The ’80s movie Working Girl comes to mind when I think of women in business. I mean that in both a good and bad way. Sigourney Weaver’s dragon lady boss, in designer suits and gigantic shoulder pads, was a cartoon caricature of the toughness required for a woman to succeed in a “man’s world.” The title character played by Melanie Griffith, on the other hand, was symbolic of the "nice girl” who is into frizzy perms, pantyhose with socks and trainers for the commute, and over-the-top makeup. In order for her to make it in the business world, she is required to tame her florid appearance and smarten up her outlook. Success ensues.
I would venture to say that this is an outmoded view of women in the business world and so does Amanda Guralski, founder along with her mother, Jane, of bizME.biz, a career gals website and resource for coaching in many aspects of the professional business world. To further her point that being a woman in business doesn’t require dressing like a man, she presented the bizstyle Milwaukee Runway show at the Astor Hotel to illustrate professional yet feminine career wear. Featuring a wide range of boutiques, including Goldi, Miss Ruby, Fred, Retique, White House/Black Market, and Lorena Sarbu, the event
was well attended by a generally younger female crowd and showed the diversity of what I would term “business fashion” in an entertaining and expert way.
As a business communications/marketing advertising graduate of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., Guralski knows her way around a boardroom. I asked her a few questions about her company and her take on being fashionable and professional at the same time!
How do you see the relationship between business and fashion?
Whether walking into a conference room or meeting a client for the first time, the way our sense of style empowers us never changes. Looking good and feeling confident is often reflected in our 
fashion choices. I know I want that same self-assured attitude, chic look and a little bit of allure whether I am on a first date or working. Fashion projects our image and I personally know that when I love what I’m wearing, I’ve got a little swagger in my step. You can tell when someone is rockin’ her favorite necklace, her favorite suit or even a new pair of shoes. You come across differently and people can definitely tell!
Does fashion play an important role in the corporate world of today?
Absolutely. You have 11 seconds to impress someone, and those 11 seconds are almost always based on how you present yourself. Fashion not only determines what other people think of you, but it also says a lot about how you perceive yourself. Personal branding is extremely important in the corporate world, and your sense of style, 
etiquette, and attitude all reflect that.
What top-five clothing items should every biz gal have in her wardrobe?
Each season, I build my wardrobe around classic pieces that often include:
1. Trendy and vintage accessories such as a statement necklace, brooch or scarf
2. Tailored white shirt
3. Black pencil skirt
4. Wide leg black pant
5. A “Jackie Kennedy” type fitted sleeveless dress with a matching or coordinating jacket
(Any item though, should always be pressed, polished, and ready to go!) 
Any dress for success tips?
The advice most often given is to dress for your next success, and that’s so true. As your career continues to advance, your fashion should reflect that new status be it Wednesday afternoon visiting a client, or a Friday night hanging out with the ladies. My fashion has definitely changed as bizMe continues to grow and I become a familiar face in the business community. I make sure that I am always professional looking because you never know when you might run into someone you have been trying to reach. I want to always feel confident in taking that opportunity whether it is at Starbucks, Target, a restaurant or boutique.
One last question, why did you and your mom feel the time was right for bizMe?
Career competence creates a professional go-getter status. Our online magazine, bizMe.biz is the perfect partner to coach and mentor this tech-charmed generation. We know the tools they need to be successful in the working world. Published monthly, bizMe features experts who share their career knowledge and wisdom. In essence, giving the Gen Y “bizgal” that competitive edge and business poise they may not already have. It will also help direct her career ambition as well as help in developing a more professional image. Our design for bizMe is to offer honest real world advice and to deliver that message in a trusted, just like you and me conversation. We know our audience, and we know they utilize bizMe as an essential resource when they need to successfully navigate the relationship-driven world of the global marketplace.
Where was all this information when Working Girl came out? It seems like Amanda and Jane could have spared our heroine a lot of trouble! But these two savvy gals surely have their bases covered when it comes to the business end of fashion.
For more information and solid, friendly advice, check out bizme.biz.
