Depending on your work environment the do's and don'ts of dressing for work are different. Most companies have a dress code that sets the standard but throw in some personal interpretation and you never know what you're going to see. This week at work I started noticing some pretty horrendous attire and so the Do's and Don't of Dressing for Work was born.
1.
DO look at what your boss is wearing. And your boss' boss and your boss' boss' boss. In most work environments you won't see any of the executive team members wearing jeans...even on casual Friday. Most of them stick to a tailored, clean cut, business casual/business look. If you want to advance you have to dress for the position. You will stick out for the good when the rest of your colleagues choose to wear scruffy jeans on casual Friday. Of course there are always exceptions. At companies such as Microsoft and Dell you'll often see the CEO sporting a casual look.
2.
DON'T wear stripper heels or any shoe you would wear to a club. Time and time again I see this at work...day in and day out. It is not professional, it doesn't look good. I know it's tempting to want to look hot and sexy at all times but the office is a place for people to think about your brains rather than your legs. Oh yeah...and don't wear tennis shoes either.
3.
DO wear sleeves. Even the littlest cap sleeve makes a big difference. The summer can be difficult because it's so warm but most companies keep their offices extremely cool so wearing a cardigan or sweater feels good.
4.
DON'T wear a halter top over a sleeved shirt. The other day I saw a woman wearing a white cap sleeve shirt under a bright halter top in the office. If I would've been thinking clearly I would've pulled out my iphone to capture a shot but she turned the corner before I thought of it. The combination was very distracting. A modest shirt under a revealing shirt does not = conservative look. In some cases I've actually seen this work but its very rare and usually only works outside the office.
5.
DO dress comfortably. The work day usually consists of lots of sitting. If you're uncomfortable before you leave the house, its going to be a long day and you won't be able to focus on your work. If your outfit is too tight, too low cut or too short you're going to be too distracted during meetings to make a contribution and people will notice your discomfort. For instance, this morning I put on a great pair of black, skinny pants. I usually wear them out on the weekends but I thought they might be cute for work. After moving around for a few minutes I was quickly reminded why I do wear them out, they are extremely tight-fitting. If I gained even one extra pound I assume the top button would fly off. I knew I would be miserable if I wore them...most likely counting down the minutes until I could take them off. It only takes a few bad experiences to realize that dressing comfortably will be your best friend. Beauty can be painful but distracting yourself from a promotion could be even more painful!
For more clothing tips, visit my previous post
Career girl must-haves.
xoxo,
BlondiWahlstrom
