It's summertime and while the living might be easy, deciding what to wear to work is not.
Our more casual world makes it difficult to know, on any given day, how to dress for the office.
Just because the temperature is soaring, you can't throw the dress codes, if you have any, out the window and wear whatever feels good.
Whether it is summer or winter, the number one rule to follow when choosing what to wear to work is to always dress professionally.
People are going to make judgments about you based on your attire.
Your choice of apparel speaks to your professionalism and credibility.
Many organizations have a written dress policy.
Find out if yours does.
That will take the mystery out of what to wear and prevent you from making bad choices.
Other organizations simply adopt a more casual dress code for the summer without making clear what that means.
When that happens, people show up in all sorts of attire, much of which is not workplace appropriate.
What you wear depends on four factors: the industry you work in, the job you have within the industry, the geographical region in which you live, finally and most importantly what your clients expect to see.
Those guidelines hold true all year.
In the heat of the summer your clients and your customers still expect you to look like the professional you are.
So what exactly does that mean? Here are some tips for how men and women should dress during the summer months.
For men: 1.
If your usual attire is a business suit or a sports coat and tie, you might choose to dress down by simply leaving off the jacket or sports coat.
Wearing a long sleeve shirt and tie will still give you the look of a professional.
2.
A solid white or blue dress shirt offers the most polished look.
Small checks or stripes are fine, but resist the urge to break out your favorite Hawaiian shirt.
3.
Short sleeves rarely look business-like but are acceptable within certain industries and jobs.
4.
Choose a quality trouser for work even if you are not dressed in coat and tie.
Jeans have no place in the workplace unless your workplace is outdoors all day.
5.
Wear socks! Leaving off socks just because it is hot will greatly detract from your appearance.
No white socks and no short socks.
They still need to be at least calf-length and match either your shoes or your trousers.
6.
Your choice of shoes is extremely important.
Sandals or flip-flops do not belong in the workplace unless you are a lifeguard.
If you are, you can forget the shoes and sandals altogether.
7.
If you wear a tie, it should be the type you wear all year.
Ties should be made of silk or a silk-like fabric.
Avoid the cartoon characters and go for simple and subtle if you want to maintain your credibility.
8.
Your belt and shoes should match regardless of the season.
For Women: 1.
If a your usual attire is a skirted or pants suit, you may opt to leave off the jacket.
2.
Your choice of a blouse or top needs to be one with sleeves.
Short sleeves are acceptable, but never sleeveless.
Blouses and sweaters provide color and variety to woman's clothing, but they should be appealing rather than revealing.
Inappropriate necklines and waistlines can give the wrong impression.
3.
Dresses are popular again.
There are plenty of them with short or elbow length sleeves.
4.
Sun dresses are never appropriate in an office environment.
5.
If a dress is sleeveless or simply has straps, a jacket or sweater should be worn with it.
That can be a jacket with short or three-quarter length sleeves.
6.
Although they are very popular, sandals of any kind and flip-flops are not workplace appropriate.
It is easy enough today to find flat or low-heeled shoes that look professional.
Other shoes that allow more freedom in the summer are those with a closed toe and a strap around the heel as well as those that a back and a hint of an open toe.
7.
Skirts, if they are short, should come to your knee.
Hot weather is no excuse for skirts that only reach mid-thigh.
A skirt more than two inches above the knee raises eyebrows and questions.
8.
The rule for the length of a woman's pants at work is the same year round.
Pants should touch the top of the shoe or foot to be professional.
If you work in a more casual environment year round, ankle-length pants or those that come to mid-calf are acceptable.
No shorts unless you do landscaping or work at the beach.
It's easy to confuse the latest fashion with professional dress.
Both men and women need to differentiate between their business attire and what they wear after hours and on weekends.
Investing in a good business wardrobe, one that is separate from your personal wardrobe, is an investment in your future.
For those who think it's not what you wear but how you do your job that creates success, give that some more thought.
Business skills and experience count, but so does personal appearance.
Impress your clients and customers all year with the choices you make in what to wear to work.
If you arrive home at the end of the day and don't have to change your clothes, you may have worn the wrong thing.
© 2013, Lydia Ramsey.
All rights reserved.
