I work in fashion industry and people tend to be more fashionable than those who work in banking or manufacturing industry. I think if you work in fashion industry, it’s very important to dress up in order to portray the company’s image. It’s very interesting to see how diverse our environment is. Sometimes you can tell where these people work just by looking at the way they dress. People who are on the creative side of business such as marketing and merchandising tend to be more edgy. Flowy dress or sweater dress paired with knee high boots for women, and button down shirt with a vest complete with spiky hair for the guys, are the typical outfit those people wear. Finance and IT people are known for being conservative and boring. A plain blouse paired with dress pants are typical for the women, and for the guys a button down shirt with khaki or dress pants.
Bottom line is I just love this diversity. However, today I saw a middle-aged woman (not sure where she works) wore a fishnet stocking with mini skirt and a knee high boot. Am I being conservative or that outfit has inappropriateness written all over it?? I think that’s just way too much.
So here’s my guidelines for office dress code:
- Unless you work for MTV or a Fashion Magazine, leave your fishnet at home and wear it when you go clubbing. Seriously!!! If you’re so dying wanting to wear your fishnet, pair it with a long skirt to tone down your outfit. Fashion is all about balance
- Dress age-appropriately. If you’re 45 don’t dress up like you’re 25, and vice versa
- Wear an outfit that fits to your body. Don’t wear something that creates “a muffin top” right around your belly or an oversize baggy clothes that’s so big you can hide a child underneath it. One time I saw an overweight woman wore a neon green stretchy mini-skirt. Big no no!! You can see the skirt went up higher and higher as she walked. Not a pretty sight!
- Again, don’t wear outfits you normally wear when you go out in the weekend. Tube top, spaghetti strap tank top, jeans with holes all over it, super mini skirt, flip flop, or stripper-heeled shoes, leave them at home! People don’t take you seriously when you wear any of those outfits. Trust me, you don’t want to be labeled as tramp, party go-ers or people who’s dying for attention when you’re in the workplace. I’m quoting my friend’s comment about women, “A sexy woman is the one who shows her wonderful curves without revealing too much”
- In the end, you have to wear something that you’re comfortable with. If you are a “Talbot” girl, don’t wear an “Express” outfit just because other people wear it. Stay true to who you are and be professional at the same time
Tags: office dress code
