What Is Appropriate Business Attire
What is appropriate business attire? That's sort of like asking, How long is a piece of string? It's not a one size fits all proposition. For depending on your line of work , your corporate culture, and your audience, it can mean different things to different people even within the same organisation. Tricky? You bet. Figure it out and combine it with strong skills and the sky's the limit in your field. But fumble on the dress code even if you're technically competent and your climb will slow considerably, if not stall completely. How you look will open (or close) the door to opportunity; what you know will keep you in the room.
Here are the three basic things you need to consider when figuring out what`s appropriate for you:
YOUR LINE OF WORK
* Traditional businesses like law, banking, finance, accounting, high-level corporate, etc., require traditional business attire: a conservative suit in dark colours with classic lines. The message: authoritative, conservative, and competent.
* People businesses like teaching, real estate, sales, medicine, social work, etc., call for clothes that both convey expertise but are non-threatening: two piece dressing, good quality, no jacket. The message: trustworthy, approachable, and knowledgeable.
* Artistic businesses like advertising, art, fashion, writing, entertainment, decorating, etc., call foror dare I say it?expect a more expressive mode of dress. Three piece dressing, with a tie, scarf, or jewellery being the third piece. The message: creative, unique, and contemporary.
YOUR CORPORATE CULTURE
The next thing you have to look at is your corporate culture.
While one company may have a very strict dress code, another company in the same field may be much more relaxed. If you adapt your wardrobe to fit in with your company, you'll succeed much faster (in terms of promotions and/or getting staff compliance) than if you simply resign yourself to the notion that everyone is either over- or underdressed, in your opinion, and you'll march to your own drum, regardless of what they do.
YOUR AUDIENCE
Who is your audience? The people who most influence your pay check: your clients, potential clients, management, colleagues, staff, students, etc. You're dressing to:
1. Be relatable to them. 2. Fit their perceived image of som
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