How to Dress for Work: The Casual Dilemma

As we come closer to Spring, would-be graduates are starting to stream towards the workforce. One issue they always need support on: how to dress for work. Appropriate workwear is more complicated than it seems because it’s one of the most visible expressions of our personal brand. That’s why we like Annie’s take on the subject. As a placement recruiter, she’s seen it all and knows what works. Use this article as an excuse to revisit the personal brand statement in your own closet (and pass it on to a soon-to-be-graduate, too!) ~ InPower Editors

By Annie Walton Doyle

Walking into the office on the first day of a new job is daunting. You spent the previous night tossing-and-turning worried about coping with the day-to-day tasks, making a great first impression, and getting along with your co-workers. Worrying about sticking out like a sore thumb because of how to dress for work usually comes along with all the rest.

It may have been made clear in the interview what you can or can’t get away with or it may have been specified in the job description. However, with the boundaries in modern workwear becoming blurred and only one in ten wearing a suit to work. Bottom line–knowing how to dress for work is not always obvious.

As a graduate recruiter, placing fresh graduates into their first full-time jobs, I’ve observed office-wear rules become less black-and-white over the past few years with clients applying more relaxed rules on what employees should wear. Workwear is a particular concern for young people at the start of their careers, who are very keen to please and make a good first impression in their first full-time job.

So, how much does something as supposedly trivial as what you wear affect your job and career? Here are six tips to bear in mind when trying to gauge how to dress for work, if not stated specifically in your work contract.

What industry are you targeting?

To start, you probably need to think about what would classify as ‘industry-appropriate’ workwear. If the environment you work in is quite corporate then it wouldn’t look or feel right to turn up in casual wear, and you’d quickly attract the wrong sort of attention if you did. Companies which work in professional services such as IT systems, finance or law are almost certainly more formal than a young start-up company, which may enjoy a more dress-down approach to office workwear.  

On the flipside, if you turned up to a creative design agency wearing a suit and tie then you might find yourself feeling a little out of place among the jeans and t-shirts. Companies whose staff is mainly made up of younger generations tend to have a more lenient attitude when it comes to attire, as do those in the arts and creative sectors. However, this general rule is often broken so pay attention to your own company’s culture.

If the role you’re in is customer-facing, then you may even be provided with a uniform or at least given strict instructions on what’s expected of your dress code. Those who work in retail, the hotel industry or other leisure and hospitality roles will often be required to wear smarter workwear, to reflect the professionalism of their employer. While that may feel restrictive, it at least saves you the anxiety which can often come with choosing the right outfit every day. In this case the answer to the question of how to dress for work is probably pretty straight forward and you’d do well to follow the company guidelines for all client-facing protocols.

Look around you at how others dress for work

Many offices and workplaces don’t give strict workwear guidelines or dress codes, which can make deciding on an appropriate level of formality in how to dress for work even trickier. The simplest way to gauge how best to dress is by looking at your colleagues. They can help you figure out the boundaries of what will work and – more importantly – what won’t.

If you’re feeling unsure about the correct level of formality then you should aim to fall somewhere in the middle of the pack, but you can also use your trusted colleagues for workwear inspiration. Think about members of your office who tend to be thought of as more successful – do their clothes have anything in common? While I’m not suggesting you copy your co-workers’ outfits, using them as a benchmark when shopping for your workwear wardrobe can help you make better purchases.

Consider the mentality that will help you produce great results

There’s a reason why workwear exists, and it isn’t just to stop people wearing their pajamas to work. Wearing the right clothes to the office can help you with productivity, confidence, motivation and other key aspects of successful workplace activity.

Do you feel like a career-driven person when wearing tracksuit bottoms? Probably not. A structured, powerful jacket, on the other hand, can help you to “switch on” and get you into work mode. It’s essential to make your workwear work for you, so make sure you’re aware of how different items of clothing make you feel when you wear them.

This is the space in which you get to balance your need to feel unique and authentic with the requirements of the office or job. How can you put yourself in the right mentality and express the best parts of yourself while also aligning yourself with the dress code? It’s a fun puzzle to solve.

How to dress for work? Choose clothes to solve this puzzle: comfort+confidence+authenticity+industry-appropriate-class.  – Click to Tweet

How to dress for work AND be comfortable

It’s a given that workwear won’t be as physically comfortable as your “lounging around the house” attire. Your workwear shouldn’t make you feel you’re ready to curl up for a Netflix marathon, but it’s important that it makes you feel good.

Never wear anything ill-fitting – not only will it look wrong, but it will only serve to distract you throughout your day. You don’t want to feel too much like you’re wearing a costume. A loose pair of smart trousers and a shirt is comfortable, light and looks great. Similarly, a smart skirt and a nice top is a comfy but sophisticated look for the office.

What can you invest?

Many people resent spending too much money on workwear, but this can be a big mistake.

For one thing, many of us spend more time in workwear than in our casual, weekend clothing, so it makes sense to dedicate more of your budget to it. For another, spending a little extra on workwear can make you look like you’ve made more of an effort and give you a sharper vibe.

It’s also important to remember that cheaper workwear is often a false economy. It can look worn-out far quicker than something made to a higher standard, and give you a haphazard, careless look. Investing in quality pieces that fit you well and will last for a long time could be a more sensible way to go. If you’re struggling to find the cash, you can often find fantastic, high-end workwear pieces second hand for amazing savings.

Moving on up

As the old adage goes, “dress for the job you want, rather than the job you have”. This is a good rule to live by, within reason. You should never let your clothing become something which could potentially hold you back. If you look like someone who would be well-deserving of a promotion, it certainly won’t hurt your chances of getting one.

However, it’s important to find the balance. If everyone in your office tends to wear more business-casual attire and you’re consistently turning up in a suit, you could stand out for all the wrong reasons. It may even end up looking sycophantic. Aim to be as formal as it is appropriate for you to be, but always clean, well-polished and well-presented. If you follow these guidelines on how to dress for work, the specifics of your workwear should naturally fall into place.

Annie Walton Doyle writes about how to dress for work and other career topics for Inspiring Interns & Graduates, the UK’s leading graduate recruitment agency.