Reprints welcomed so long as article and by-line are kept intact and all links made live.
Our more casual world makes it difficult to know, on any given day, how to dress for the office.
Just because the temperature is soaring, you can't throw the dress codes, if you have any, out the window and wear whatever feels good.
Whether it is summer or winter, the number one rule to follow when choosing what to wear to work is to always dress professionally.
People are going to make judgments about you based on your attire.
Your choice of apparel speaks to your professionalism and credibility.
Many organizations have a written dress policy.
Find out if yours does.
That will take the mystery out of what to wear and prevent you from making bad choices.
Other organizations simply adopt a more casual dress code for the summer without making clear what that means.
When that happens, people show up in all sorts of attire, much of which is not workplace appropriate.
What you wear depends on four factors: the industry you work in, the job you have within the industry, the geographical region in which you live, finally and most importantly what your clients expect to see.
Those guidelines hold true all year.
In the heat of the summer your clients and your customers still expect you to look like the professional you are.
So what exactly does that mean? Here are some tips for how men and women should dress during the summer months.
For men: 1.
If your usual attire is a business suit or a sports coat and tie, you might choose to dress down by simply leaving off the jacket or sports coat.
Wearing a long sleeve shirt and tie will still give you the look of a professional.
2.
A solid white or blue dress shirt offers the most polished look.
Small checks or stripes are fine, but resist the urge to break out your favorite Hawaiian shirt.
3.
Short sleeves rarely look business-like but are acceptable within certain industries and jobs.
4.
Choose a quality trouser for work even if you are not dressed in coat and tie.
Jeans have no place in the workplace unless your workplace is outdoors all day.
5.
Wear socks! Leaving off socks just because it is hot will greatly detract from your appearance.
No white socks and no short socks.
They still need to be at least calf-length and match either your shoes or your trousers.
6.
Your choice of shoes is extremely important.
Sandals or flip-flops do not belong in the workplace unless you are a lifeguard.
If you are, you can forget the shoes and sandals altogether.
7.
If you wear a tie, it should be the type you wear all year.
Ties should be made of silk or a silk-like fabric.
Avoid the cartoon characters and go for simple and subtle if you want to maintain your credibility.
8.
Your belt and shoes should match regardless of the season.
For Women: 1.
If a your usual attire is a skirted or pants suit, you may opt to leave off the jacket.
2.
Your choice of a blouse or top needs to be one with sleeves.
Short sleeves are acceptable, but never sleeveless.
Blouses and sweaters provide color and variety to woman's clothing, but they should be appealing rather than revealing.
Inappropriate necklines and waistlines can give the wrong impression.
3.
Dresses are popular again.
There are plenty of them with short or elbow length sleeves.
4.
Sun dresses are never appropriate in an office environment.
5.
If a dress is sleeveless or simply has straps, a jacket or sweater should be worn with it.
That can be a jacket with short or three-quarter length sleeves.
6.
Although they are very popular, sandals of any kind and flip-flops are not workplace appropriate.
It is easy enough today to find flat or low-heeled shoes that look professional.
Other shoes that allow more freedom in the summer are those with a closed toe and a strap around the heel as well as those that a back and a hint of an open toe.
7.
Skirts, if they are short, should come to your knee.
Hot weather is no excuse for skirts that only reach mid-thigh.
A skirt more than two inches above the knee raises eyebrows and questions.
8.
The rule for the length of a woman's pants at work is the same year round.
Pants should touch the top of the shoe or foot to be professional.
If you work in a more casual environment year round, ankle-length pants or those that come to mid-calf are acceptable.
No shorts unless you do landscaping or work at the beach.
It's easy to confuse the latest fashion with professional dress.
Both men and women need to differentiate between their business attire and what they wear after hours and on weekends.
Investing in a good business wardrobe, one that is separate from your personal wardrobe, is an investment in your future.
For those who think it's not what you wear but how you do your job that creates success, give that some more thought.
Business skills and experience count, but so does personal appearance.
Impress your clients and customers all year with the choices you make in what to wear to work.
If you arrive home at the end of the day and don't have to change your clothes, you may have worn the wrong thing.
© 2013, Lydia Ramsey.
All rights reserved.
Reprints welcomed so long as article and by-line are kept intact and all links made live.