Work attire is a tricky subject.
While there are a few general rules of thumb for office dressing, it
really depends on where you work. Different environments call for
different ensembles. In the upcoming weeks, I’ll decode what’s
appropriate for a variety of workplace settings in a new blog series
called, Dress Coding. For now, I’ll provide you with some general tips on dressing for work.
If
you’re new to the working world, I should warn you: Beware of the
fashion police otherwise known as “Human Resources” and your fellow
co-workers. Committing an at-work fashion faux pas is a legitimate
offense!
Wearing the wrong threads has
the potential to distort your image as a valued employee and may even
prevent you from getting ahead. If Wendy Worker sports tight skirts,
sheer blouses and routinely puts her “girls” on display at work, her
co-workers may have a difficult time taking her (and her wacko wardrobe)
seriously. Therefore, as with all occasions, dress for success—and mean
it, especially when you’re on the clock!
Even though all work
environments have different rules as to what is and isn’t okay to wear,
the following commandments cover most of the general dos and don’ts of
dressing for work:
Thou shalt never let your outfit outshine your work.
(Yes, creatives and fashionistas, this applies to you as well!)
Thou shalt abstain from clothing with obnoxious logos.
(Besides Bebe logo tops being so 1999, no one wants a walking billboard in their office.)
You shall avoid all sexy and revealing clothing.
Never show more than 1 inch of cleavage or wear a skirt that skims your
bum. For most offices, skirts that hit more than 3 or 4 inches above
the knee are considered inappropriate (If you want to wear shorter
skirts, or even dress shorts, pair them with opaque tights to temper the
higher hemline). Also, no tank tops unless you have something layered
over it to cover your shoulders.
Thou shalt not wear any ripped, torn, or sloppy clothing.
This includes anything that can be worn to the gym or the beach (gym shoes and flip-flops etc.)
Thou shall dress like my female boss.
If you do not have a female boss, emulate the highest-ranking female in
your company. This doesn’t mean steal her style. Rather, base your
office attire on what she considers appropriate. Is she casual? Always
dresses to the nines? Take a cue from the people in positions you aspire
to have someday. They don’t say, “dress the part” for no reason.
You shall always dress to impress—even on “casual Fridays.”
Don’t let casual Fridays fool you. Jeans may be okay, but that old tee
reserved for lazy Sundays and those hot pink flip-flops are just not
going to cut it… Casual Friday attire should be based on your weekly
work wear, but taken down a few notches.
Thou shalt not don underwear as outerwear.
Ever. This is pretty self-explanatory…
You shall always use your best judgment.
Consider your work environment and dress accordingly. Anything you can
wear to a club should never step foot in an office. If you’re unsure
about an outfit, it’s best to err on the side of caution and go with
something else.
