Some people shun dress codes, saying that they don’t want to be a “hypocrite.” Truth be told, most of us are more comfy in our flannel pants and sweatshirts, and even your (future) company’s ultra-conservative, starched-shirt-wearing CEO probably likes dressing down when he’s at home on the weekends. When it comes to suitable attire for a white-collar environment, you simply can’t go wrong with a classic, conservative wardrobe.
If you wait until the week of your first interview to start shopping for a workplace wardrobe, you’ll probably be overwhelmed by the expense. And if you’ve never worn anything but a jeans-and-T-shirt-level dress code, your new threads might feel uncomfortable for a while. Making purchases over your last couple years of college and starting to dress professionally for special in-class presentations or other career-related events, like job fairs, can help you gain confidence in your new attire.
Here are three basic questions to ask yourself about clothing you think might be acceptable to wear to work:
Is It Conservative?
Referring to clothing choices, “conservative” is the opposite of “overly trendy” or “adventurous.” The aim of workplace attire should not be to make a personal fashion statement, but to appear respectable and professional. This typically means darker, solid colors (particularly for pants or skirts) as opposed to bright colors and loud patterns. Too much jewelry or gaudy accessories are inappropriate, as well.
For traditional business attire, dark suits with conservative, dark dress shoes are required. While many companies have shrugged off these more formal duds in favor of “business casual” dress codes, some are swinging back to the old standard. Even if you’re hoping to land in the famously casual Silicon Valley, you should have at least a couple more old-school outfits for interviews or important meetings.
Is It Too Casual?
Even if you have a business casual dress code, there are some things that will never be acceptable. For men, abuses of business casual include wrinkled clothes and overly (or apparently) worn jeans. For women, this issue is trickier. Dressy sandals may be acceptable, but not flip flops. Shorts—even longer, Bermuda-style shorts—are usually taboo, as well; Capri pants for women are debatable. Especially if you’re among the youngest in your office, erring on the cautious side will not be a mistake.
Is It Concupiscent?
That word might be as old-fashioned as the concept, but when it comes to workplace appropriateness, sexy is definitely out. For both men and women, this means little, if any, cologne or perfume. Of course, it relates more to women, though. Even on business casual days, Short skirts or sleeveless or overly revealing tops (either very tight or low-cut) are typically regarded as unacceptable; in fact, in some workplaces, skirts are not allowed, at all. Pumps or loafers can both be okay, as can some boots, in winter, but high-heeled versions with dark nylons—especially with shorter skirts—are probably a bit much for the office crowd.
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