Faculty and students from Barrett, the Honors College on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus put on a fashion show to demonstrate how to dress — and how not to dress — in a professional setting last week. The show took place in the lobby of the University Center after an open house of the Barrett offices that included games, raffles and treats.
Before the student models strutted down the makeshift catwalk, the show featured an appearance from Miss Arizona, adorable speeches by Associate Dean Shannon Ringenbach’s two daughters (dressed in matching pantsuits) and tips on professionalism from ASU’s Career Services. Though I was eager to see the clothes, the tidbits of advice were interesting. Attendees learned about the importance of punctuality, dining etiquette, proper vocabulary and putting the cell phone down sometimes.
Handy tip: Don’t scroll through your Twitter feed during a job interview.
After polishing up our knowledge about positive first impressions, it was time for the models, a mix of residential community assistants, peer mentors and other Barrett students, to demonstrate how to put professionalism into practice through one’s clothing. The show featured a mix of refined ensembles fit for an internship and “bad” examples demonstrating more questionable compositions that could raise some eyebrows.
Common elements among the exemplary female looks included preppy cardigans, simple pencil skirts, crisp blazers and chic blouses. The “what NOT to do” examples included crop tops (save the midriff-bearing for the weekends) and short, body-hugging skirts (rock your Forever 21 bandage mini at the club, not the office).
Footwear always throws some new questions into the mix. Heels can add polish to a look, and the literal boost in height may also help your confidence. However, clunky platforms or more strappy pieces may not contribute to the professionalism of the look, and they certainly won’t help with the comfort factor. Simple wedges and sleek pumps — what most of the student models wore — are easier to walk in and they keep the polished look going from head to toe. Of course, ballet flats are always a cute and comfortable option, too.
While men don’t have to worry about the height of their shoes, they do have to take color into consideration. In other words, rocking brown loafers with a navy blue belt is a no-no. As demonstrated by the guys of the fashion show, sticking to one base color helps streamline the look and shows togetherness.
Just like ladies, men also have a choice between cardigans and blazers, both classy options with varying levels of formality. Some enduring parts of the male looks of the show were ties and watches — symbols of professionalism, punctuality and sophistication. Proper fit and manner of wear is also important, as wrinkly shirts and too-short ties constituted the “bad” male looks of the fashion show.
Barrett journalism freshman Katie Malles modeled a black pencil skirt, a plum-colored blouse and black heels, a look she described as “business professional.” Malles loved the idea of being able to take part in the fashion show by demonstrating a classy and chic look, an important style to hone as a student on the Downtown Phoenix campus.
“I consider the Walter Cronkite School to be a professional atmosphere,” Malles said. “I always see teachers and deans walking around. Plus, the news networks are just a few blocks away, so I always try to look my best, which means I ditch the sweats and pajamas.”
Ringenbach said she believed the fashion show, an idea born in a meeting with ASU’s community assistants, peer mentors and student services staff, was a fun and effective way to give students critical tips for their professional journeys.
“It’s very important to give you that edge and to complete your professionalism,” she said.
A favorite tip: Dress for the job you want.
“You want to dress for the job you’re interviewing for, for the next position you want,” Ringenbach said.
For college students, aspiring to a higher level of dress may mean everything from swapping out those ripped jeans for some tailored pants to opting for a button-up rather than a sweatshirt.
Malles understood the importance of professional dress as a college student.
“Knowing how to dress in an interview can make or break you,” she said. “It could be the difference between landing your dream job or not.”
Contact the columnist at lallnatt@asu.edu
