5 Things You Should Never Wear at Work

5 Things You Should Never Wear at Work

The way we work is changing, which in turn means the way we dress for work is changing, too. All this talk of dressing down for work can be confusing, particularly if you're still working a day job. While it’s true that appearance is not everything, and it certainly isn't as important as our performance at work, it still matters, and people do judge us based on how we look. You wouldn’t want to be the guy who looks like he rolled out of the hamper or the woman whose skirts are too short. Get noticed at work for your performance rather than your appearance.

1. Too Much Aftershave or Perfume

Go light on the perfume or aftershave. You don't want people to be able to smell you before they can see you. Additionally, many people are very sensitive to fragrance. If you work with someone who has a severe reaction to it, you may want to refrain from wearing aftershave or perfume altogether.

2. Sloppy Clothing

Your clothes should be clean and unwrinkled, and you should always look put together when you go to work. Avoid wearing stained items. It is nice to have a change of clothes in the office in case of urgent and unforeseen matters. Your hair and nails should be neat and clean, and your shoes must be in good condition. Your boss and coworkers may perceive you as someone who is careless and doesn't pay much attention to detail if you look unkempt.

3. Tight or Revealing Clothes

Wearing anything too skimpy or revealing is still most definitely a no-no. When you wear revealing attire people may not respect your professionalism. You can debate the fairness of that, and you may not be wrong, but it, unfortunately, might not change people's perceptions. Plunging necklines, midriff-revealing crop tops, sheer fabrics, miniskirts, and dresses don't belong in the workplace. A man's unbuttoned shirt shouldn't show off his chest hair.

4. Clothes That Make It Difficult to Work

Any article of clothing that makes it hard to do your job is a big NO. Those beautiful four-inch stilettos may look great on your feet but if it takes you too long to get from your desk to the copy machine because they're too hard to walk in, save them for another occasion. Avoid wearing overly tight skirts or dresses. Aside from being a distraction to your coworkers, you don't want it to seem like being fashionable is more important than being productive.

5. Shirts with Offensive Messages

You should never wear a shirt with something offensive printed on it. If you have a shirt that has a message, either in words or depicted graphically that has even the slightest chance of insulting or offending people, wear it elsewhere. Some offensive images can even be considered harassment.