North Texas Daily

Margaret Saucedo / Intern

The future careers of UNT students don’t always require a suit and tie. But what ever the career goal, looking sharp opens doors.

Students interested in how to gain a professional wardrobe on a budget can get a lesson with the Student Money Management Center, which will host an event called Penny Pinching a Professional Wardrobe from 5 to 6 p.m. today at the Business Leadership Building room 245.

“Being young can sometimes mean being too casual, but it is a fact that how you dress can show others how seriously you want to be treated,” said Danielle Champagne, assistant director for the Student Money Management Center.

Champagne said the event will provide students with a list of locations to shop as well as ideas for being thrifty. She will discuss components of business professional, business casual and casual dress, as well as how to be presentable in an interview situation and deal with tattoos and piercings in the professional world.

“Dressing professionally does not mean dressing like everyone else,” Champagne said. “But it does mean an increased level of respect among your peers and those higher up in the organizational system.”

She said the idea is to find balance between keeping your own style while respecting the professional environment.

Circa 77 Vintage owner Christina Shoto said a little work to a small-budget wardrobe can do a lot to a person’s appearance.

“As you get older you don’t have to look like the music you listen to,” Shoto said. “Have confidence within yourself without trying so hard. A $10 hem can make a $3 pair of pants look like a $100 pair of pants.”

Technical communication and creative writing senior Josh Jackson said his future might consist of the inevitable suit and tie. He said his professional look will depend on how lax the firm he works for is.

“Being professional is being presentable, i.e. not wearing sweat pants and a [muscle shirt] to class,” Jackson said.

Interdisciplinary art and design studies senior Jacqueline Creech, who is working toward a fashion minor, said her future entails working in a creative field, so she strives to be professional and expressive through her fashion.

The event will give tips on how to get creative with a professional wardrobe and find a balance between staying true to yourself while conforming to employers’ expectations.

Feature photo courtesy of Purdue University