Will dressing up see you taken seriously at work?
Most of us want to be taken seriously at work. But how does what we wear impact this?
Traditionally, wearing formal attire is perceived as being more professional and less approachable, while casual clothing is related to intimacy and familiarity. But is this still the case?
Context matters most in the dressing up (or down) dilemma
It’s important to consider what is appropriate to the occasion as well as the culture of the company when choosing what to wear.
Heels so high that you cannot walk properly in them is NOT professional. They convey a desire to be admired or desired rather than a willingness and ability to ‘get things done’. Although heels were once considered part of suitable office attire for women, thankfully they have fallen out of favour as contemporary managers are more inclined to appreciate women’s true contribution to a workplace beyond being eye candy.
Neither is clothing that constricts movement, professional. If your work is with children, you’ll need to move about easily and wear clothing that is somewhat modest. A tight pencil skirt, which may be considered professional in some situations will not work when working with children.
Workplaces have become increasingly relaxed about dress codes in recent years and the practice of working from home has extended that even further. Regardless of whether you choose to dress up or not, both care and consideration should always be applied to demonstrate professionalism. Clothing is a visual shorthand, enabling us to read the motivations and values of the wearer.
STYLE TIPS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL (AS WELL AS FOR THE EVERYDAY)
Whether it’s for a job interview, presentation, important meeting, or business as usual, these are some principles to keep in mind:
Hygiene – Good grooming is a way to demonstrate respect for others. Simple things like showering, washing your hair and ensuring your teeth and nails are clean are important and keeping body odour in check are important. But don’t forget also to check that your clothes are not stained and not smelly; it’s easy to forget to check this if we’re under the pump.
I know these things might sound obvious, but I have delivered numerous workshops and one-on-one coaching to people who have needed guidance in this area so that I don’t hesitate to mention it now.
Fit – Ensure your clothes fit you well. Just because you can do them up doesn’t mean they fit. If a garment is cut to be deliberately oversized, that’s one thing, but trouser hems dragging along the ground or shoulders in jackets sliding down your upper arm just looks sloppy.
On the flip side, clothing so small it risks coming undone is not professional (think buttons bursting or zips sliding open). Clothes so tight you struggle to sit without them riding up or restricting your movement is another indication of poor fit. The importance of ‘good fit’ is just as relevant for men as it is for women.
Colour - remember that it is powerful. Depending on whether you want to present as a hard-hitting executive with gravitas or as approachable and supportive, the colours you wear can support you. For more on this, see here.
Audience – As with any type of communication, visual or otherwise, consider your audience and dress accordingly. Also, don’t forget cultural appropriateness if you’re working internationally; modesty is the most obvious thing that springs to mind but also consider colour and motifs that could carry different meanings.
Appropriateness - Demonstrating your respect for both your employer and colleagues as well as clients is important whether or not you choose to ‘dress up’. Consider whether your outfit is demonstrating respect and a good work ethic or whether it is designed to showcase your best physical assets.
Identity – What you choose to wear is an expression of self. In the workplace, your outfit should ideally become a seamless extension of yourself, and allow you to shine and to perform.
If you’d like to pursue this topic further with me, you might be interested in my Presentation for Employment consultations or my downloadable colour schemes for the professional (there are options for every skin tone).
The examples below show two different approaches to dressing for work.
Wearing a favourite jacket from my corporate days adds formality to my outfit yet the orange helps to present as approachable.
The outfit I wore to present on colour at NGV had to demonstrate not formality, but knowledge of colour principles and creativity.
The thoughts in this post were the basis of my interview with Kate Cross for her article on this topic.