FASHION AND LOVERS: CORPORATE DRESSING ETIQUETTE....

Okay, so you had a great resume, you wore a fabulous outfit to your interview, the hiring manager loved you, and now you have your brand new job or internship! Immediately you're faced with a brand new problem....what do you wear to work?

…..It is often said that the first impression last longer, but I say it is the ‘best impression’. So, efforts must be taken to ensure that a positive long lasting impression is made the first time. Appearance and the way one carries oneself are the two things that are first noticed on entering a room. So, CORPORATE DRESSING ETIQUETTE is to be given great importance…..It is said that the way we dress reflects our inner self. Dress can make a person look confident and in control of the situation and vice versa….

Personally, I do not believe getting dressed for the office means leaving your personal style behind. Find out which looks give you a polished, professional look and which fashions can be a career killer....Your goal to getting dressed for work should be to project a professional, competent image, regardless of your employment level or career path....

...“Dress for the job you want, not the job you have” It's an old piece of advice but it's still around because it works. If you have an entry-level position and hope to climb the company ladder, don’t dress like an entry-level employee, stand out and show your goals, dress like your boss dresses…Note, I’m not saying you should wear what your boss wears even if you can afford it....

The styles, colours, lengths and fit of your fashion choices will speak volume about your ability to do your job. If you are concerned about your career, you'll be more concerned with looking professional than looking cute or trendy….

….Colour plays a big part in professional image. Traditional career colours such as red (aggressive), navy (trustworthy), gray (conservative) and black (chic). Most of these colours work well in pantsuits, skirts and shoes and mix back with softer feminine colours that are appropriate such as ice blue, lilac, soft pink and ivory. Loud colours like hot pink and wild prints are much riskier in the office, but some creative types can still be pulled off.

Jewelry that jangles (chandelier earrings, stacks of bangles) is distracting. Opt for stud earrings or single bracelets. Slouchy handbags look sloppy. Choose structured styles that project an organised image. Most of what constitutes a polished image is in the details… manicured nails, neat hair etc.

... Also fit is everything when you are talking about tailored work clothes. Pants should be fitted, but free of visible panty lines. Skirts, especially straight styles like pencil skirts, should be loose enough to sit down in comfortably. Jackets should be able to be buttoned. And blouses shouldn't gap between buttonholes. Designer labels are great, but heavily logoed clothing and accessories look cluttered and frivolous in the work place. A small designer bag is fine. I believe it’s best to choose well-made items that are free from obvious designer labels for the most professional look.

...Unlike a fashion faux pas, a career killer outfit can do your professional image permanent damage. Here are some looks to avoid in the workplace…see-through lace, miniskirts, spaghetti straps, sheer sundresses etc, they are too sexy…jeans, shorts, T-shirts, hats, sneakers etc are way too casual….wrinkled clothing, too many layers, baggy-fit clothing is too sloppy….

…. I have realised that business casual is tricky…there are no set rules or guidelines to this dress code which makes it annoying lol…however; I believe business casual can be understood as a slightly less formal version of professional dress. For instance, in a business casual office you can wear office pants and a nice top, as opposed to being required to wear a full-on suit. It’s still formal, but less restricted….

Business Casual-Tuck in blouse.

Casual Dress Code

.......Also, if the dress code at your workplace is casual, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should break out your tank tops, flip flops and miniskirts! Lol…With a casual dress code, you can wear denim, flats, and skirts (not miniskirts and not too tight), but don’t think that all the rules go out the window. You still need to keep your look classy and polished if you want to be taken seriously on the job.

…and yes The Hair!... no matter the dress code, when you do your hair for the office, make sure it’s neat, clean, and out of your face. Wearing your hair down and straight, back in a chic ponytail or half-up with a barrette is perfect.

Makeup in an office setting should stay within the same guidelines as what you wore to the interview – neat and clean, with no neon colours or glitter (unless you work for OREKELEWA or something!) Keep it mature and professional with nude colours, light foundation, and an overall "natural but better" look. You don’t want your face to scream "I’m wearing makeup!"

….As for the men, quality is cheap in the long run, make sure it fits (sleeves not too long, pants not too high or too long). There are affordable suits, invest in them. No dramatic colours, stick to grey, black, navy or charcoal for professional. For 2 button coat-button the top button, for 3 button coat-button top 2 buttons, double breasted coat-button all buttons. Obey the rules of plain and patterned materials. The colour of your shoes and belt must match. Socks need to be long enough to cover your legs when crossed and it should match your pants or shoes, make sure your ties are conservative and tie should reach the top of your belt buckle. Use cuff links if the shirt requires it.You should be properly shaved and dressed to the office. While choosing formal attire, the suit, shirt, tie and the shoes must be in perfect co-ordination and well fitted, hair should be well groomed, aftershave must be applied, and it should not be too strong. Similarly, casual shirts and trousers must not be too flashy or too tight, MEN PLEASE never wear shorts to work!

…Some companies invest a great deal of time, effort and money on creating and maintaining brand image… The importance of proper attire has been accepted by many…some companies go as far as providing a dress allowance to employees who are working with the customer onsite to create a better image on its manpower…. Customers are more willing to accept the ideas put forth by a well dressed person as the better the image projected, the better the confidence they have in you.

Finally, Casual Friday is Business Casual is not your opportunity to express yourself. It's still an office. It's still a place where you work with your work face on. In my own opinion, traditional attires are not bad but please ladies stick to native dresses or skirts and blouse or jackets ............... In general, the more distracting a piece of clothing or jewelry is, the less appropriate it is for office wear.

….whoosh, I hope I helped…kindly drop your comments both good and bad comments will be appreciated….THANK YOU

XOXO

Teeshogs