Yes, many women out there say that you have to wear what comfort you the most. And usually they will look down on people who are trying too many efforts. Either is fine but when we actually talk about work place, you still have boundaries. Because admit it, fashion IS statement. Another thing that is true, people will judge you by the way you dressed (both negatives and positives way). And to add another thing, the way you look can make either good or bad impressions. This is one of the 'reality bites' thing that we have to endure. Are we going to deny it? it has a risk attached, and you cant blame other people if that happend. Are we going to follow it? I bet we're going to need 'ourself'. So, BE SMART. If you start with “Naahh, people will look for our skills not our looks” it’s time to change it, because seriously, unless you work in the art field, what you wear, matter. Even sometimes an artist has to force themselves to wear something that is not ‘comfortable’. Or if your work regarding “dirt” let say, mining field or construction site, you should think about your working outfit also, don’t let fashion get in the way, though.
But don’t let boundaries hold yourself up. Getting dressed for the office doesn't mean leaving your personal style behind. Find out which looks give you a polished, professional look and which fashion can be a career killer.
Polished, Not Fashion Victim or Anti-Fashion.
Your goal to getting dressed for work is to project a professional, competent image, regardless of your employment level or career path. Getting there is not easy, there’s a several step.
1. Know your job
Well, let’s just say something like, if you work in the field but you wear high heels everyday, that’ll be a disaster. Or you work with clients and you wear sneakers and t-shirts, I bet pink slip is on its way. Or maybe you are a barista but you wearing light and white, by the time you realized you have coffee colored shirt already. Or you are so stylish you put a lot of things on you but you work with uniform, congratulation you will have an additional hour to your office hour just to change clothes. If you don’t really have a steady job desc, point #2.
2. Know you place
Sometimes we deal with “I’m behind the desk right now but this afternoon I’m going to meet mr/mrs/ms…” or “My supervisor advised me to go to a seminar tomorrow morning and to the factory in the afternoon” or something like that, we never know what will happened right? Best way like we always know, I’m sure of it, is to have a pair of everything in our work place. Let’s just say, pair of shoes and shirts. If you work in the factory field where you need to feel comfortable but can get an order from your boss to meet the client which you won’t know when, black semi-jeans will do the trick. The must item in your desk is a slipper, because really don’t torture your foot by shrouding them all the time. Give them enough air to breath, can reduce bad odor also.
3. Know your environment
A cocktail dress and a killer heels is not the best way to dress if you work with a lot of men, not only you will harassed they’ll think of you differently, if you’re dressed well and your make up are flawless you will get advantage from them. Also happened if you work with a bunch of women, if you over dressed, who knows what they will call you behind your back. Or maybe you’re pretty much accessorized make up and so on but you work with average people who don’t really care about the term fashion, even though they like you because you’re nice they will still think you’re weird. And like I said, even though some of you think that the important thing is doing your job well, trust me being the people’s person can make your career increase faster. So win your co-workers.
4. Know you position
It’s not your position level, but more like position at the time. Example, if you work behind the desk and you have open wide desk, you don’t want to wear a mini skirt. Or even though it’s an office party, it’s still in your environment, so do not wear something unveiling and it can lead to a disaster if it’s continue to some drama. Not always, but prevention is a must. Or even though you’re in your office, relax, you don’t need a full suit, with your slippers on, if you have to go to the boss’s office, at least wear your shoes. It’s tiring, I know, you go there maybe less than 5 minutes, but what’s 5 minutes compared to an impression that can go forever? Priceless. And once you get out of there, you can give your foot another air to breath. As simple as that.
From this point it will be some additional elements, if you like it you can use it, if you think it’s unnecessary, you can leave them be. You can experiments all you want especially if you’re working in art or fashion, you will have the freedom.
5. Patterns and colors
If you already understand all the basic 4 before this and you want to add a little bit of you or a little bit of fun, you can play with patterns and colors. Well some of us maybe have boundaries toward work clothes, but that wont stop us use personality in our outfit, right? You like dark colors but realized that dark colors are sorrow, easy, put some patters in it, if you work with shirt/blouse, geometrical patterns is the safest way. You can choose stripes, squares (mind not to use polka dots for a reason that I know you all know why) there’s a lot dark colored based shirt with color pattern, and do not use shirt that has a visible drawing attached. You like frumpish color without to many things going on, easy, all you have to do is mix the color. Or you like to play with patterns and colors, that’s even easier, my advice is not to put a lot of different patterns or colors in one outfit. And don’t wear blouse/shirt, shoes, socks or stocking, skirt or pants in one pattern for all or don’t mixed several neon color in one outfit.
