This is an artiucle on work place fashion by Brenda Kageni that appeared in The Standard on 23rd September 2008. It is helpful for both the newcomers and old hands on what lines not to cross when it cmes to dressing for the workplace.
By Brenda Kageni
A study carried out in the US in 2007 by Lawrence University’s Professor Peter Glick says that dressing sexy for work can have very negative effects for women intent on climbing the corporate ladder. Apparently, dressing sexy for work was viewed inappropriately for women at all levels of responsibility but female managers who dressed provocatively were viewed as less competent and less intelligent. Sexy however is not the only issue when it comes to women’s dressing in the work place. There is always the challenge of balancing the formal, casual and trendy look, while still maintaining your sense of personal style without breaching the work place dress code. You don’t want to look too casual such that you are not taken seriously or end up looking sloppy. You don’t want to look too formal, uptight, unapproachable and uncreative; neither do you want to look like you spend your entire day engrossed in fashion magazines and painting your nails.
“Image counts a lot. A look says a lot about you,” says Image consultant Carolyn Makana of Rolyn Image Consultancy. “It is part of your work ethics. You want to create the right impression.”
Author and speaker Dondi Scumaci in her book Designed for Success writes: “You can wear whatever you want. You are certainly allowed- encouraged even- to have your own signature and sense of style. Just be aware that your choices create an image, and that image impacts your opportunity- what you are considered for or not considered for.”
“How you present yourself speaks volumes about you before you ever open yourself. I’ve been unable to believe in even the strongest job candidates with the most unbelievable resumes when they come into my office dressed like utter slobs. Presentation is critical,” writes Donald Trump on his Trump University website.
Work place fashion as you see does not just matter on your interview day and first day at work. If done rightly, it can present the right image of your company to your clients, present you as capable and someone worth promoting and increase your productivity since you are comfortable and confident. If done wrongly, it can invite unwanted attention, unfair judgement and affect your interaction with clients and co-workers.
What you wear will largely depend on what you do and your workplace dress policy. Some organisations are strictly formal, others casual, while others allow people to dress as they feel fit, depending on what they are doing on that day of the week. The dress codes are for a reason. They help create the right image a company wants to project to the public, consistent with the company goals. Employees dealing directly with clients will find themselves having to wear business attire, for example. It is always advisable to keep your employers needs in mind when dressing for the work place and if you will be seeing clients, dress for their workplace.
The easiest way of blending in is to know what the dress code says and then try to work around the clothes you have to fit in. You want to be noticed because you look the part, not because you stand out, oddly.
“Understand the dress code and then mix and match whatever you have, still following the dress code but maintaining your personal style. Find your personal style. Know what suits your body shape and how to put colours together.”
Famous BBC fashion advisers Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine in their fashion guidebook, What not to wear for Every Occasion say, “You need to let your true personality shine through while respecting the nature of the event and being aware of how others might view you. If for example you are the lively type, it’s criminal to murder your spirit by overmatching. Uniform dressing is the quickest way to stamp out any individuality.”
The Casual Look
People in creative fields may prefer to dress in casual as it is more laid back. Organisations are also known to encourage casual wear as a way of motivating employees.
“In today’s work environment the casual code reigns. I’m not convinced this is such a good thing for women. We may want to rethink it. I’ve yet to meet a woman who looked more capable in jeans and a t-shirt. And the most successful women I know dress the most professionally. There’s a connection here,” writes Scumaci.
She instead advises women to “Level it up,” or dress one level above the expectation. If you work in a jeans and t-shirt environment, you wear slacks and collared shirt. If slacks are the code, you add a jacket. If jackets are expected, you wear suits.
Trinny and Sussanah give the following advice: “ Jeans are fine for casual work but only when worn as tailored trousers. Leave hooded tops at home or give them to your kid sister. Even when casually dressed, the boss needs to show authority. Corduroys are a smarter way to wear jeans in the office.” They warn that a too casual look, like coming to work in gym wear can end up saying that you just rolled out of bed and went to work. You are a slacker and your job is not a priority. “A sloppy look says you don’t care how your image impacts the company and you are not ready for further responsibility.”
The Formal Look
Suits are the easiest way to create a formal look and work well with most professional environments. “Formal dressing is about looking powerful yet approachable. Get the colours right and wear what suits your shape. You need to dress for where you want to get in your job. Avoid clothes that are too tight. You do not want to wear a skirt that shows off too much of your legs or a trouser that rides down showing off your thong in the office,” says Makana.
Wearing a suit doesn’t give you the license to be predictable. You also don’t have to downplay your assets or look overly conservative to look appropriate for the work place.
Makana encourages women to find ways of livening up and adding their personal signature to even the most formal dress codes. “Just because it is a suit doesn’t mean it has to be boring.” Hard severe suits according to the Trinny and Sussanah give an unapproachable feel.
Going Sexy
Dressing sexy in the workplace is always tricky because as Makana warns, people end up thinking you have ulterior motives.
“If you know what you have come to do in the work place, you will not cross that line. It is seen as attention seeking or like a form of competition on who look’s sexier or who can best catch the boss’s eye. I have met women who at 9.00 a.m look like they are going for a night out. Looking too sexy is never appropriate for the office. People no longer take you seriously. Just because you are beautiful and have the body, you don’t have to use that to your advantage. Dress up for the part but always let your CV and your work speak for itself. You do not want to dress sexy in order to get a job.”
Showing off a bare midriff at work is totally inappropriate. So are any visible undergarments and skirts too short, blouses too low and trousers too tight. They may get you into cases of sexual harassment and take away a lot of respect. You may be perceived as using your sexuality to move up the ranks. It is hard to show so much cleavage and not be thought of as a sexual object.
Stilletos are inappropriate for someone who runs around lot. Not only do they look insensible, but they also annoy those around with the click clack. For height and practicality, a wedge shoe might work better.
However that is not to say that you cannot pull off a sexy look at work and still look professional. You just have to make sure that your work is beyond reproach and that your speech, poise and behaviour do not pass across the wrong message.
Makana advices women to carry extra items of clothing like a pair of high heels if one has a high profile meeting later in the day, or stilettos for a cock tail party.
Here are some additional tips from Dondi Scumaci’s book:
• Even if you are required to wear a uniform, make sure it is pressed and clean.
• Avoid hyper trends, and stick with timeless styles
• It’s difficult to take a woman with neon-blue, studded talons for nails seriously
• When it comes to shoes, take a cue from the gents. Make sure they are polished with no scuffs. Check your heels! If they need repair, fix them or throw them away.
• Watch the hemline and neckline! Just because you can wear a miniskirt or a low cut blouse doesn’t mean you should. The women who do are usually the women we work with, not the women we work for. (Go figure).
• Pay attention to details like dangling buttons and hems hanging by a thread
• If you want to be taken more seriously, dark colours are recommended- flowers, frills, and prints aren’t.
• Jewellery is an accent- not the main attraction.
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