Company dress codes are rarely written down in the professional world. While it's common sense not to wear flip-flops and board shorts to the office (unless you would for a surfboard company), the rest is left for you to decipher.
You can mirror what your coworkers wear as a benchmark, which will fall into one of three business dress codes (you should also have a personal dress code).
Corporate
Corporate dress codes call for suits, ties and pressed shirts. Dockers and polo shirts will not cut it in these type of environments (think investment banking and law firms). The typical uniform is a nice suit with a crisp white dress shirt and a quality tie, preferably made of silk. You don't have to stick to a white shirt, though. Play around with classic pinstripes and white French cuffs.
Bold ties add personality to white shirts. Wide-knot neckties are the "it" men's accessory right now (in addition to the status watch); they create a sophisticated look that's polished and confident. Pocket squares have made a comeback-wear one that matches your tie and no one will forget you.
Diane Gottsman, founder of the Protocol School of Texas, recommends Egyptian cotton solid white dress shirt, shirts in solid, icy, almost white, colors, shirts with stripes on a white background or go for the tone on tone look-you can't go wrong!
Business Casual
The business casual dress code is the hardest to de-code. It's almost as if management is testing you to see how well you interpret the dress "code". And this very well may be the case. Always remember that you're a professional and so an eye towards professionalism is mandated every morning when you pick out what the wear.
Even if you don't meet clients face-to-face, wearing pressed, clean and neat clothes shows your colleagues that you are competent and worthy of taking on additional challenges (and getting those well-deserved promotions). Khakis and polo shirts may be acceptable, but make sure they're up-to-date, made of durable, high-quality materials and ironed. Wrinkled clothes, even in minor cases, sends a message that you're disheveled and disorganized.
Business Appropriate
Business appropriate is one of those newer terms that breeds even more confusion that the business casual dress code. Understanding the business appropriate dress code requires a thorough understanding of the corporate culture. A polo shirt and sportcoat may be perfectly acceptable at some companies, while at others, a business appropriate dress code could mandate a suit, but without the tie. It's all about what is appropriate for your company and industry.
If you're preparing for an interview or just starting out with a new company and don't know the dress code, you can make assumptions based on the industry. For financial industries and legal offices, you can count on the dress code being formal. To be sure, call human resources and ask for general guidelines.
A. Covington is a fashion writer with a sharp eye for men's fashion. Her men's fashion Blog covers the essentials on how to dress well, from silk ties and pocket squares, to men's casual clothes, to work attire for men. Her work has appeared in numerous regional magazines and ezines, including San Diego Magazine, San Francisco Downtown Magazine, Ranch & Coast Magazine and JustLuxe.com.
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