6. Accessories
Of course any type of hats will be excluded because; it’s not really appropriate wearing them in the office. You can use fashion accessories until fine jewelry but any accessories is better to keep them not too extravagant, you’re in an office, not mall or a party. Example, do not I repeat DO NOT wear something ribbons or bows in your head. Maybe you think they’re cute (well I hate them actually, I blame gossip girl for this bow invasion, ok continue….) but it will make bad impression because ribbons will be considered as “like girls”, so you may be considered "like a kid". Or you wear too many fine things in your body, which may lead people to think that you have a lot of money, let’s just say, we will keep the criminality into minimum. If you use uniform, try playing different color with the uniform's color. Or u use simple pattern, why only simple? Because accessories can’t be stand out too much. There’s a reason why you have to wear uniform, you know. So respect the uniform.
7. Fabrics
Sometimes fabrics don’t go easy to our skin, and some of us may be allergic to certain fabrics. Step 1 : Read again the first 4. Step 2 : If you still have to wear certain fabrics for a reason, it’s better to wear undershirt. And don’t forget to bring change of clothes.
8. Hair and Make Up
Well the safest way is to do it respect your skin (type, color, etc). If you want to do more, doo not put too many make up. You can play a lot with eye shadow, but if your work day-time, do not use dark color to much and vise versa. If you want to focus, u can focus on whatever you want to put make up on, but that’s it. Just put 1 or 2 spot (I prefer only 1 spot) make it a little bit pop out. And the rest is just simple minimalism make up. For Hair, I will exclude brush your hair, because, well, it’s a must. You can you gel, mousse, hairspray and accessories or even, braid it, spike it, straighten it etc if you have the time, if you don’t? Simple pony tail or brushed hair is enough as long as you remember the first 4 points. But don’t forget your hair type, example, it will be bad impression if you let your hair loose but you have dandruff in it.
9. Important Element
Last but not least, the one of important element is a smile. Yes. Do you know that your smile can make other people happy without you realize it? And Good reputation comes with a good smile. Now say cheese…
And there you have it, how to work with your armor. If you think “I don’t have to impress clients because that’s not my job” well think again. Because you still have to impress your bosses and colleagues. And if you still not sure what to wear, what these things will going to like if I wear them, there’s a lot of fashion website such as looklet or polyvore that provide a mix and match simulation for you. My suggestion, do not put the same outfit and make up everyday. You can experiment all you want with what you have. Some people say it’s too strict I can’t be creative, well one thing I learn in life is “People are living in a box; it's not think out side the box, but think how to work within the box”, and that’s what I call creative, you can work within your boundaries.
Try it, its fun.
But don’t let boundaries hold yourself up. Getting dressed for the office doesn't mean leaving your personal style behind. Find out which looks give you a polished, professional look and which fashion can be a career killer.
Polished, Not Fashion Victim or Anti-Fashion.
Your goal to getting dressed for work is to project a professional, competent image, regardless of your employment level or career path. Getting there is not easy, there’s a several step.
1. Know your job
Well, let’s just say something like, if you work in the field but you wear high heels everyday, that’ll be a disaster. Or you work with clients and you wear sneakers and t-shirts, I bet pink slip is on its way. Or maybe you are a barista but you wearing light and white, by the time you realized you have coffee colored shirt already. Or you are so stylish you put a lot of things on you but you work with uniform, congratulation you will have an additional hour to your office hour just to change clothes. If you don’t really have a steady job desc, point #2.
2. Know you place
Sometimes we deal with “I’m behind the desk right now but this afternoon I’m going to meet mr/mrs/ms…” or “My supervisor advised me to go to a seminar tomorrow morning and to the factory in the afternoon” or something like that, we never know what will happened right? Best way like we always know, I’m sure of it, is to have a pair of everything in our work place. Let’s just say, pair of shoes and shirts. If you work in the factory field where you need to feel comfortable but can get an order from your boss to meet the client which you won’t know when, black semi-jeans will do the trick. The must item in your desk is a slipper, because really don’t torture your foot by shrouding them all the time. Give them enough air to breath, can reduce bad odor also.
3. Know your environment
A cocktail dress and a killer heels is not the best way to dress if you work with a lot of men, not only you will harassed they’ll think of you differently, if you’re dressed well and your make up are flawless you will get advantage from them. Also happened if you work with a bunch of women, if you over dressed, who knows what they will call you behind your back. Or maybe you’re pretty much accessorized make up and so on but you work with average people who don’t really care about the term fashion, even though they like you because you’re nice they will still think you’re weird. And like I said, even though some of you think that the important thing is doing your job well, trust me being the people’s person can make your career increase faster. So win your co-workers.
