We keep on hearing people say to dress up accordingly for the occasion. Well, cliché as it may sound, it is indeed true. They may say that you dress up to please yourself and not others. But sometimes, society or the nature of a certain group or even an event presses us to adhere to the norms.
In a work setting, there are certain limitations in the manner of dressing up. This is because the nature of a workplace requires the individuals to be businesslike and professional not just in attitude and behavior but also in wearing proper attire.
Dress etiquette is one of the strictly observed decorum in the office. Whether you are a job applicant, a rank and file employee, or part of the management, dressing up appropriately is a must. However, in this modern day and time, some companies are not that particular anymore when it comes to proper work attire. But then again, as an employee, you need to evaluate your workplace. It is still safe to wear attire that calls for a professional look.
Appropriate Work Attire
Workplaces that do not perform direct contact or communication with clients or customers sometimes just create a casual work atmosphere even in the manner of dressing. Call centers are good examples of it. So, in a company like that, you will find workers in their casual tops, shirts, denim pants, sneakers and rubber shoes, or anything comfortable to wear. But even so, there are certain limitations to the manner of dressing. Just because there is no strict policy on wearing formal or business attire, it does not mean one can simply go to work in a rugged, sloppy, and lousy outfit.
However, in most corporate offices, business casual remains to be the appropriate attire. For the ladies, decent-looking outfit such as slacks or skirt, blouses with collars, dress and heels is ideal. Of course, along with the proper office attire is wearing the right make-up and well-kept hair. Male employees appear decent in slacks, well-pressed long sleeves or polo, and polished shoes. Hair should be kept short and neatly trimmed. When using perfume, light scents are suggested instead of overpowering scents. Apparently, a professional look is about the totality of the person.
Inappropriate Clothes for Work
It is always important to assess yourself in the mirror before leaving for work. Humiliation and mockery are not want you want to receive when you get to work because of your attire, right? Know what kinds of clothes are inappropriate for the workplace. Loud colors distract attention. Watch out for blouses with bold patterns, oversized buttons, and sheer fabric.
If the company does not establish strict standards on work attire, it is still not a good idea to be in your slippers, ripped and faded jeans, tight or revealing clothing, tank tops, and shirts with offensive prints. To add to it, scuffed shoes, showy belt buckles, tattoos and piercing make a working individual look way too informal for such kind of environment.
Why Follow a Manner of Dressing in the Office?
The way you dress yourself reflects your personality. If you dress sloppily, you are regarded as someone who is lazy and irresponsible, even though this is not always the case. If you dress smartly and decently, you will achieve more reverence from your coworkers and even your bosses. Sometimes, we tend to offer a higher level of respect to individuals who look pleasing and well-mannered in their work attire.
Moreover, people who follow proper dress etiquette in the office do not just look respectable but exhibit a confident personality, too. When you feel that you are dressed up for the proper occasion, you are more confident to carry on with your day. For example, if you belong to the Training Department, your credibility is easily built up because the participants see you as a professional not just in the way you facilitate but in your manner of dressing as well.
Since the nature of a workplace compels us to dress in business casual or formal attire, the company’s reputation is also built up positively. An office packed with decently-clothed working professionals is regarded as one with a professional culture, too.
