All of this black-and-white-tie-affair business got me thinking about how we all dress in the workplace, and better yet, how we present ourselves even before we get the job. We all want to maintain our individuality, almost stubbornly--especially if you're still green behind the ears and entering the workforce. Believe me, I'm guilty of pulling some fashion faux pas in my day in the name of individuality. We won't even talk about when I couldn't figure out what size waist I actually wore...or where my waist actually was. Yeah.
But, it's a general rule of thumb that you should always dress for the position you want. Meaning, you could be the lowest totem on the totem pole, but you should still come in looking like a million bucks every day--because we all want that million bucks. So I thought I'd give some examples of do's and dont's that I've encountered over the years. (Names withheld to prevent nominations for What Not to Wear, of course.)
First, guys, your pants should always fit. This means they should be at your waist, and it shouldn't appear that you're housing all of Texas in them, or getting ready to host the next summer Olympics. The good thing about men's fashion these days is that you can even get by without a belt. That's right--I'm totally advocating suspenders. Okay, so Urkel wore them, and so did Gallagher...but trust me, they keep your pants up, which your boss will like. You have no excuse for your pants not at least appearing to fit now. Something that even I'm guilty of is wearing the wrong shoes to both interviews and on the job...oops. I know it's hard for others not to see how rad your shoes are, but if your boss can't see himself in your shoes then don't wear them! This means no tennis shoes, canvas slip-ons, or those new Reebok Pump Omni Lite Metallic numbers that you've been keeping in your closet for just the right occasion. Go with dark dress shoes, in good condition, shined, primed and ready for your boss to admire him or herself as they offer you your new fantastic job. Dress conservatively, sharply, and ready to make bank--and you will.
Ladies, let's talk about you for a minute. Yes, you wake up and you're fabulous, but there's some stuff you need to watch out for, too! Guys can't always be the only offenders. I know Mac had a super sale over the weekend, but please don't wear it all at once when you go in for that interview or to work on Monday. Besides being super uncomfortable for you (I can only imagine what it must feel like to not be able to feel the breeze on your skin), a lot of people are terrified of clowns. Be respectful of that. Seriously. All kidding aside, too much makeup can be a serious distraction for your prospective employer, and we want to be sure you get across just who you are and that you're the prime candidate for the job. I have a confession. I am addicted to fragrances. I am so thankful there's no longer a Sephora in my local mall, because I didn't have a paycheck thanks to them for about four months, not too long ago. I know there's a veritable cornucopia of fragrances Chanel so generously decided to mix just for you, but don't bathe in it! The point of a bath is to wash the day before away, not to announce your arrival 15 minutes before you even get there.
In general, you should look clean, manicured, and ready to be on television every day when you go into work, or when you land that interview. The point is to keep the focus on whom you are as an individual so your boss or prospective employer will know that you are exactly the right person to fill or be in your position, not to distract from that. So hang up those Jnco's (oh man, remember those?), put away the Cadillac Red lipstick and hook on the suspenders and get to it.
Don't make me get all Stacy and Clinton on you.