4. Know you position
It’s not your position level, but more like position at the time. Example, if you work behind the desk and you have open wide desk, you don’t want to wear a mini skirt. Or even though it’s an office party, it’s still in your environment, so do not wear something unveiling and it can lead to a disaster if it’s continue to some drama. Not always, but prevention is a must. Or even though you’re in your office, relax, you don’t need a full suit, with your slippers on, if you have to go to the boss’s office, at least wear your shoes. It’s tiring, I know, you go there maybe less than 5 minutes, but what’s 5 minutes compared to an impression that can go forever? Priceless. And once you get out of there, you can give your foot another air to breath. As simple as that.
From this point it will be some additional elements, if you like it you can use it, if you think it’s unnecessary, you can leave them be. You can experiments all you want especially if you’re working in art or fashion, you will have the freedom.
5. Patterns and colors
If you already understand all the basic 4 before this and you want to add a little bit of you or a little bit of fun, you can play with patterns and colors. Well some of us maybe have boundaries toward work clothes, but that wont stop us use personality in our outfit, right? You like dark colors but realized that dark colors are sorrow, easy, put some patters in it, if you work with shirt/blouse, geometrical patterns is the safest way. You can choose stripes, squares (mind not to use polka dots for a reason that I know you all know why) there’s a lot dark colored based shirt with color pattern, and do not use shirt that has a visible drawing attached. You like frumpish color without to many things going on, easy, all you have to do is mix the color. Or you like to play with patterns and colors, that’s even easier, my advice is not to put a lot of different patterns or colors in one outfit. And don’t wear blouse/shirt, shoes, socks or stocking, skirt or pants in one pattern for all or don’t mixed several neon color in one outfit.
6. Accessories
Of course any type of hats will be excluded because; it’s not really appropriate wearing them in the office. You can use fashion accessories until fine jewelry but any accessories is better to keep them not too extravagant, you’re in an office, not mall or a party. Example, do not I repeat DO NOT wear something ribbons or bows in your head. Maybe you think they’re cute (well I hate them actually, I blame gossip girl for this bow invasion, ok continue….) but it will make bad impression because ribbons will be considered as “like girls”, so you may be considered "like a kid". Or you wear too many fine things in your body, which may lead people to think that you have a lot of money, let’s just say, we will keep the criminality into minimum. If you use uniform, try playing different color with the uniform's color. Or u use simple pattern, why only simple? Because accessories can’t be stand out too much. There’s a reason why you have to wear uniform, you know. So respect the uniform.
7. Fabrics
Sometimes fabrics don’t go easy to our skin, and some of us may be allergic to certain fabrics. Step 1 : Read again the first 4. Step 2 : If you still have to wear certain fabrics for a reason, it’s better to wear undershirt. And don’t forget to bring change of clothes.
8. Hair and Make Up
Well the safest way is to do it respect your skin (type, color, etc). If you want to do more, doo not put too many make up. You can play a lot with eye shadow, but if your work day-time, do not use dark color to much and vise versa. If you want to focus, u can focus on whatever you want to put make up on, but that’s it. Just put 1 or 2 spot (I prefer only 1 spot) make it a little bit pop out. And the rest is just simple minimalism make up. For Hair, I will exclude brush your hair, because, well, it’s a must. You can you gel, mousse, hairspray and accessories or even, braid it, spike it, straighten it etc if you have the time, if you don’t? Simple pony tail or brushed hair is enough as long as you remember the first 4 points. But don’t forget your hair type, example, it will be bad impression if you let your hair loose but you have dandruff in it.
9. Important Element
Last but not least, the one of important element is a smile. Yes. Do you know that your smile can make other people happy without you realize it? And Good reputation comes with a good smile. Now say cheese…
And there you have it, how to work with your armor. If you think “I don’t have to impress clients because that’s not my job” well think again. Because you still have to impress your bosses and colleagues. And if you still not sure what to wear, what these things will going to like if I wear them, there’s a lot of fashion website such as looklet or polyvore that provide a mix and match simulation for you. My suggestion, do not put the same outfit and make up everyday. You can experiment all you want with what you have. Some people say it’s too strict I can’t be creative, well one thing I learn in life is “People are living in a box; it's not think out side the box, but think how to work within the box”, and that’s what I call creative, you can work within your boundaries.
Try it, its fun.
