Dressed to perfection

Figuring out what to wear to work is the biggest challenge that some of us face in the morning. Is dressing down acceptable at workplaces? Find out

It is easy to veer off track when it comes to selecting what to wear to work. Minute mistakes can spell trouble as the way you dress says a lot about you and helps you to create an image for yourself. Since one’s professional fate is determined by the first impression one makes, dressing forms an important part of the job. Is it advisable to retain your style in spite of the company or the occasion you attend. But there are also people who change their dress code according to their mood.There are some who dress down to work to keep a low profile.

“I don’t like being noticed at office for the wrong reasons. I would love it if someone appreciates me for my work but not for my dressing. If I come late one day, I wouldn’t want seniors to refer me as a girl who wears a lot of make-up or dress too grandly. I prefer dressing up while I am out with my friends and family and not when I am at work,” Niveditha Murthy, from Thomson Reuters, says.

However, there are others who think that one should dress according to what one’s work demands, Madhu Joshi, director, public relations at The Park, says, “My job requires me to look good 24/7 since I will be meeting many people throughout the day. I tend to dress according to the occasion. I do not stick to formal shirts and trousers when I am attending a informal event. I give preference to comfort rather than sticking to the dress code. One can look professional in a salwar suit too if you know how to carry yourself. But I also believe that dressing and outward appearance does make a difference in the way others perceive you.”

With employees working in the corporate field having to abide by the dress code given by the companies is a must. It is only during the casual day and ethnic day when they get to experiment and try out clothes of their choice.

“We have ethnic days and casual days when we can turn up in our favourite t-shirts or kurtas. We dress down on these days and do not follow the rules we normally do. I think on the casual days, girls are more open when it comes to trying out clothes. At the same time, they are also the ones who are condemned if their outfit is of bad taste,” Riyaz Usman of Infosys says.

Image Consultant Chhaya Momaya is of the opinion that an occasion or event shouldn’t determine one’s style of dressing. She says that one should always be dressed in their stylish best to help create a image for themselves in the public.

“You should decide on your dressing according to your profession. You cannot be dressed in high-end fashionable clothes if you are a lawyer. You might come across someone who rips off your clients. At the same time you cannot look unprofessional by dressing down in public. The secret is to not wear something that is loud. You should retain your sense of style in spite of the event and functions that you attend,” she says.

Tags: dressing, workplace

Category: City, City News