Christine Kent

Recently, I spoke to a class of graduate students in the Media and Visual Arts Department at USC. During our visit we had some great discussions about how to start and maintain a career in the Entertainment Industry. One area that we discussed in depth was how to dress for a job interview and how to dress on the job. All of the students present were embarking on a career in media, so the rules would be different than if they were going to work on Wall Street, right? Well, yes and no. . If you’re working in an industry, like Entertainment, that’s filled with creatives and visionaries, your wardrobe will most likely be different than the blue suit you would wear if you went into Finance. However, Dressing For Success, Entertainment Style is still very important and must be considered before going on a job interview or before heading to work. Conformity has never been popular amongst those in a creative line of work, but dressing appropriately is the key to success. No matter what industry you work in, how you dress plays a critical role in how others perceive you. How you present yourself on a daily basis to your supervisors and to your peers can be a factor in determining whether you stay where you are, or if you move up the ladder in responsibility and compensation. Whether you like it or not, how you dress matters to your career.

So, now that we’ve determined that you have to dress for success to get and maintain a job in any industry, how do you Dress for Success, Entertainment Style? Navigating the area of the “work wardrobe” can be tricky. How casual is too casual? Is this outfit too dressy? Are these jeans appropriate for the workplace? Great questions! Below I’ve put together some pointers for dressing on the job, and for dressing during a job interview in the Entertainment Industry.

Dress For Success, Entertainment Style - On The Job

Casual Doesn’t Mean Sloppy - One common mistake is to think that casual attire means that you can dress in a sloppy manner. Not so. Casual dress means that you still have to look nice and be appropriate. No torn jeans or ripped shirts...even if that is the fashion. Make sure your clothes are clean and neat. No old sweatshirts or t-shirts on the job. No one wants to see you at work in your best “bumming around the house“ clothes. Showing up sloppy reflects poorly on you as a person, and it denotes that you will be sloppy in your work. No one wants a sloppy employee, so polish your look and you will go far!

Cost Isn’t The Issue -While I’m on the subject, let me say that the cost of your clothing doesn’t matter. I love fashion as much as the next person, but some of today’s fashion doesn’t translate well into everyday office wear. Don’t think that just because something was costly, means that it is appropriate office attire. Those ripped jeans might have cost a week’s salary, but they are still ripped jeans. If it’s not appropriate for work, the price won’t make it more appropriate. Professionalism does not have a price tag.

Hair, Hair, And More Hair! - Yes, I’m going there. The style of your hair matters on the job, too. Your look should always be clean and decently coiffed. The unkempt look is really big right now, but try to tame it a bit for the workplace. Once more, no one wants a sloppy looking employee. If you look sloppy, it stands to reason that your work will be sloppy. I’m not saying you have to be “high and tight,” but keep things looking clean, trim and put-together. Also, keep facial hair neat and clean, as well. The scruffy/five o’clock shadow look is awesome, but it can also make you look like you just rolled out of bed. Take that look to the club, and try clean shaven for the workplace. If you have a beard or mustache, keep them trimmed and neat.

Made Up For Work. - Now that I’ve picked on the guys about their facial hair, let me talk to the ladies about makeup. First of all, I have to say that I LOVE makeup! I have even referred to myself as a closet drag queen, because I like nothing better than getting dressed to the nines and putting on the old war paint. However, there is a time and place for that look and work is neither the time nor the place. On the job, keep your makeup looking polished and subtle. Keep the dramatic looks for evening wear and bring your fresh face to work. You’ll be glad you did!

How Much Skin Is too Much? - The clothes you wear to work shouldn’t reveal too much and shouldn’t be too tight. Miniskirts should be kept to a reasonable length (if worn at all) and tank tops should have something over them and should not be too low cut. Cut off t-shirts should be kept at home and the guys shouldn’t be wearing “wife beater” type t-shirts on the job. Showing too much skin looks sloppy and doesn’t present you in the best light. Many an HR professional has had to have “the talk” with an employee about clothes that were too tight or revealed too much. Don’t put yourself or your HR rep in that position. Dress for the job, not for the club.

But No One Sees Me! - This is something I commonly hear from artists that spend most of their days in computer bays, or at a desk somewhere in the back of an office building. If you aren’t in a role where you greet the public or make business calls, then should your wardrobe really matter? The answer is Yes! No matter what job you’re doing you are seen during the day, so you still need to dress for success. Also, dressing for work makes you feel professional and helps you to get in the mindset of being “on the job.” Even if no one sees you, it’s important to be professional on the job.

Dress for the Job You Want (Not The Job You Have) - I don’t know who said it, but it’s true. You always want to dress for the job you want, not the job you have. So, take a look at where you are and where you want to go. Are you dressing like your boss? Maybe you should be. How you dress on the job is how you are perceived by your superiors. If you want to be treated like an equal and brought up through the ranks, then emulate your superiors in dress and in manner. It will change the way they look at you and the way you perceive yourself, and you will find that you start to advance personally and professionally.

Casual Friday - Most companies today have some sort of Casual Friday policy, and employees love it. However, Casual Friday does not mean that you should wear your most comfortable “around the house” clothes to work. Casual Friday denotes business casual, and usually means that you may wear a nice pair of jeans and an appropriately casual top. Don’t take Casual Friday too far. There are times to push the envelope on the job, but dressing inappropriate is never one of them. When it comes to dressing casual at work, if you have to ask, “Is this too casual?” then the answer is probably yes.

Dress for Success, Entertainment Style - The Job Interview

Clean and Neat - As with dressing on the job, no ripped clothing and make sure you have a clean polished look. Facial hair should be neat, and hair should be styled in a pleasing manner. Attire shouldn’t be too tight or low-cut, and skirts shouldn’t be too short.

Kick It Up A Notch - The main rule of thumb to dressing for an interview is to find out how you would dress if you got the job, and then take it up one notch. You don’t want to get too crazy and be too dressy, but it’s better to go dresser than more casual for a job interview. Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression, and first impressions are lasting.

Interviewing On Casual Friday - Yikes! You’ve just found out its Casual Friday at the place where you’re interviewing! What do you do? Do you dress for the interview, or do you dress for Casual Friday to show you fit in? Good question! The answer is that you ALWAYS dress for the job interview. It doesn’t matter if it is THEIR Casual Friday. It is YOUR job interview. As I state above, you only get one chance to make a first impression. It doesn’t matter if it’s Casual Friday or Plain Old Tuesday...you should always dress appropriately for the job interview, and wow their socks off!

We work in a creative industry, so Dressing For Success, Entertainment Style can be difficult to navigate but it’s important that you always put your best foot forward. How you dress for work reflects on you as an employee and on you as a person. Dressing appropriate for the interview can land you the job, and dressing appropriate on the job can help to advance your career and keep on the path to success! Follow these guidelines, and your common sense, and you will be Dressed For Success, Entertainment Style!