Whether it’s beneficial or not, clothing is indeed a form of self-expression. It sends messages of modesty, simplicity, professionalism, and sex appeal. Your clothes say a lot about you. There’s a psychology behind clothing that speaks to the need to draw attention and a positive response.
It’s no secret that women, for the most part, are more infatuated with the language and love of clothing than men are. And, for better or worse, end up enduring the side effects associated with that love when it comes to dressing in the workplace.
“Whether you like it or not – no matter what the state of the economy – the way you present yourself, from your suit cut and hair length, to your heel height and style of handbag acts as a thumbnail sketch of your character,” says Kim Gross and Jeff Stone in their bestselling book, Chic Simple: Dress Smart Women. “From these visual cues, others make assumptions about your dedication and competence; your personality, habits, tastes; social life, friends and quirks.”
The question of dressing appropriately at work can apply to men, of course, but the overwhelming majority of debate in this area is directed toward women and whether or not their clothing is proper for the particular environment they’re working in. Are their skirts too short, blouses too revealing, colors too bright? In fact, a recent university study looked into the issue of dressing sexy versus business-like in the workplace.
A report released late last year from Lawrence University in Wisconsin looked at the application of stereotypes that women are assigned depending on how they dressed. One of the conclusions was that the resulting judgment didn’t just depend on what a woman wore, but also on the position she held. “Perceptions of a female manager were strongly influenced by manipulating the degree to which her clothing and personal grooming emphasized sexuality,” the report stated. “In contrast, this manipulation had no effect on perceptions of the same female target when she was said to be a receptionist.”
The study went on to say that there’s a backlash against women in high-ranking positions who lean toward dressing provocatively.
“A female manager whose appearance emphasized her sexiness elicited less positive emotions, more negative emotions, and perceptions of less competence on a subjective rating scale and less intelligence on an objective scale.”
The end result of a study like the one conducted by Lawrence University psychologists is that women should simply practice common sense when it comes to dressing for the occasion. You wouldn’t wear a pair of shorts and flip-flops to a five-star restaurant, and you wouldn’t wear a bikini to a buttoned-down corporate event.
Whatever the case, stick to industry standards. If you’re in the legal, accounting, and banking world, the suit is usually the mainstay with conservative hemlines and accessories. The trend in business over the past 20 years has definitely leaned toward casual, but there’s a big difference between casual and shabby. Regardless of what you’re wearing, it should project a well-groomed appearance. Clean clothes, styled hair, subtle makeup, and kept nails are all part of a professional image for women.
Men have a relative uniformity to their clothing, so it’s easier for them to stay within the boundaries. Women, however, have more choice. And more choice can be both good and bad. Invest in a few suits, whether they’re pant suits or a nice jacket and skirt. Keep them tasteful and pressed. If you’re working in a conservative environment, consider neutral colors like dark blue, grey, and black.
Some work environments are so casual, they don’t even have a policy. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t practice good taste. If jeans are allowed in your workplace, stick to the ones that aren’t filled with trendy rips, tears and beading. And by all means, don’t wear the jeans that expose your thong. Save those for clubbing.
There’s a cliché that clothes make the man. Well, it’s probably even more applicable for a woman, so use common sense in the workplace. You wouldn’t do or say anything at your job that’s inappropriate. Take the same track when it comes to clothing.
