5 Things You Should Never Wear to Work
They say that clothes make the man, and that's often true of women, too. Your choice of clothing speaks volumes about your personality and your level of professionalism. A black figure-flattering suit with a punch of color says "I am savvy and stylish." A miniskirt and stilettos says "I'm the office slut." Here are a few more items that may send the wrong message.
1. Anything resembling lingerie. We know you're too savvy to have a lace thong peaking out of that pin-striped suit. (Right?) But even clothing that looks like underwear can be distracting, like that white lacy cami or that bustier-style shirt. If you don't want give anyone the wrong idea, then cover up with a cardigan or a fitted jacket until after work.
2. Excessive perfume. You may love Jessica Simpson's new fragrance, but your co-workers might be sensitive to strong smells. One or two spritzes should be more than enough to get you through the day. If not, you can always touch up in the ladies' room after work, but there's no need to assault your cubicle mates with perfume. Scented lotions offer an even subtler smell in moderation.
3. Workout wear. This should go without saying, but if your office is ubercasual you might need a reminder. Sweatshirts, Pilates pants, track jackets, and especially spandex shorts should never see the inside of your office. We're willing to compromise on running shoes, especially if you walk to work, but other items should be safely stowed in your gym locker or yoga bag.
4. Sequins. Unless you are Cher and you're working on your Vegas club act, sequins are a definite don't for work. A patent-leather belt or bag offers a bit of shimmer with a more modern, work-friendly vibe. Or use earrings to add bit of bling for happy hour. But a sequined shirt or jacket is a little too loud for daytime wear.
5. That "Barack My World" T-shirt. Or any clothing with a message on it. Though you might enjoy shirts that make a statement (literally), others could take offense at political or religious messages. Best to play it safe and save that outfit for the weekends. Instead, stand out with a beaded necklace or a colorful scarf.
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With regard to perfume, in all situations, there is a simple process:
1) Spray: In the air, not on you. Take your bottle and give a single spritz in the air about your head height.
2) Delay: Let the mist you've just sprayed have a chance to expand into a nebulous cloud by waiting a second or two.
3) Walk away: Walk through that cloud. Whatever you happen to catch on your body will be enough. You do not need more.
Wow. People have to be told what's appropriate dress attire for work? And most people, especially in Seattle, don't get it. Where did the professionalism and respect for yourself go and why don't people get it. What a shame.
You'd be surprised! We have a nice boutique shop where I work, I've seen people come in for an interview in jeans, a t-shirt and flip flops and we're pretty business casual, but that's TOO casual for an interview.
At my old job, they had to spell out what business casual meant. We had women showing up in spike lucite heels and tightpants with cutouts along the leg. Not my style, but fine for clubwear, but not the office.
If I may just add two, and these are general tips, and not restricted to the workplace:
1. Nurses and babies are the only people who should EVER wear white pantyhose.
2. If you have to buy XXL stretch pants, YOU SHOULD NOT BE WEARING THEM.
Phew. That felt good.
Jeni
http://hig
It all depends on where you work, fitted black suit sure if I want to go to work looking like I'm going for my undertakers license, were do these people get such crap? Lets face it everyone's sense of style is different and this writer is obviously imparting her on style sense to this article. Just use common sense, if your company has a dress code use it, and look for a less restrictive job, if not remember not every style is for every body! If people on the street ask you how much you charge per hour rethink your wardrobe. p.s. I don't wear pantyhose, closed toe shoes in summer, and I have been known to show some cleavage and I'm bigger than a B and I dont own a suit. I learned early that you can dress feminine in the workplace, there is no reason to turn yourself into a asexual conformist to get ahead in business, just remember the rule:sexy is what you think you see, not what you see:)
Don't you want to be taken seriously?
Excuse me - you left out so very much.
You do not wear: open-toed shoes, dangly earrings, decals on your toenails, either.
Not if you want to be taken seriously. You also do not wink at men, flirt with men in a professional setting or just generally emphasize your sexuality.
End of story.
For one thing, the men out there are married for the most part and wives take one big ass dim view of professional women who act like they are in the world's oldest profession. That's why Sarah Palin is such an embarrassment to women who are trying to get ahead in a professional setting.
Open-toed shoes or dangly earrings??? Give me a break. I get that flip-flops and shoulder-dusters are off the table, but a peep-toe pump or slingback and a classically tasteful and appropriately sized hoop is most decidedly not, especially if you're in a more fashion-forward profession, such as advertising, marketing or architecture. The world isn't made up exclusively of hedge-fund investors and lawyers. Not yet anyway. Thank (insert your chosen deity here)!
Oh, and why so hard on the sisterhood with nary a word about the brotherhood of bling-wearing (Guido chain and medallion anyone? how 'bout a big ol' diamond pinky ring?), non-T-shirt wearing, chest-hair showing, WINKING, FLIRTING, OFT-TIMES MARRIED good ol' boys who are alive and kicking even in today's supposedly enlightened work world. Do you take them seriously? I know I sure as he// don't. So the strict focus on women's professional wardrobe foibles strikes me as a tad narrowly targeted.
Why bother being taken seriously? The serious women are top executives, 3 divorces behind their belt. Wear decent clothes- buy them at Target so they are really boring. Buy 5 outfits same style, different colors - same for shoes.
