Product Description

A noted expert on the corporate American wardrobe examines how changes in dress codes affect the way women are perceived and offers advice for achieving a professional and polished, yet relaxed look in business attire.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26813 in Books
• Published on: 1996-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Customer Reviews

Excellent New, and Current ,Advice
As someone who has worked many years in the corporate world, I think the reviews criticizing Malloy for being sexist, or promoting unclear rules that vary according to if the supervisor is a woman or a man, are being naive. His excellent and detailed research is clearly explained, and he has no bias whatsoever against women! The criticisers simply don't like hearing what the research bears out.

I met John Malloy and bought his first books back in the late 1970's, and his advice REALLY helped me back then when I was a stock broker. I was delighted to see he had a new book out for women. I was not disappointed. He discusses all the ways women's professional dress has changed, and has good research to back up his conclusions, which he also shares with the reader. I have now changed professions--I am a teacher living overseas. I still found his advice very valuable, especially his new advice about "Casual Fridays," or any other business where dress is normally casual. Although I didn't know it before I read the book, this is the area which is now giving women the most trouble. He gives a lot of excellent advice--too much to summarize here. He covers many particular professions in detail.

This book is exactly what it says it is
I don't mind others being against this book -- they're just less competition for those of us who understand the corporate unconscious. I read this book AFTER becoming successful by doing the things this book recommends. Lucky me. Then, when my company changed to a casual wear policy and I changed my look, my whole life changed. I went from unquestioning respect to constant challenges to my expertise and to colleagues actually acting surprised at my level of skill, when I had worked so hard to build a reputation. Now that I've gone back to serious dress, albeit with only a little casual influence, I have my respect back. And I'm not going to give it up again!

Let Go of Fashion and Sex Appeal
I read the first edition of this book twenty years ago. What struck me then was Malloy's research findings about fashion and sex appeal. Ladies, fashion fails you! Sex appeal gets you into the bedroom, but keeps you out of the boardroom.

Yes, Malloy's advice is based on research. He has surveyed hundreds of thousands of people on "which woman is more successful?" He shows people pictures of "twins" which are really the same woman dressed in different ways. He reports on the types of outfits, fabrics, patterns, accessories, hair styles, jewelry, and even colors that say "success" to people. He gives step by step tips on how to shop for "success" items even on a college student's budget.

This new version IS updated. Malloy himself says "Everything has changed" since he researched and wrote this second book. His advice about business casual - avoid it if you can - is right on for professional women. We have a hard enough time being recognized as professionals in suits, let alone if everyone is in Dockers and company logo polo shirts! He gives tips on how to stand out favorably even in today's polo shirt land.