Choosing Your Style
You might not be taken seriously in the office if you’re dressed like Britney Spears or Justin Timberlake. If you want to know what to wear in the office, look at what your co-workers are wearing; not your favorite pop-star.
by Rita P. Gworek

The way you dress on the job has a lot to do with the place you work. When you start interviewing, research the company’s dress code. Is it business, business casual or casual dress? It may be all three, but when you interview, opt for over-dressed rather than under-dressed. That way, you can make the great first impression that lands you the job.

Once you’ve got the job, start building a wardrobe. Look around at the people you work with, determine which ones have the most influence, and notice how they dress. The more you can emulate the important people, the more you’ll be noticed for your sense of style. Indeed, the way you dress can lead others to treat you a certain way.

The problem in today’s world is that people seem to be influenced more by the media and the entertainment world than by those working in an office. The exception might be Donald Trump. He does work in an office, but he also has a television show. So I guess he falls into both categories. Often he wears bright pink ties — not the best choice of color for the average person. But then, Donald Trump is not your average person.  

What I’m trying to say is that the media have really influenced the retail market. Since “The Donald” wears those ties, others want to try to capture his look. It makes them seem more important. The problem is that they aren’t Trump and it won’t work for them.

The music world also affects the retail market. Male singers started wearing baggy pants that hung low off their hips, apparently about to fall off. And that style is still common in the younger generation. Whatever sells is going to stay.

The same goes for low-rise pants that females are wearing. There is low-rise and then there are very low-rise pants. And it appears that if you wear low-rise pants, you have to let your belly show. That may be okay for entertainers, but it’s not appropriate for the office. Some might respond that they don’t want to look like their mothers or fathers. Fine, but you do have to look professional, meaning that you don’t want to look like a professional entertainer.

Of course, more mature people aren’t going to wear such apparel. They were not brought up on it and are not influenced by it. They know what’s appropriate in an office, and they know how others treat them when they wear business clothing. Business clothing is classic in design. It covers most of the body. That means no cleavage showing and no exposed bellies. For males it means pants belted at the natural waist and socks always worn with shoes.

Don’t ever forget that your clothing sends a message. In the workplace, you want others to get the message that you are polished, professional, credible and trustworthy. If you dress like an entertainer, then that is how you’ll be perceived. People won’t see you as a co-worker, only as someone to entertain them. It’s best to save such clothing for outside of work. Would you consider wearing business attire to a night club?

So do your research and find out what’s acceptable before you make a mistake that causes a lasting negative impression.