Black only if you are in winter land- doesn't work so well in Florida.
Wear Slacks, shirt and jacket. And as for being taken SERIOUSLY?
Until they are paying you the same per hour as the GUY in the next cubicle, what's the point? Or is THEIR Excuse that YOU dont look professional?
This is so East Coast.
We in the Northwest actually have different values than you guys. It might be a good idea to remember that when discussing cultural things like this?
It's not so much the no-no's that are the tyranny of East Coast uptight ideas but what's assumed around them. For example, "black figure-flattering suit" or "fitted jacket."
Let's remember our nations is a community of diverse cultural regions, okay? ::smile::
Well I hate to tell you but the same unwritten rules apply in every courtoom and law firm in this country.
Regions don't matter.
There are things you do not wear or do if you want to be taken seriously as a professional. And that's true all over the country.
Not so. There is a definite difference between East Coast and West Coast as to what is considered "business.
OK WHEW! This is a law firm memo> Thank GOD. For a minute there I thought it was to people who do real work
Yeah, and police officers wear uniforms too. So what if lawyers have to wear a uniform too.
But this article did not say, "If you are a lawyer." It said, "to work" period. Work covers lots of settings, even if we limit it to "offices" as is mentioned in the article, (which bothers me, since I don't believe most working people actually do work in offices.) Some offices are on construction sites. Some offices have windows that look out on the factory floor. Some offices are in schools where even the principal wears jeans and tee shirts. Some offices are in the back of a computer store and have repair tools on the desk.
Let's open our minds and break out of the box.
I work in a lab in the Northwest and I (and my boss & coworkers) break rules 3 & 5 every day. We do draw the line at lingerie (though nobody would care if we did) and perfume and sequins are too much work. Honestly we don't have much contact with the public and we all are here to do our jobs, it's not a fashion contest. We also allow dogs at work and set our own hours for the most part. We are an incredibly productive and happy bunch!
haha.
I'm a guy, so I only have to make sure my socks match.
Unless you're an elf at Hogwarts.
Ankle bracelets.
Tube tops.
Spaghetti straps.
Anything that could legitimately be worn to your senior prom.
Don't forget flip-flops. Even heeled ones.
And if one wears open-toed shoes sans stockings (95+ heat (120 on pavement), 90% humidity, nighttime lows in mid-80's, pantyhose is OUT), no chipped toenail polish or dirty toenails, please.
And...clea
And don't get me started about pants so low & tight, they reveal either underware, or a painter's crack when the wearer is seated. Or both. Maybe OK for going out on town, but not for office!!!!
Just my own little pet peevies...
When I was growing up, my mother made sure we had a set of "play clothes," school clothes," and "dress clothes." No fancy designer stuff, either. No so much of that is done today. I can't tell you how many young people have no clothing for profession
Grrrrr - flip flops! So annoying to have to hear that slap-slap-slap-slap as the wearers walk around the aisles.
What about Star Trek uniforms? One of the best programmers I ever worked with would wear his Star Trek uniform to work on special days, like Captain Kirk's birthday or when we had a special customer coming in for a software demo.
There are no dress codes for programmers.
That's one of the reasons it's a great profession.
This is truly LOL, and tears from laughing so hard. Thanks!!
Is he single?
Right? I'm interested too. I don't care that it makes me sound kind of sad.
Programmers are a special breed - naturally eccentric. They get to walk around in stocking feet and the whole area is in the dark, because they're like Magwi - they don't like light. They get to sleep in, roll out of bed at 10:30am, and roll into the office at 11am.
And that applies Norrthwest, East Coast, or even Germany.
I'm envious.
Ad to that a very short skirt, shoes with heels higher than 3 inches, way too much makeup, fake nails with all the designes, every piece of jewelry in your jewelry box, bare legs and you haven't shaved in the last 1-3 months, cleavage or going braless when you really need a bra (any size with a B-cup or better).
Clothes that look like they need to be ironed. Clothes that are obviously too tight. Wearing bare arms and casual clothes when collegues are wearing suits and shirt sleeves.
Now to tell Vogue and the fashion industry as they are the latest culprits to push all this poor dressing habits and styles in the name of money, money and more money!
Remember when lawyer Ally McBeal was always wearing miniskirts to the office? (A lawyer friend of my sister's says no real-life law firm would hire someone that flaky.)
I rarely watched Ally McBeal - she was a selfish, immature little twit and not representative of any professional woman I know or work with in life. I was very happy to have her show go bye-bye! That idiocy is not something professional women need or want. Too bad the producers of the show didn't get it.
You would be amazed at the short skirts on women in law firms in Dallas - usually not the attys, but the paralegals.
Ruffles, bows, arbitrary color mixes, and a constant frown.
You must strive to be the perfect cog. A completely replaceable part that can be swapped out at any time.
1. Pajamas
2. Clown shoes
3. KKK hoods
4. Togas
5. Nazi uniforms
6. Gorilla suits
7. Balaclava masks
8. Wedding gowns
9. Suits of armor
10. BRAVEHEART makeup
very funny, thanks, i needed a laugh
Wait, no gorilla suits? Bummer.
Star-shaped pasties.
Hey, don't laugh too hard. I've lived in New Orleans, where this list would have been rather useful.
You should always follow your companies dress code, even on Casual Fridays.
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