Dress code and work

What dress code should we adopt at work?  Finding the right dress code for the professional workplace  is can be rather tricky, especially for a lot of women who, (especially in the summer) like to show off their physique in short, light dresses: common practice in western countries, where during the warmer season the fair sex feel free to make the most of their appearance, by dispensing with the endless layers of clothes worn during the winter months.

There is certainly nothing wrong with such behaviour, but those who want their clothes to aid their efficiency at work, must still make an effort to choose a look which is suited to the circumstances:  that is because dressing for success is one thing, but dressing to attract attention is something else entirely.  An outfit for the office might include, for example, a smart suit, matching shoes and scrupulously maintained nails and hair.

This kind of professional dress code does not of course apply to contexts such as show business or the world of fashion, where clothes are chosen in order to provoke, attract or astound.  Despite that, however, most working people are involved in fields where strict company rules apply, providing precise indications on how they should look and dress in the office.

So how to dress and how not to dress in the professional setting?

An outfit which is guaranteed to promote efficiency at work includes: for women, skirts which should be below-the-knee, closed shoes with a heel which should not be excessive  (12 cm heels absolutely out of the question).  Men on the other hand can opt for an outfit according to their professional  role, either a smart suit or casual trousers with a jumper.  It is not necessary to possess a large number of different outfits; what counts is that, even if we wear the same jacket more than once, we should put on a clean shirt each day.

Something which should definitely never be worn to the office is an outfit more suited to a cocktail party, an evening on the town or a night out with friends.  Women can also choose trousers and sweaters, but they must always bear in mind the principles of taste, style and professionality.  The same policy goes for men:  shoes should of course match the rest of the outfit and the various items of clothing must never look worn or out of place.

Translated by Joanne Beckwith