From College to Career: Building a Personal Brand Through Professional Style

As a senior in college thinking about my transition into post grad life and my professional identity, I’ve been curious about how my style will develop. I have already seen a shift in my style from my freshman year of college to now, but the thought of “How will I express my personal style in my professional life?” is lingering in my head.

I interviewed my friend Kaitlyn who is a one year post grad. She is 22 years old and living in Chicago. Like me, she has always loved to express herself through fashion and has had a lot of fun with finding her professional style. She is currently on the social media team for an advertising firm working 9-5 in the office.

For Kaitlyn she has a newfound confidence in her style after graduating. “I feel like in college I couldn’t really wear what I wanted. When I moved out I got rid of almost my full closet,” she says. She expresses that she’s seen a shift from gravitating toward trendy items to working toward building a capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe is a collection of versatile, timeless, and essential items that can be mixed and matched easily. The idea is to create multiple outfits with minimal clothing items. The goal is to focus on high quality, classic staples rather than trendy, fast fashion pieces. Kaitlyn’s big focus is on finding clothes she feels confident in. “I look for cuts and colors that look good on me and that I can wear for different occasions. I feel like I am more elevated now in how I present myself,” she expresses.

Then I asked her a few questions about the comparison between college and professional life.

Me: Are there specific items or styles you’ve stopped wearing post grad?
Kaitlyn: Yes, I’ve stopped leaning into major trends and cropped items.

Me: Has entering the workforce influenced your fashion choices?
Kaitlyn: Yes and no. I own a lot more cardigans now which are easy to layer for work and an everyday look while still being comfortable and put together.

Me: Do you find you are more or less willing to experiment with fashion now vs in college?
Kaitlyn: I would say a little bit of both. I know what I like now and what looks good on me, but I also like to experiment with unique styles for tops and I love implementing heels or boots into my outfits.

Me: How do you approach balancing professionalism and personal style?
Kaitlyn: When dressing for work I try to keep it more toned down utilizing basic colors and shapes, almost like a uniform but in different forms. I lean more into comfy/scandi girl/chic style playing with jewelry, color, layering, and unique patterns.

The transition from college to professional life parallels public relations in how personal style reflects and builds a personal brand. Just as PR requires intentionality, consistency, and balance, curating a professional wardrobe—like Kaitlyn’s shift toward a capsule wardrobe—communicates confidence and authenticity while adapting to new environments. Like storytelling in PR, style tells a narrative about growth and ambition, making it an essential part of presenting oneself in the workforce.