Fashion, that ever-evolving, but always cycling, roller coaster, reflects and borrows from so many sources – culture, celeb media and expected norms, but what do the clothes we don for work say about us?
The Workplace Balance
For centuries, probably since we wore skins and carried spears, we’ve been following trends in fashion, some more slavishly than others. But there’s always been a little room for personal interpretation, and the more daring amongst us have grabbed that, adding an accent here, a small touch there, and reveling in that difference, that individualization that sets us apart from each other.
Download Branding Resources Guide
Building a brand starts by having the right tools and advice. Download our top 10 essential tools and resources to kick-start your branding.
As our selected clothes tell the world who we are, or conversely, what we want the world to think about us, those little individual touches give away more than we realize. They show what’s inside, what makes us tick and what matters.
In the workplace, what impression do our clothes give, and is that individualization as important there as on the street?
Giving the right impression
First impressions count, right? And the indirect communication given by our choice of outfits is crucial to initial perceptions, albeit based on subconscious split-second assumptions. In any given workplace, the peer pressure suggests that you dress similarly to your colleagues, which tends to, by our very nature, follow the fashion trends.
However, there are some general tips to follow:
- If you think something is inappropriate for work, it probably is
- Dressing with confidence suggests you possess confidence, and studies show this reflects in the quality of your work
- Darker colors give the impression of authority
- Wear something you feel comfortable in
- Apply subtle makeup
- Look after your nails. This is particularly important as your nails are often on the show. For example, when you’re typing on a keyboard, the moments when you’re shaking hands with your co-worker, or when you hand over a cup of coffee to your coworker. There’s nothing worse than a co-worker who has gritty nails
Okay, so we’ve got you looking appropriate for your environment, wearing dark colors, feeling comfortable and confident, with lovely, well cared for hands. But are you comfortable? Your clothes fit well, and your shoes don’t rub, but inside, are you comfortable?
Dressing in the same style as your colleagues bring a sense of community, of belonging and feeling part of the bigger picture, which is important to us as members of society, but where’s the ‘you’ part?
Finding the ‘You’
Blending in and being part of the crowd is good for workplace morale and bonding, but we also need to be able to show a little of ourselves, of our own personalities. It’s advised to keep accessories to a minimum, but there are a few subtle things we can do to show who we are:
- Most of us carry bags, so why not make yours a little different – maybe with a shocking pink lining or piping in a complementary color
- If wearing heels, choose a daring splash of color for the sole
- Madonna is famous for her faux beauty spot. Choose an appropriate color eye pencil and add a little ‘mole’. Apply a dusting of translucent powder to fix it in place
- Maybe there’s a particular celebrity you admire and can borrow a style idea from. Most celebrities have adopted a particularly unique sense of style, and most styles can be adopted at a relatively cost-effective price when you strip the clothes from their designer labels.
Being an individual whilst being part of the team is important, and this is the case in the workplace as much as anywhere else. Why not give it some thought and find your own ‘you’?
