First impressions are key in business, even in the vastly changing landscape of the workforce. As found by researchers at the University of Western Ohio, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Their study showed that even when their own experience contradicted a first impression, the latter ‘stuck’ – which is why getting your dress code right is so important. These days, the old ‘suit-and tie does the trick’ adage won’t necessarily work if you want to mark yourself as an innovative professional. If there’s one rule for millennial workers, it is that each industry and office has its own dress code – and getting it right involves working out what that is and adapting to it – fast!
Casual is the New Cool
In a survey by OmniPulse of over 1,200 working adults, it was revealed that casual dress is the new norm in most workplaces. In fact, around a third of respondents were blatantly resistant to formal office attire. These days, some offices with millennial-aged (or younger) workers are seeing staff blur the line between what they might wear to a meeting with superiors and what they might don to an outdoorsy event. Thus, layered outfits, accessories with a ‘wow’ factor, and cool headwear are seen as perfectly acceptable whenever they are put together with aplomb. The bonus for workers in casual offices is having more clothing to wear to social events. These outfits tend to be creative but not so ‘way out’ that they stand out from clothing worn by colleagues. To add a bit more spark to the same outfits on weekends or for concerts and festivals, accessories, jackets, and hair and make-up can be used as a form of self-expression.
Catering Outfits to the Corporate Culture
Clothing has become so individual that recruiting counselors and life coaches sometimes advise jobseekers to check out a prospective company’s social media sites and website to figure out what to wear to an interview. For instance, those applying to work in a creative role (think graphic design, fashion or animation) are usually expected to express their artistry through their dress. Thus, bright colors, retro suits and unique statement pieces (think necklaces or belts) will let hirers know that applicants live and breathe artistry in their daily life.
Embracing the Suit and Tie with Pride
Despite their penchant for informal wear, jeans, leggings and loud colors are still considered unacceptable in some realms. For instance, those in the finance, administrative or legal sectors will still usually be expected to attend to clients in a suit. For millennials, the artistry lies in playing with shape and accessories. Thus, a slim fit suit coupled with a designer bag attached to a mini bag is one way to add a dash of sartorial flair to an otherwise serious situation.
A recent Randstad report has revealed that 79% of all current employees define their current office dress code as either business casual, casual or non-existent. This is a big shift from the situation just a decade ago, when more formal wear was the order of the day at most offices. Today, dressing too formally can actually work against you, branding you as somewhat dated in this more flexible, diverse world. To work out whether a formal suit or a designer ensemble is the order of the day, check out social media to reveal what everyone else is donning daily. You don’t need to copy their style to the letter, but you should adapt to it at least to the same level of formality or playfulness. Do this by researching into dress codes at a new office, go formal if you must, and lastly, express who you are even if it is through a simple accessory like a bag or a pair of cool glasses.
