Dressing for work used to be simple: everyone wore a suit. But although most workplaces now have a more relaxed dress code, don’t be fooled into thinking this means you can wear anything you like. The way you dress, and your general appearance, has an influence on how others perceive you and how quickly you move up the career ladder. What you wear can get you noticed, establish your credibility and encourage colleagues to take you seriously – or, indeed, have just the opposite effect.
1. Present a smart image
Smart doesn’t mean “dressed up”: it means cool and polished. Your aim should be to look professional rather than cute or trendy: a classic, structured outward appearance is a sign of what’s going on in your head. Take care of the details: neat hair and nails, clean, ironed clothes, polished shoes and perfect stockings all show you take your job seriously.
If your field is conservative, dress conservatively. Women can play safe by wearing skirts or trouser suits in dark, conservative colours, shoes which cover the toes and shirts rather than t-shirts. Men can simply wear a well-cut suit in a dark, subtle colour and a sober tie; remember that black shoes work best with navy, grey and black suits; brown shoes with brown or tan suits. Wear lace-up leather shoes, and shine them regularly. Your socks should match the colour of your trousers, unless your suit is tan – then the socks should match your shoes.
2. Be careful with colour
Image consultants emphasise that the colours you wear not only express your personality but influence the way other people react to you. Traditional career colours are black, grey, blue and red. Black is smart and cool, and obviously the most formal; dark grey is a safe alternative for everyday and for special business meetings. Blue, particularly navy, is a successful corporate colour, conveying confidence and trustworthiness; a lighter shade suggests eagerness and enthusiasm. And while red indicates power, focus and control, it is an “aggressive” colour, so don’t wear a suit entirely in red! Likewise, for women, light green, yellow, soft pink and ice blue are pretty and feminine, but just add touches of these colours rather than creating complete outfits.
3. Dress for the position you want
If you are a manager or have a more senior position, you can instil respect by dressing a bit better than those under you. If you want to move up in the company, dress to fit the role you want, not the role you have. If you’d like to be a manager, look like someone who could fill that position. Dress like your boss – but be careful, you shouldn’t make it too obvious!
4. Don’t be too casual
There is a difference between clothes that are appropriate for work and those that are better for the weekend. If you wear jeans in the office, they should be dark and well fitting, with neat hems. Never wear flip-flops, beach attire or anything too revealing, baggy or tight.
Men who wear their hair long should have it tied back; your beard should look as though you mean it to look the way it is, not just that you didn’t have time to shave. Women should wear subtle, neutral makeup; keep the sparkly stuff for the evening.
Lastly, facial piercings, tongue jewellery and tattoos, strong perfumes and aftershaves simply don’t belong in the business workplace.
5. Dress for the occasion
If you have to give a presentation or meet clients, pay more attention to your appearance than you would normally. After all, you want to make sure people listen to what you say rather than being distracted by your appearance. When it comes to customer meetings, the rule of thumb is to dress a little better than your customers.
And remember: don’t wear anything too outrageous to the office party: your colleagues will never, ever forget!
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