Casual Dress Code In Fashion At Work
Dressing up for work continues to go out of style, new research from staffing firm OfficeTeam shows. Half (50 per cent) of senior managers interviewed said employees wear less formal clothing than they did five years ago. In addition, nearly one-third (31 per cent) of office workers stated they would prefer to be at a company with a business casual dress code; 27 per cent favor a casual dress code or no dress code at all.
But there are limits to what passes as acceptable office attire. When senior managers were asked about the most common dress code violation at work, wearing overly casual clothing was the top response (47 per cent), followed by showing too much skin (32 per cent).
“Employees should take their cues from company guidelines and what others in the office are wearing. Some industries, for example, are more formal than others,” said Brandi Britton, a district president for OfficeTeam. “A casual dress code doesn’t mean that anything goes. Staff should always look professional and project an image that reflects positively on the business.”
Here are seven questions employees should ask themselves when choosing what to wear for work:
- Does this follow company policy? If there’s a written dress code, abide by it. Also consider what your manager and coworkers wear, and use that information to guide your choices.
- Am I revealing too much? If you have to ask yourself this question, the answer is likely “yes.” Avoid clothes that show too much skin, and err on the side of caution when displaying tattoos or piercings.
- Is this distracting? Wearing wild or bright prints can attract attention for the wrong reasons. In most workplaces, neutral colors and simple patterns, such as pinstripes, are a safe bet.
- Am I overdoing it? Take a subtle approach to jewelry, makeup, perfume and cologne. Also note that unconventional hair colors or styles and unkempt facial hair may be frowned upon at more conservative companies.
- Do I feel confident? If you’re uncomfortable in your outfit, it’ll show. Make sure your clothes fit well and don’t require a lot of readjusting.
- Will I offend anyone? Steer clear of wearing apparel with profanity, political statements or other questionable material.
- Does it pass the final check? Give yourself a once-over from head to toe. Look out for wrinkled, torn or stained garments and scuffed shoes.
View an infographic of the survey findings below:
