The Little Black Dress Essential for Every Corporate Office Uniform

Most women own at least one classic little black dress.

The kind of dress you can dress up for an event or cocktail party and simply throw a jacket over and wear to work as a work dress.

The color black itself has many symbolic meanings, including austerity, virtue, wealth, and sophistication.

But the trick when buying a multifunctional work dress is finding just the balance between aesthetics and practicality.

Women wearing dresses to work is certainly nothing new; they’ve been doing it for centuries. But the type of dresses they’ve worn has changed drastically over time.  As early as the 1550s, middle- and upper-class women in Europe wore dresses that included a smock, stays, kirtle, gown, forepart, sleeves, ruff, and a partlet.

Luckily today, a woman’s work dress has many advantages over their historical counterparts, the biggest being comfort. Women want a dress that moves with their body, is flattering, yet practical.

With that in mind, you might be surprised to learn that there are many things a woman should consider when choosing the right work dress, as each one features a different cut, style, and color.

When shopping, it’s important to find a work dress with a fabric that allows for breathability and movement.

Polyester and bamboo are one example. This blend is lightweight and provides durability. While polyester fabric adds flexibility and strength, the bamboo fabric gives the dress the softest texture.

Knitted fabric is also another popular choice. The gentle knitted fabric hugs and holds in just the right place to provide a perfect fit. Most are lined with flexible fabric that can make them feel cozy. These fabrics are also made to be stretchable and anti-bacterial, which means they can be worn all day long, a necessity, when you’re on your feet all day.

It's also smart to find a work dress that is machine-washable and crease-resistant, so you’re not spending your hard-earned money on dry cleaning bills.

Here are seven other magnificent reasons to consider for wearing a work dress:

• It creates a sense of professionalism. Wearing a dress to work shows you are a professional and can illustrate that you take your job seriously.
• It represents the company’s culture. Following the dress code for your organization communicates that respect the culture and sets the expectation that you want to be successful.
• It fosters a sense of community. When a company enforces a dress code, it can help employees feel like they belong and are part of something bigger.
• It affects people’s perception of you. How you dress can influence the way others perceive you, and have an impact on how you perceive yourself.
• It instills confidence. There’s a studied theory called Enclothed Cognition that emphasizes the connection between your wardrobe and your mindset. It illustrates that when people dress in a way that reflects their professionalism and style, signals are sent to the brain that the person is capable, competent, and prepared to conquer the day.
• It allows you to be your authentic self. We can exhibit who we are through our wardrobe choices and express ourselves freely.
• It fluctuates depending on your industry. The type of industry you work in can affect what you decide to wear. For example, sales and marketing staff may need to dress more professionally when meeting with clients. 

When you add a jacket or blazer to a work dress and make it a suit, it only doubles the influence the woman wearing the work dress can have. As we mentioned earlier, the color black can instill empowerment, confidence, and style, among other things, but it’s up to the person wearing the suit to enforce the tone she wants to set.

Here are some examples:

• It can represent power. This power suit symbolizes that you are self-assured.
• A black skirt can represent a formal tone: It can convey formality and assert dominance.
• A black work dress can represent success. It can express style, success, and authority. 
• It can make an immediate first impression. Both options when wearing a black or blue suit means you are least likely to ever be underdressed as it garners a positive subconscious response from those you interact with in any business environment. 
• A black work dress is gender neutral. By wearing one, you designate yourself as someone who is gender neutral. 
• A black suit can fit almost any dress code. If an event specifies ‘business attire,’ a black suit is a smart choice, and the jacket can be removed for a more cocktail event look.

But never forget to complete your work dress look by accessorizing it with the right choice of necklaces, bracelets, rings, or earrings, as well as the perfect handbag.

In conclusion, the little black dress is a staple in any woman’s closet and can be worn in a corporate environment as a work dress, enhance any outfit with a pair of heels and throw for a cocktail event, or even be dressed down with a pair of flats or tennis shoes when you are on the go.

If you don’t have one, what are you waiting for?