Most organizations expect their employees to dress well. One needs to dress appropriately as
per the work culture for a pleasing personality. It is not necessary that you have to wear your
business suits daily to work. A crisp white shirt teamed with a black well fit trouser can give you
that desired professional look. Corporate dressing does not mean flaunting designer business
suits but to dress appropriately in lines with the organization culture. Never wear casuals to
work. Dressing formally helps to create the right professional image. Neutral colours such as
blue, grey, white, khaki, black are guaranteed hits in a corporate setting. Avoid wearing party
shirts to work. Do not wear loud colours or patterns that are too bold. Subtle colours look good
in offices. Plain shirts are always in style but you can also go for shirts in stripes, checks or
micro-checks. Colours such as red, yellow, orange usually are not preferred to be worn at the
workplace.
Polka dots shirts or shirts with sequins are a strict no-no in organizations. Avoid wearing short
sleeves to work. Full sleeves shirts look professional. Make sure your sleeves touch the base of
your hand. Do not roll up sleeves at work. Take care of the fit of the trouser. Slim fit or flat front
trousers in solid colours such as grey, black, blue look best at workplaces. Avoid baggy trousers
as one looks lazy and sloppy in the same. Your shirt should not be too tight. You should be able
to button your shirt properly without any gaps. Clothing should be clean, wrinkle free and ironed.
Shoes should be polished. Keep a shoe shiner handy. Prefer dark leather shoes (Black or
Brown) with black laces. Wear dark coloured socks to work. Do not wear sports shoes or
sneakers to work.
Avoid wearing chunky necklaces or too many bracelets to work. Remove all other rings except
your wedding ring. Remember, there is a huge difference between your college and
professional life. College were the days when nobody told you anything when you wore ripped
jeans, T shirts, sneakers, hats and proudly flaunted your tattoos and body piercings. If you wear
an earring, remove it immediately. Tattoos and body piercings are not at all acceptable in a
professional environment.
If you have a moustache, make sure it is neatly trimmed. Do not attend office with beard unless
and until there is an emergency.
Remember, your tie should complement your overall look. Silk ties are always a safe bet. Do not
wear ties in loud colours or jazzy patterns. The tip of your tie should touch your belt buckles.
Hair should be neatly combed for a professional look. Short hair looks best in offices.
Avoid wearing strong cologne or perfume. You don’t need to tell others that you have arrived at
work. Avoid chewing gums at work. It looks completely unprofessional.
Do not wear flashy belts with broad buckles. Wear leather belts in dark colours preferably black
or brown.
Do not carry a thick wallet or keep your car keys in pocket as it creates an asymmetrical bulge
under your clothes.
– Ananya Ghosh
