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Twenty
years ago it was easy to dress for the office.
You got up, put on a suit or dress,polished
your shoes and found a matching belt, put on
a tie or scarf and off you went. Then came the
rambunctious '90s and the advent of
"Business Casual"
(an oxymoron if there ever was one) and things
got muddled.
After the turn of the
millennium, many companies reverted to a more
manageable and conservative dress code, but
there is still confusion as to what is proper
and what is not in the business environment.
We consulted a few experts and rounded up some
tips to help you look terrific no matter what
the "dress code" says.
See you soon!
Ed and Mary Longanecker
Iris City Cleaners and Laundering Company |
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First
Impressions Factoid
Studies
have shown that people assess
and make a judgment about other people
within the first
60-120 seconds
of meeting them. |
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Dress
for Success COUPON!
We have a vested interest
(pardon the pun) in you looking your very best
-- and nothing looks as good as professionally
cleaned and finished garments. So,have
your suit cleaned and we'll do a dress shirt
or blouse at no charge to round out the outfit.
(Include first page of
this newsletter with your order. Offer expires
May 7, 2005. Cannot be combined with other offers.) |
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You
are what you wear!
As much as we'd like
to think we're appraised and valued for our
skills, talents and abilities, the ugly truth
is that the first impression people have of
us is difficult to overcome. You say YOU don't
make those kinds of judgments? Next time you
sit down in a restaurant, look around at the
other patrons and be very conscious of the conclusions
you're drawing about them, based solely on their
appearance.
Two
lives, two wardrobes
It may seem that you
live at the office, but you really don't --
even if you have an office in your home. You
have distinct "lives" that fill your time: a
working life and an "off duty" life when you
do things other than work. As different as these
lives are, you should have different wardrobes
for them, and keep them strictly separated if
you wish to be taken seriously at the office
or among other business professionals.
The "Business Casual"
and Casual Days at the office blurred the lines
between the two lives for a time, and some people
have not recovered from it. You're liable to
see just about anything in the workplace today
-- but that doesn't mean you have to succumb
to less professional standards of dress.
What
to wear.
- Dress
as if you are interviewing every day
-- because, in reality, you are. The boss,
your clients, and other influential people
around you are looking to see what you're
made of on the job, with an eye to moving
up the people most qualified. They'd rather
move up someone they don't have to teach how
to dress, and who has already shown good sense
in this regard.
- Dress
a notch better than your peers.
Sure, you may get some ribbing in the breakroom,
but generally it's because they don't feel
as professional when they stand next to you.
- Business
and casual really don't mix.
Some companies have a corporate culture that
is less formal, and you can lower the bar
a bit, but still try to stay a step ahead
of others in your wardrobe selections. Any
outfit you could easily see yourself wearing
on a day off should be moved to the
end of the closet away from true business
clothes.
- The
devil is in the details. You've
got a great suit, but your shoes aren't polished
and you hope no one will notice. They will.
You sewed on that button that fell off with
weird red thread because it was handy. They'll
notice that, too. You show up for a conference
with a new client and your brief case looks
like it was run over by a bus... and when
it's time to sign the contract, you pull out
a ball-point that you stole from the gas station
on your way to the meeting. Yes, they
notice everything.
- Men
-- To make the best impression, wear conservative
suits in darker colors, shoes as dark or darker
than the suit, with matching belt. Matching
dark socks that come to the calf. Light colored
shirts with collars and long sleeves (and
always an undershirt). Ties that are marginally
colorful, but leave Mickey and Minnie at home.
Wingtips or other tie shoes are preferred,
but you can get by with slip-ons if they are
of good quality. Keep the aftershave to a
minimum, and the jewelry, too. Piercings are
distracting and distasteful to many people
-- maybe that client you've worked so hard
to land -- so leave the rings and posts at
home, too.
- Women
--There's more variety in women's clothing,
but more formal is better than less. Suits
and dresses can be lighter in color, but nothing
garish. Blouses should not be low-cut or see-through.
Skirt and dress lengths should be within 2
inches of the knee. If you are wearing short
sleeves, wear skin-tone hose to balance the
look. No more than 5 pieces of jewelry (and
each earring counts as 1). Minimal perfume
-- some people are allergic to it or easily
overwhelmed. Shoes should have heels no higher
than 2 inches and be of good quality.
- True
Business Casual is only slightly relaxed
business wear. Men can drop
the tie, but it's a good idea to toss in a
sports coat. Polo shirts are often acceptable,
but watch the logos -- they may make you appear
snobbish, or advertise something inappropriate.
For women and men, khaki slacks, cords, and
other less-formal materials are fine -- but
skip the jeans. Those are for off time. Women
can wear less formal blouses, but perhaps
toss on a cardigan or blazer. Sweater twin
sets are also a good way to look casual and
put-together at the same time. Shoes for both
should still be closed-toe, non-athletic,
clean and presentable.
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What
not to wear to the office.
- Jeans
and other "off duty" garments
like t-shirts, athletic shoes, baseball caps,
exercise clothes. These all come from your
other life, and should stay there. Remember
that the reason you are at work is to be productive
and make a good impression on everyone around
you.
- Clothes
for your next event. Suppose
you have an event you're going to immediately
after work; it's unacceptable to wear the
semi-formal or other party wear to the office
to save time later. From a purely practical
standpoint, you're an accident waiting to
happen -- imagine spilling copier toner on
that nice outfit. From a business perspective,
you're conveying the idea that what comes
next is far more important that what you're
doing for the 8 hours you are at work.
- Anything
that needs repair, cleaning or pressing.
Picture yourself on stage whenever you're
at work. People are watching you constantly,
and making judgments about your ability and
competence based on your appearance.
- Outlandish
or loud garments. People should
not be so busy looking at your clothing that
they overlook the great job you're doing and
the skills you demonstrate. It's fine to express
your personality with a piece of jewelry,
an accessory, or a splash of color somewhere
in your outfit -- but if people are taking
a detour past your office just to get a look
a what you're wearing, you've gone way too
far.
- Anything
that causes you to ask yourself, "Should I
wear this?" If you have to
ask, you shouldn't. To clarify the decision,
think of someone in your office whose wardrobe
you admire and whose career level to which
you aspire. Would he or she wear what you're
considering? If not, leave it home.
We've advised you before
in these newsletters to dress for the job you
want to have, not the one you've got. If they
mistake you for the janitor or the mailroom
girl, you need to take it up a few notches.
Standing out from
your peers in a positive way can only help your
career in the long run.
Looking
great has another side benefit -- it brings
out the best in you. Have you
ever noticed how just putting on a great suit
or dress makes you stand taller, walk better,
and think more highly of yourself? That translates
into the indefinable "something" that bosses
look for in those who are ready to move up.
Give us your office clothes to clean
and finish professionally, and you'll be a step
ahead on the corporate ladder in no time.
Additional
reading on the Web:
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We
are enormously appreciative of the opportunity
to share our weekly newsletters with you.
We feel that much of the content is valuable
for anyone who purchases fine clothing and is
interested in their preservations and cleaning.
Click on the symbol to the left if your
would like to send this and future newsletters
to a friend.
Thanks a million, Ed and Mary
The
Iris City Cleaners Connection is
a weekly news letter dedicated to the interest
of fine garment care, restoration, and conservation.
It is published in Mt Pleasant, Iowa by Iris
City Cleaners and is an extension of our services
described in www.iriscitycleaners.com
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International
Fabricare Institute
Iris
City Cleaners
is a proud member of the International Fabricare
Institute, a premier association of Dry
Cleaners, Wet Cleaners, and Launderers dedicated
to the advancement of technologies and service
to the textile industry. |
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