorts, T-shirts, sequins, you name it! So where is the happy medium? Well, I think that depends on your age, where you are applying for a job and what message you want to send. If you are interviewing at a bank, then I absolutely think you should be in a dress or suit. Guys need to be in a dress shirt and tie and my husband would say sports coat or suit. Ladies need to leave the midriff tops and super short skirts for the weekend.

But what about everyday people? Busy mamas who are carting around kids to after-school sports or older ladies who are meeting friends for lunch or Bridge? Become your dream billboard. Show who you are! My Mom has always been great at this. She likes to dress up and does it well. Her jewelry is spot on. She puts thought in what she wears, and it all makes sense to the observer. But let me clarify before you protest! We all know you’ve been playing tennis or working out if you (we) show up to Harris Teeter in the workout gear. That’s the billboard for the day. Totally fine. But when you want to send a different message, consider changing your billboard. 

I’ve been asked to write blogs about what is appropriate to wear for job interviews, work dinners, entertaining clients for golf/tennis/pickleball. It’s really all about your billboard. What do you want people to say when they describe you after first meeting you? Obviously we want all the normal descriptions: smart, funny, inquisitive, put together. But is that what your billboard says? When I went out to the golf tournament at Quail Hollow a few weeks ago, I saw a lot of billboards and there were definitely some that said that. But a lot of others said, “I didn’t do my laundry this week, I just ate a hotdog and I’m ready to go clubbing!’ Again, all good if you are with your BFF and truly want to watch golf. But what if you were meeting on a first date, a potential client or were in the market for a new job and hoped to make some new contacts at that tent you were going to? Consider a cute sundress, a pair of nice shorts and top. Steer clear of the high heels and uncomfortable shoes, since you’ll be walking a golf course.

If you are going to an interview, do some research. Find out if the office is business casual or more conservative. My advice is to always dress a bit better than what they are doing, meaning if it’s a casual environment, wear a suit or nice dress. Show that you put effort into your outfit and that you know how to read a situation and a billboard!

Oh By the Way, if you are looking for a little inspiration for that first day of work or even an interview, I’ve attached a few ideas!