“A tie clip is a great conversation starter… Cool socks.”

I pull on a black sweater with golden buttons sewn to its sleeves. I am already ten minutes late. 

Move.

“Chin down… Tilt your head up slightly… A little to the left.”

I glance at the mirror quickly. My hair is a cacophony of flyways and unruly curls.

“You want to look the part… What if you work on Wall Street?

I take one more glimpse at the mirror before rushing out the door with my backpack and winter boots.

“Smile.”

I am fond of fashion, and I do own conversation-starting accessories, but I seldom think strategically about clothing. I was surprised this Thursday, when I learned about the significance of clothing in the professional world.

“A tie clip can be a conversation starter. Cool socks are good too. You want to dress your level especially if you work on Wall Street.”

But I’m from the west coast. Employees at tech companies frequently wear shorts to meetings and tennis shoes in the office.

“It’s not about what you wear specifically. It’s about fitting in, showing you belong. You want to wear clothing that reflects the environment around you.”

From casual clothes to formal flair, I finally understood. I can wear intriguing colors and subtle accessories to add flavor and personality to my attire. But other than that, professionalism is not specifically about expensive outfits, formality, or quirky clothing, it is about dressing to blend into your environment and to work effectively with people.