Business Edge Magazine Q&A - I was invited on the 'panel of experts'

Q.    I am a manager of an IT Company employing office and sales staff.  I am looking to give guidelines and advice to employees for dressing in the workplace.

 A.   Dress in the workplace must be thought about as it is the first impressions many customers and suppliers have of your company and the employees.  Everyone whether in work uniform or on management level must dress cleanly, neatly, professionally and sharply. 

Suits should be well cut and of the best material to enable them to hang and fit right. Dark suits give the impression of confidence and authority and are best worn with a good plain or striped shirt and tie, or non fussy blouse/top.  Dresses and jackets are a smart option for women.

For women, keep hemlines below the knee, hide away cleavages and sleeves should be capped or longer but not strappy.  Make up must always be kept natural and make sure that nails are well manicured.  Hair should be styled or if long kept tidy. Be aware that if hair is highlighted or coloured that the roots do not dominate.

For men wear leather formal shoes – black with a black, grey or navy suit.  Women can wow with a pair of killer heels but always make sure shoes are clean and polished.

It is important to personalize and create your individual style, but women must not over accessorise by wearing bows, sequins or huge patterns. Your wardrobe should show your personality, suit you, your work and be compatible with your lifestyle.

A splash of red – a tie for a man, a top or accessories for women, can give a confidence boost and give an impression of authority, ideal for presentations and pitches.  Just be aware that if you blush under pressure or have a reddish complexion keep to blue colours.

Some Companies have a casual dress code and some have dress down days.  This is not an excuse for sloppy dressing - one piece of an outfit should be tailored or structured and it must be made clear whether jeans and trainers are allowed.

For employees in a company, dress for the job you want – not for the job you are in.  In the 80s the buzz word was ‘power dressing’ today it is ‘self branding’. 

Great style is about knowing what suits you and what you feel good in.  It is not about trendy impulse buys, it is about investing in amazing pieces that show off your personal style again and again.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.  

Business Edge Magazine - September 2009