How should you dress to work?

An office dress code describes the level of formality of the clothes you can wear to work. Most workplaces do not keep a written code of exactly which items employees should wear; instead, they use broad terms like “business professional,” “business formal,” “business casual,” or “casual”. By learning more about those categories and determining which one applies to your workplace, you’ll be able to dress for success and to create a specific perception of your organization.

A casual office dress code is required. It is less restrictive than business casual, but that doesn’t mean you should dress as casually as you would outside of work. This type of work attire is common in creative industries and on casual Fridays at more formal workplaces. To maintain a professional look while wearing casual clothing, look for button-downs, blouses, and T-shirts in solid colors and dark-wash or black denim free from rips and holes. Although clean sneakers may be okay, stick to closed-toe shoes, and always avoid flip-flops.

To add that, for client meetings and events at casual workplaces, smart-casual clothing, an upgraded version of casualwear is generally more suited. For a smart-casual dress code, break out trendier pieces, like a work-appropriate jumpsuit, a blazer, and higher-end footwear

To note that a Business Formal dress code is generally reserved for events such as awards ceremonies and benefit dinners outside the company. For this one, you should be wearing a dark-colored suit or skirt suit, a dress shirt, and dress shoes. Ties and pocket squares should be silk. Finish your look with a minimalist belt and simple jewelry or cufflinks.

Whether intentional or not, how we dress sends a message since People’s impressions are naturally based on visuals. Based on that, implementing a dress code in the workplace allows to set expectations regarding the image we want to convey and to build a specific, visual aspect to the company’s culture.