Dressed to impress?
Your dress code speaks volumes about who you are and conveys an image of the organisation you represent. For this reason, it is essential that you pay close attention to what you wear to work.
Some companies go as far as to outline what is the permissible (as well as what isn’t acceptable) explicitly in the Code of Conduct that is handed down to each and every one of their employees. At the same time, there are other firms who do not even so much as mention if there is a standard dress code, and yet its employees know perfectly well what they can and should wear to work.
If the organization you work for happens to be like the former, then that makes it a whole lot easier for you to eliminate options of what to wear when combing through your wardrobe each morning for something to wear. But even in such circumstances, there are bound to be grey areas that may still puzzle you and leave you clueless.
Here are some general pointers to consider when planning suitable attire to wear to the office.
Understand your company’s corporate culture. If your employer tends to project the company as one that is prestigious and caters for an affluent clientele, it is likely that you will need to dress the part as well. This means you would need to wear formal attire such as a suit or coat, a necktie (if you’re a man) and even sport well polished shoes when dealing with clients. On the other hand, if the firm you work at highly esteems practicality and simplicity, there may be a chance that you are allowed to dress down a little more; perhaps even being able to wear jeans and t-shirts to the office. Consider what values and corporate image your organization wants to project, and make sure to reflect that in clothes you wear to work each day.
Observe what others wear. When in doubt, turn to other colleagues around you to get a better idea of what is best to wear to work. Although it’s not likely you can conform to wearing the same style of clothing as he or she does, at the very least you will have a rough guideline to work with. Look out especially for how your bosses dress to work. It may be that they would demand that your dress code be of a similar standard as theirs.
Be aware of industry practices. Certain careers require that a stricter dress code should be observed at the workplace. Examples of this can be seen in the legal and medical profession. It is important for you to find out whether the industry you work in has such expectations for your dressing. If it does, then you should adhere to it as much as you can, as it may have an impact on your future career advancement and would also help you blend in better with others within the same profession.
Respect the cultural and religious preferences of others. If your job requires you to interact with people outside of your office quarters, bear in mind the cultural and religious preferences of those you are meeting. The idea here is to avoid being offensive as much as possible. For instance, if you are a lady and you are aware that your client adopts a religion that promotes modest dressing, it would be advisable that you refrained from wearing anything that would draw unnecessary attention to your body such as short skirts or blouses with low necklines.
When in doubt, go for the more conservative option. It is typically better to be found overdressed rather than underdressed when it comes to a corporate setting. Appearing too casual might send across the wrong message that you are irreverent or unprofessional, and this would ultimately land you in trouble with your bosses or even clients. As the saying goes, better to be safe than sorry. Hence, you should go for the more conservative option whenever you find yourself faced with a certain degree of uncertainty as to what is appropriate for a particular occasion or location.
There really is no standard set of regulations when it comes to work dress code. However, in general, the idea is that you should be well groomed. Besides just focusing on the clothes you put on, remember to look into your overall appearance as well. This includes keeping your hair tidy, putting on appropriate footwear, using perfume or deodorant to keep unpleasant body odours at bay, and so much more. Ultimately, as fashion trends continue to change rapidly, you will need to continually adjust your dress code to suit the current vogue.
What’s your take on an appropriate dress style for work? Do you think smart casual is the way to go? Or do you prefer the classic formal wear? Is it better to be overdressed as opposed to underdressed? Go ahead and speak your mind – drop me a comment or two.
Some companies go as far as to outline what is the permissible (as well as what isn’t acceptable) explicitly in the Code of Conduct that is handed down to each and every one of their employees. At the same time, there are other firms who do not even so much as mention if there is a standard dress code, and yet its employees know perfectly well what they can and should wear to work.
If the organization you work for happens to be like the former, then that makes it a whole lot easier for you to eliminate options of what to wear when combing through your wardrobe each morning for something to wear. But even in such circumstances, there are bound to be grey areas that may still puzzle you and leave you clueless.
Here are some general pointers to consider when planning suitable attire to wear to the office.
Understand your company’s corporate culture. If your employer tends to project the company as one that is prestigious and caters for an affluent clientele, it is likely that you will need to dress the part as well. This means you would need to wear formal attire such as a suit or coat, a necktie (if you’re a man) and even sport well polished shoes when dealing with clients. On the other hand, if the firm you work at highly esteems practicality and simplicity, there may be a chance that you are allowed to dress down a little more; perhaps even being able to wear jeans and t-shirts to the office. Consider what values and corporate image your organization wants to project, and make sure to reflect that in clothes you wear to work each day.
Observe what others wear. When in doubt, turn to other colleagues around you to get a better idea of what is best to wear to work. Although it’s not likely you can conform to wearing the same style of clothing as he or she does, at the very least you will have a rough guideline to work with. Look out especially for how your bosses dress to work. It may be that they would demand that your dress code be of a similar standard as theirs.
Be aware of industry practices. Certain careers require that a stricter dress code should be observed at the workplace. Examples of this can be seen in the legal and medical profession. It is important for you to find out whether the industry you work in has such expectations for your dressing. If it does, then you should adhere to it as much as you can, as it may have an impact on your future career advancement and would also help you blend in better with others within the same profession.
Respect the cultural and religious preferences of others. If your job requires you to interact with people outside of your office quarters, bear in mind the cultural and religious preferences of those you are meeting. The idea here is to avoid being offensive as much as possible. For instance, if you are a lady and you are aware that your client adopts a religion that promotes modest dressing, it would be advisable that you refrained from wearing anything that would draw unnecessary attention to your body such as short skirts or blouses with low necklines.
When in doubt, go for the more conservative option. It is typically better to be found overdressed rather than underdressed when it comes to a corporate setting. Appearing too casual might send across the wrong message that you are irreverent or unprofessional, and this would ultimately land you in trouble with your bosses or even clients. As the saying goes, better to be safe than sorry. Hence, you should go for the more conservative option whenever you find yourself faced with a certain degree of uncertainty as to what is appropriate for a particular occasion or location.
There really is no standard set of regulations when it comes to work dress code. However, in general, the idea is that you should be well groomed. Besides just focusing on the clothes you put on, remember to look into your overall appearance as well. This includes keeping your hair tidy, putting on appropriate footwear, using perfume or deodorant to keep unpleasant body odours at bay, and so much more. Ultimately, as fashion trends continue to change rapidly, you will need to continually adjust your dress code to suit the current vogue.
What’s your take on an appropriate dress style for work? Do you think smart casual is the way to go? Or do you prefer the classic formal wear? Is it better to be overdressed as opposed to underdressed? Go ahead and speak your mind – drop me a comment or two.
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