Dressing for success means understanding your corporate culture and dress codes and demonstrating the correct look in your business attire.
Defining the corporate dress code when it isn’t clearly stated in an operations manual can be tough. Here are some general guidelines to follow. A great clue is to see how your boss dresses and mimic them (unless they are new to the company in which case you may want to choose someone at their level that has been with the company longer).
Business Formal
Business formal is the dress code of choice for professionals that are working in an environment where you are meeting or exposed to customers or clients on a regular basis. Business formal is common in financial services (accounting firms, banks, venture capital firms etc.) and law offices.
- Dark suits (navy, black, brown, grey)- blazer and pants or skirt in the same fabric)
- White/off white or pastel blouses or shirts
- Panty hose
- Closed toe shoes
- Modest jewellery and accessories
- Ties
Business Casual
Business casual is taking a very formal dress and taking it down a notch. Be careful though not to go too far and dress too casually. Again, play it safe when starting a new job and wear a skirt or dress pants and a white shirt or blouse on day one and see how others dress.
- Blazers (sport jackets) with pants or skirts that match but are not the same fabric
- Cardigans in place of jacket – or no jacket
- Blouses or shirts with patterns or brighter colours
- Dressy sandals
- Dress pants
Typically Unacceptable Attire for Business Environments
While some of these things would be acceptable in an artsy clothing store or café, they are commonly on the what not to wear lists in dress codes.
- Excessive piercings or visual tattoos
- Revealing clothing (low cut tops, low rise pants with stomach showing, tight fitting tops or pants)
- Beach wear (flip flops, shorts, tank tops, halter tops etc.)
- Capris or clam diggers in kaki fabric, muslin or other casual fabrics
- Jeans or denim clothing
- T-shirts with political or offensive statements
- Clothing with holes or weathered appearance
A great site with pictures to help demonstrate dressing for success is Dress to Achieve
If you have comments or suggestions on this blog entry, please start a discussion
If you liked this blog entry, try:
Fitting into a New Job Culture
Copyright © 2007 Joni Rose and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use will constitute an infringement of copyright.
