Fashion do’s and don’ts in the workplace
Workplace don’ts Workplace do’s
The dress code of a company or office very much determine the type of fashion faux pas an employee can make seeing there are certain styles that one can wear in a casual smart working environment such as an architect firm or graphic design studio,
but the same styles will be too casual for a corporate company such as a bank or auditing firm.
Exposed cleavage and midriffs
Revealing to much skin never looks professional. Ensure blouse covers the cleavage area and that the length is long enough to cover problem areas such as a rounded tummy or bottom. In this instance, the length should end just below the widest part of your hips. Same advice goes for when you wear a jacket, but then best tuck in the shirt.
High hemlines e.g. mini skirts
If you your knees and legs are slim and shapely you can wear a thigh length skirt. Your hemline should end approximately 4cm to 6cm above your knees.
Skin tight pants and gaping blouse
Ensure a good fit, clothes should never be too loose or too tight. If you struggle finding the correct fit, e.g. fits around bottom, but waist band too wide, buy that size and have the waistband altered instead of squeezing into a smaller size.
Creased clothing
Properly ironed clothes create a good impression.
Dirty / scuffed shoes
Clean, polished, professionally touched-up
Too much/too little make-up
The groomed professional always wear makeup in flattering shades that suit her skin tone.
Flashy accessories
Avoid flashy or overwhelming accessories as people will be distracted by it when interacting with you. Also keep accessories to a minimum when wearing a busy print top or jacket.
Big bulky handbags
Lugging around a bulky bag looks sloppy and unprofessional and will make your shape look bigger. A bag should never be wider than your width, viewed from the side.
Exposed underwear or visible lines
Wear nude or light-coloured underwear, or select a more sheer fabric than cotton (such as microfiber) or slimming undergarment such as Spanx. Avoid see-through bra straps – you can still see them!
Copy provided by Willene Swart, Ambassador and Senior Image Consultant for Chata Romano. She can be contacted on 082 451 1959 or willene@inspiringwomen.co.za or visit www.chataromano.com for all your image solutions.
