Dressing for Success in the Workplace

Skirt or slacks? Tights or bare legs? Sandals or pumps? These are the questions you might find yourself asking each morning as you select work attire. Too many people have forgotten why proper business attire is important. The major reason why dressing in proper business attire is important for every business professional is because it presents a visual image and sends a message that the employees are professional.

Another reason why dressing in proper business attire is important in the business world is because you never know when you will be required to meet with someone from outside your company. Your image to this outsider will be the image remembered of your company. Whatever else we think about dressing for success, we need to be reminded that first impressions are everything, and we only get one chance to make a positive first impression. Whether your place of work is strict or relaxed, there is a certain level of refinement that should always be maintained and things you should simply never do.

 

Here are a few simple rules of how what NOT to wear in the workplace.

• Never show your midriff. Wear shirts of a proper length, and shun pants that ride too low.
• Avoid revealing too much cleavage
• Don't wear anything see-through
• Save your flip-flops for the beach
• Try not to go too tight. The office isn't the right place to hug every curve.
• Its fine to express your personal style, but keep it refined.

It is often said that first impressions and overall judgments about people are formed by the way they dress. Since the way someone dresses affects the perception of a company's customers or business partners, it is important to maintain a standard of dress that creates a positive impression.