Date Published: 17th February 2017
It's important to dress appropriately for work, and the matter of what exactly is appropriate varies from workplace to workplace. While appearance may not affect your ability to do the job, the unfortunate fact is that it will ultimately play a role in your success.
It affects the impression that colleagues and superiors have of you, and even if they don't think they are judging you on your appearance at all there is a good chance they are still being influenced subconsciously. As such, your work look is not something to be neglected.
Every industry will have different standards of dress, and every workplace will have a different attitude. The first step is to understand these industries and employer demands and follow them. If your employer has a specific dress code, this makes things a lot easier. Essentially it is not just a set of rules, but a rough guide of how to dress for success in your workplace.
Colour choices are also important. Darker and bolder colours create a stronger impression and help project an air of strength and authority. Overly-bright and loud colours or patterns should be avoided, however.
For both men and women, shoes are much more important than a lot of people realise. Make sure your shoes are smart, professional, clean and polished, and not excessively worn. If you intend to wear open-toed shoes, make sure your toes are neat and well-groomed.
For men, facial hair is not necessarily a bad thing but should be approached with care. Keep it neat and well-trimmed, and avoid growing a style that will overpower the rest of your face. If you decide to grow facial hair, it is best to start at a weekend or when you have some time off. This helps you skip at least part of the early stages, as far as your workplace is concerned, when it looks like you have just forgotten to shave or missed a patch.
The finer points of dressing for the workplace are also important, and these are perhaps neglected more often than the main points. For one thing, make sure your clothes are not just appropriate garment choices but also fit you well. It is often the case that ill-fitting clothes look worse than the wearer quite realises.
Do not wear too many accessories with your outfit. A few accessories can set off a look quite nicely, especially a feminine one, but too many will just seem crowded. Jewellery that makes noises as you move should especially be avoided.
Hair is another thing to consider. It should be nicely styled or at least well-brushed or -combed. The main thing is that your hair should be neat and not outlandish in style.
Although it is not really part of your look, you should also avoid wearing overpowering fragrances. Whether it is too much perfume, an excess of aftershave, or drenching yourself in deodorant, overdoing it can turn what should be a nice thing into something bordering on unpleasant.
