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What You Wear Tells Who You Are – and It Might Say Where You'll Go
By Sarah Schafer Kristi Cameron, human resources generalist at Best Software Inc., did. However, she did not hire the man who interviewed in a dress shirt with no undershirt. The difference? The latter's bottom button was bulging, exposing his less-than-cut stomach. The former, says Cameron, "was well-groomed." You may be incredulous that the cap-wearing interviewee got the job. After all, he broke the rule that your mother pounded into you your whole life: Take that hat off. But when it comes to workplace style, it's all about balance. Says Mary Lou Andre, a Boston-area fashion consultant, there are three things to remember when it comes to dressing for your career: appropriateness, boundaries and respect. There are some things that are never in line, says Andre. Especially for young people, it's important to look extra serious. "Don't look like you'd rather be at the beach, because [the older people in the office] are going to tend to think that anyway." But usually what separates the do's from the don'ts varies widely across industries. We asked several managers and fashion experts to give us some guidelines.
Techie Fashion: Not an Oxymoron "I'm embarrassed to say [clothing] has been the topic of more of my discussions than I care to admit," says Tim Davenport, president and chief executive of Best Software Inc. of Reston. For example, says Davenport, most of the programmers at Best Software dress casually – even in jeans. But in the past, the executives would hold powwows before customer visits to decide what to wear in order not to offend the client. But when the executives would then take the group on a company tour, everyone would be in the typical casual garb. Eventually, Davenport started informing customers pre-visit that the company had a casual dress code. That way, he and his colleagues didn't need to put on a show, and everyone knew what to expect. But the situation illustrates an important point: Techies may dress down, but they are more sensitive to clothing etiquette than you might think – especially in Washington. Davenport, who worked at Lotus in the early days when jeans and running shoes first became the standard techie uniform, doesn't mind this look. However, he draws the line at shorts and sandals. As a young software engineer or computer programmer, you might want to save your experimentation for weekends. This especially applies when you have to dress up. If you have a work engagement that calls for a suit, stick to a dark suit, white shirt and red tie, says Davenport. People who are inexperienced with formal wear, he says, "should stick to the tried and true."
ER-Style In the medical profession, the trick is walking the line between well-dressed and overdone. "[The patients] are sick, they don't want to see glamour," says Stephanie Harvey, a registered nurse and director of education at Prince George's Hospital Center. But patients – and fellow health care workers – do expect a doctor or nurse to be the image of clean style. At Prince George's, says Harvey, male and female doctors usually wear suits to make their rounds. Open-toed shoes on nurses and doctors are prohibited for safety reasons, says Harvey (wheelchairs and gurneys can be hazardous to toes). But this safety measure has become a fashion standard; even if you're not a doctor or nurse, showing your toes will get you at least a few disapproving stares, if not worse. If you've recently graduated from resident status, you're probably used to wearing more casual – and inexpensive – clothing. Now that you're expected to dress up, don't think you have to spend what the well-established physicians do to look richly dressed. Andre, who edits the national newsletter Dressing Well, has advice for those on a tight budget. She suggests putting your money into the blazer you wear or a good suit, and skimping on other things such as shirts and blouses. Especially for women, she says, "the major garment is the jacket ... it pulls everything together." If you're still trying to cut costs, here's more advice from Andre: "A cheap black blazer looks better than a cheap white blazer." Dark colors hide things like low-quality material, for example. So if you have to skimp, go as dark as you can.
Save Flashy Numbers for the Books "Most people don't know how to add a little bit of individuality without making a mistake," says Kate Boland, a Los Angeles-based writer who is also a former adviser (on both policy and image) to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). In a field such as accounting, then, clothing should virtually fade into the background. One common mistake young people make, says Maureen Stewart, a principal with the Baltimore-based accounting firm Wolpoff & Co., is thinking more is better. Women especially may remember the high school taboo of wearing the same outfit twice in one week – or even a month. But fashion mavens say losing this teenage attitude will help you focus your money where it counts – getting high-quality suits and a tailored look. Stewart, whom fashion consultant Andre considers one of her best-dressed clients, says every time she makes a work-related shopping run, she sets aside 10 percent of the total amount of money she spends for alterations. "If the skirt you just bought is a little snug in the hips, spend the 15 bucks to have it altered," she scolds. Stewart says one twentysomething woman in her office is well known for her professional and tailored look. "It makes the partners [in the firm] feel real comfortable," says Stewart. The young woman may not know it, but her look gives her an edge. When it comes to calling on people for impromptu meetings with clients, the partners often choose her over her peers. Although she may dress on the conservative side for work, Stewart's personality is more on the carefree side. But in the office, she expresses this lighter side only in small ways, such as by wearing bright nail polish or a funky pair of earrings. For male accountants who want to show a little flair, there are subtle ways, too, says Scott Siegel, regional director of stores for Today's Man. If an accountant comes to him refusing to succumb to the traditional, he recommends things like four-button suits. Another more "fashion-forward" look, says Siegel is a rounded shoulder on suits or French cuffs with cuff links. "Cuff links are acceptable anywhere," he says, "and they make a good conversation piece." One last word of advice from Pamela Zacha, former New York City fashion stylist who now owns Nimbus Communications Inc. and consults to the medical and financial fields: "Invest in a good dry cleaner. I have been in so many meetings where you could tell things hadn't been pressed right, or at all."
Questions about getting ahead? E-mail Sarah Schafer at schafers@washpost.com
© Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company |
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