What Does Professional Dress Really Mean at Work?

Scroll down to read more!

What Does Professional Dress Really Mean at Work?

Scroll down to read more!

Table of Contents

Make sure you are dressed to make a good first impression on anyone and everyone you interact with every day of the week, and especially on ‘Casual Friday’.  You can still look and feel professional while taking advantage of the relaxed environment.  Dressing appropriately shows respect:  Respect for yourself and respect for others.

If you interact daily with prospects, clients and business partners – a higher standard of professional dress will be important.  If you work from home – or have zero interaction with others, you can get away with shorts or yoga pants. Otherwise – dress the part.  Dress for the position you ‘want’, not the position you ‘have’.

A good rule of thumb to follow is that conservative, versus trendy, clothing is both professional and functional.

What Does Professional Dress Really Mean at Work?

Ladies – It’s been said, the more skin you show – the less professional you appear. Make a smart business decision and choose dresses or skirts that are no shorter than 2 inches above the knee. The current trend of the micro-mini is not suitable or acceptable for professional dress, ever.  No strapless or ‘spaghetti’ strap tops in the office and shoulders should always be covered with no cleavage ‘peeping’ out.  You want your male colleagues and clients to remember you for your brains and input, not your chest and outfit.

Gentlemen – when not wearing a suit, khaki pants or slacks are always a great choice.  When wearing a suit coat, always button the jacket when standing for a professional look.  Never button the bottom button on your suit coat – it throws the lines of your jacket off and you appear disheveled.  When you are seated, unbutton the jacket to relax the tension of your jacket.

Shoes and Feet – Both men and women should keep shoes clean and polished. When wearing pants, choose socks that blend with your pants, think of the socks as an extension of the pant leg. Ladies should choose comfortable dress shoes, nothing too high.  You should be able to comfortably walk and stand in your shoe of choice all day long.  And NO flip-flops in the office, EVER – unless you’re a lifeguard.

Fingernails – This applies to both the ladies AND the gentlemen.  Keep your fingernails looking clean and trimmed.  Ladies, steer clear of trendy nail polish, keep your polish safe and basic. And keep the bottle in your purse or brief case for an emergency touch up in case you break or chip a nail on the way to an important meeting.

When it comes to Professional Dress, it’s the little details that show your clients and colleagues that you care, and that you are respectful.

Did you like this post? Share it!

A Word From Our Sponsors

Ads help make Workology resources free for everyone. We respect your privacy. To see our Privacy Policy click here.

Recommended Posts

27 Companies Who Hire Adults With Autism

List of companies who hire and employ adults who are neurodiverse. ...

The Costs of Form I-9 Software

Read the complexities of Form I-9 compliance software costs. We break down pricing structures, features & benefits to help HR professionals....

Episode 415: Registered Apprenticeship Programs in the Clean Energy Sector With Dr. Janell Hills

In this episode, we interview Dr. Janell Hills from IREC about developing registered apprenticeship programs in the clean energy sector....
Sanjay Sathé, Founder & CEO of SucceedSmart, is no stranger to disrupting established industries.

Q&A With Sanjay Sathé, Founder & CEO of SucceedSmart

Sanjay Sathé, Founder & CEO of SucceedSmart, is no stranger to disrupting established industries. ...
supporting caregivers: the sandwich generation at work

Supporting Caregivers: The ‘Sandwich Generation’ at Work

Are companies doing what they should to support employees who become caregivers? ...

Recruiting Reimagined: How Specialized Software Strengthens Hiring in 2024

Even during fluctuating economic crosswinds, the war for talent remains white-hot across most industries. To efficiently staff crucial openings while staying within strained budgets,...

Checkout Our Products

Ads help make Workology resources free for everyone. We respect your privacy. To see our Privacy Policy click here.

More From Workology

Recruiting Reimagined: How Specialized Software Strengthens Hiring in 2024

Click on read more to open this post on our blog.
supporting caregivers: the sandwich generation at work

Supporting Caregivers: The ‘Sandwich Generation’ at Work

Are companies doing what they should to support employees who become caregivers?
Sanjay Sathé, Founder & CEO of SucceedSmart, is no stranger to disrupting established industries.

Q&A With Sanjay Sathé, Founder & CEO of SucceedSmart

Sanjay Sathé, Founder & CEO of SucceedSmart, is no stranger to disrupting established industries.

Episode 415: Registered Apprenticeship Programs in the Clean Energy Sector With Dr. Janell Hills

In this episode, we interview Dr. Janell Hills from IREC about developing registered apprenticeship programs in the clean energy sector.