Chic Simple Dress Smart Women: Wardrobes That Win in the New Workplace

by Kim Johnson Gross, Jeff Stone

In these times of economic uncertainty, dressing to impress has never been so important. Chic Simple DRESS SMART-WOMEN guides the professional female to dress to find a job, to keep a job, and to get a better job. Drawing on interviews from top professionals and their own vast experience via their book line, AOL column, and InStyle monthly advice section, veteran style mavens Jeff Stone and Kim Johnson Gross put a sexy spin on the age-old question of how to dress for success. DRESS SMART provides the straight talk answer to the most frequently asked questions about style at work, valuable tips dressing for off-site events, dealing with business casual versus business appropriate, knowing where to spend-and where to save-money on your wardrobe. The book will capitalize on the fan base established with the new Chic Simple magazine, but while the magazine focuses on shopping solutions for all aspects of women's lives, DRESS SMART will provide complete lessons on how to maximize professional impact through your wardrobe, and will be a blueprint to the dynamics of dressing in today's constantly changing business environment.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2002

Reviews

[Desiree · Rating 3 out of 5]

the world is a stupid, stupid place where personality and creativity are rewarded with squat, and looking like a cog in a machine is a good thing. barf.
makes me wish i lived in a world where i could have purple hair and a pierced face and people would still take me seriously. but this is not that world, and i am a "manager" in a business setting, so off i go to have my spirit squashed into a navy suit.

[LadyS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually, this book changed my life. It really helped me evaluate my spending habits on clothes. I wish I read this book a long time ago.

[Teresa Ballantyne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring

This is the most boring fashion book I've ever read. There is some good advice; however, most of it is too conservative. If you adhere strictly to the advice of this book, you will look too stuffy for most American workplaces.

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now if only manufacturers would mske these clothes!!!

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book of all the books by Kim Johnson Gross in the Chic Simple series.

For my entire working career, I have worked in places where conservative dress has been the preferred way to dress by those in charge, and this included my stint working in the arts.

This book brings together much of what I liked in other books by these authors.

I have seen a lot of poorly dressed women in my career. Many of them were and are stuck in a job because they make no effort to dress in a way that's professional or flattering. Several of them wonder why people don't take them seriously or respect them.

Men typically have it easier when it comes to dressing in the workplace.

While I know that quality clothing isn't cheap, everyone can benefit from the basics and simplicity. Save the flair for your accessories.

[February Four · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone like me who can't tell business casual from business appropriate from business formal? This book is indispensable. The book's best features are its pictures and detailed lists of what's kosher and what's not, and of course, what people think of X, Y, and Z clothing. Granted, I will be making my own changes and tweaks to the suggestions, but I think this is the best set of guidelines I have ever seen for navigating the strange world of corporate attire, and as someone who has always had problems discerning when to wear what, this book is a godsend. I will be keeping this to refer to for the next 30 years (the rest of my career; I'm in the corporate audit/accounting field).

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives pretty good advice around how to take your beginning work wardrobe and improve upon it as you and your career age. Definitely follows the theory, "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have"

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather basic book, but helpful to those just starting out in corporate life. If you've ever looked with envy at a well-dressed woman at work, and wanted to look like her, this book will help you get there.

[Caryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, basic advice for dressing in the workplace. An easy read, with suggestions broken down into general job types.

[Deb]

Dress smart--women : wardrobes that win in the new workplace by Kim Johnson Gross (2002)

[Lori Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read book on personal branding as you manage your career.