6 Ways To Look Polished And Professional At Work

As an office worker, you encounter a lot of people daily. You get instructions from your superiors, collaborate with your colleagues, and you may even have meetings with clients. While it’s definitely important to be reliable and effective at your job, you also want to give a good impression. Dressing well and presenting yourself in a professional manner makes you look more capable and trustworthy. It communicates that you care about your job and gives the impression that your work is just as polished as you look.

If you haven’t yet mastered the art of looking polished and professional at the office, here are seven must-do’s to guide your outfits.

Do Follow The Company Dress Code

Companies often have a dress code found in the employee handbook. Read and familiarize yourself with these rules so you don’t accidentally get a warning for dressing inappropriately. Ultimately, these guidelines will be the same or similar for most companies and are in place to help any employee look professional. Always remember that you represent your company wherever you go, so the way you dress reflects the company’s image.

After reviewing these guidelines, you’ll know what kind of blouses, tights, pants, skirts, or dresses you should buy or use from your wardrobe. Some companies require tights to be worn with dresses or skirts to lessen skin exposure. For these requirements, opt to buy antimicrobial tights and leggings. Their antimicrobial technology resists bacterial growth, which can help keep your tights odour-free even when you wear them the entire day.

In case you didn’t receive a handbook or the dress code wasn’t discussed during your orientation, take note of what other employees are wearing and imitate their style.

Do Wear Clean Clothes

Try not to wear blouses or tops that you’ve used more than once. These clothes make direct contact with your skin, and wearing them for the whole day increases bacterial growth on the fabric, causing it to smell without you realizing it. You might not think that your blouse smells bad, but you might have colleagues, superiors, or clients who are sensitive to odours, and they’ll be able to tell.

Be careful with jackets, blazers, and trousers. As their material discourages frequent washing, you might forget to wash these clothes altogether. To help you make sure that your jackets, blazers, and trousers are clean, make a note of their last wash and how many times you’ve worn them. Put them in the wash or have them dry-cleaned after your fifth or sixth usage.

Do Buy Basic Office Wear

Basic office attire is the foundation of your workwear wardrobe. Your basics should include trousers, pencil skirts, blazers, and blouses. Since you will be wearing these items every day, you should strive to buy multiple pieces of each apparel.

For trousers, skirts, and blazers, get them in neutral colours like white, black, and beige, so you can easily mix and match them together with any blouse. You should also ensure that the fabrics of your workwear are comfortable and durable, as uncomfortable office wear can be distracting and inhibit you from doing your work. If the fabric is too scratchy or prickly, you might find yourself fidgeting or scratching yourself without meaning to in front of your superiors or colleagues. If this happens during a meeting, your behaviour may distract others and give them a bad impression of you. For comfortable office attire fabrics like cotton, polyester, and nylon are recommended.

Do Wear Comfortable Shoes

Shoes can easily change the way your outfit looks. Wearing open-toe flats or sneakers is too casual for workplace settings where suits are preferred, so dress accordingly. If you are wearing crisp blouses and structured blazers, your footwear should also reflect this formal business aesthetic.

Invest in comfortable close-toed shoes like pumps with relatively low heels. If your company dress code allows sandals with low heels, consider getting a pair if you find these more comfortable than pumps.

Loafers and some closed-toe flats are sometimes allowed and can be a good investment. Their design can be good for events or meetings as they’re easy to walk in. In case you have to go to a more formal event or face a client, it is a good idea to have more formal pumps to change into.

Do Have Spares for Emergencies

You might experience getting food stains on your clothes or having your heel break while you’re at work. Accidents happen, but these incidents can result in you looking unkempt and unpresentable. They may also make you feel embarrassed if you are suddenly called for a meeting with your clients or superiors.

Be prepared for accidents like these by bringing back-up office attire and storing it at your desk or cubicle. You can also pack stain stick remover pens in your purse so you can treat stains before they’ve had a chance to set. Don’t forget to bring an extra pair of shoes as well.

Do Not Show Too Much Skin

Dressing sexy in the office is never a good thing. As the workplace is an environment to be professional, showing too much skin can send the wrong message, not only to your colleagues but also to possible clients. Avoid clothes with plunging necklines or sleeveless blouses, as well as dresses and skirts that go more than 2 inches above the knee. Most of all, do not wear shorts to work as these are too casual for office wear.

Looking polished and professional at the office is important because you represent the company you work for. It also helps you make a good impression on the people you work with, as they learn to expect your work to be just as well-considered. By following these must-do’s, you can be assured that you’re dressing for success.

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