Things You'll Need:
- Taste
- A moderate wardrobe with classic lines
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Step 1
Dress for the job you want. That usually means that you want to dress at least as well as your boss, or the people at managerial level. You will not lose points because you dress too well for the job, assuming you are in an office position.
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Step 2
Avoid all of the following: flip flops, sandals, sneakers of any kind, sweat suits, yoga pants or any exercise attire, halter tops, bare midriff jerseys, or anything sparkly.
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Step 3
Do not wear low cut or suggestive clothing. Men need to avoid that low rider peak-at-the-boxer-shorts look. Tee-shirts with sayings, or rock bands names on them are a no-no even on casual days. Never wear jeans to work, though some dress denim is acceptable, like a denim blazer, vest or jumper.
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Step 4
Shoes need to be clean, scuff-free and no toes should be seen at any time in the office. Spend a little extra on a couple of pairs of quality shoes, one in brown and one in black.
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Step 5
Avoid dressing like you are trying to look 20 years younger. People will laugh at you behind your back. Classic styles are always the best choice.
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Step 6
Good grooming is very important. Even if you work on classic cars all weekend, your nails need to be clean and dirt-free for work. Wash and comb your hair. Smell good but not too strongly. Smelling like soap is fine.
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Step 7
Be careful of clothes that require ironing. Iron them. In the future, buy clothes that don’t need to be pressed or steamed. This will save you valuable morning time.
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Step 8
Jewelry is fine at work, but don’t wear your big, serious bling--like gold chains or chandelier earrings--to the office. The same goes for piercings. Leave all that stuff at home and cover up any tattoos while you are on the job.
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Step 9
Your wardrobe should reflect who you are and what you want to become, not where you would rather be instead of working. That being said, dress for a comfortable fit. Tight clothes are not becoming on anyone. Even if you are thin enough not to look fat, you will look like you are wearing the wrong size, another fashion faux pas.
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Step 10
Invest in a few good basics, like nice dress pants and quality shirts or blouses along with a couple of blazers. Most industries do not require men to wear ties any longer, but you should wear them when outside visitors like job candidates come in. Dress well, feel your best and be on top of your workplace game.
Comments
hlthychoclitnut said
on 4/7/2009 THANK YOU!!! I wish all people under 25 would read this
EarthMother said
on 3/11/2009 One would think this was common sense information but too often even people over the age of thirty think it's okay to dress at work like they were going to the movies. Thanks for the reminders! Smile.
Billy-80 said
on 7/19/2008 I totally agree with you, it is always important to put yourself in the mood of your job description, if you are a designer you could use less formality dressing yourself up, but if your job includes formal and technical office work, then definitely you need to dress up to it. The most important thing I think is to prove yourself in your job, and this will not happen if you try to prove a point by dressing different, instead by showing results, and plus you do not want to waste your time trying to explain to colleagues that what you are wearing is "the fashion today" or tell them to get more updates on it especially if fashion is not your field. It will be then a waste of your own time that you should be investing in doing your job.
Yevgeni said
on 7/15/2008 Nice article, but I think it's sad that clothing is supposed to determine your place in society. Being well-groomed is a no-brainer, though.
MidniteWriter said
on 4/5/2008 I cannot believe people actually try to wear this to work. If you dress your best always you will end up feeling better about yourself and quite possibly your job. Great tips here, thank you!