Dragging your butt out of bed when the alarm goes off is hard enough, let alone putting serious thought into what you’re wearing to work. But if you care about your career, you do your best. As much as we wish it weren’t true, wearing the wrong thing to work sends the wrong message to co-workers and superiors. You can pretty much eliminate what NOT to wear by simply covering appropriately, dressing with care and following some simple rules.
So what NOT to wear to work?
EVERYONE PLEASE DO NOT WEAR…
1. Gym Clothes
Sweats, shorts, and tennis shoes have their place, but it usually isn’t at work — unless, of course, you work at a gym or in the fitness industry.
2. Club Clothes
Sequins, sparkles, and other cocktail attire all qualifies as after-five apparel. So don’t wear them to your day job — EVEN if you’ll be hitting the club scene after hours.
3. Plunging Necklines
Ever try to hold an intelligent conversation with a man when you’re wearing a plunging neckline? You can’t – he’s too busy sneaking peeks at your cleavage. Which is why, if you want to be taken seriously in business, you should not wear revealing necklines to work.
4. Midriff Tops
Unless you work as a belly dancer, no one at work should see your navel. Keep your belly covered and focus attention elsewhere – like to your talents, brains, and savvy.
5. Super Low Rise Pants
Like midriff tops, super low rise pants show too much skin and create a distraction. Opt for more modest styles to be taken more seriously at work.
6. Micro Minis
Since it’s all about covering up for credibility, you need to save your micro minis for after hours — unless, of course, you work as a cheerleader for a professional sports team.
7. Flip Flops
Flip-flops. Don’t burn rubber all over the place. Those comfy rubber thongs that give our feet a vacation just don’t set the right vibe at the office. Flip flops are cute, fun, easy-to-wear, and the best-selling footwear on the planet. But unless you work on the beach or as a lifeguard, they’re way too casual for work. Let’s keep it real, some people need to keep those feet covered.
8. Stiletto Heels
Bare legs and stiletto heels spell seduction, not serious business. Think they’re sexy? You’re right, they are — which makes them perfect for after hours, but completely inappropriate for work.
9. Slogan T-shirts
Love rock-and-roll, Elvis, or your neighborhood insurance company? Then say it with words, not on a t-shirt you wear to work. Not only are slogan t-shirts way too casual for the average office, their message often distracts from the business at hand.
10. Piercings In Odd Places
Nough said.
11. Jeans with holes all over
It’s not right for the office (even a casual one). Needless to say, holes and low-rise styles that reveal your underwear can leave everyone saying “Holy Cow”.
12. Don’t Go Logo Crazy
You want your busy boss to remember your name, not the name printed all over every inch of your body.
GUYS PLEASE DON’T…
Rock Leather Pants
Wearing leather to work will earn you compliments and credits — as long as it’s in the form of shoes, belts, and jackets. Leather pants, on the other hand, just make you look like a Mick Jagger wannabe (or worse yet, a gigolo). And that kind of bad judgement can make it hard for colleagues to trust you on joint projects.
Wear Jeans with holes all over
It’s not right for the office (even a casual one). Needless to say, holes and low-rise styles that reveal your underwear can leave everyone saying “Holy Cow”.
No Cowboy Boots whatsoever
Cowboy boots (along with cowboy hats) aren’t office attire. Under the right circumstances, these can be super sexy on a guy, but when you’re striking a professional pose, these won’t take you very far.
If you can stick to these rules then you should be fine. If you have any on the job fashion horror stories or would like to comment we would love to hear from you.
