What to wear for office

Your dress implies more of your overall sophistication to that particular field and the world around you. Every industry has its own peculiar set of dress standards. Your mission is to get the knack for that industry's beau ideal and tweak your outfit appropriately. While your everyday dress may be more casual than if you were a trial attorney, an interview still requires more suitability than an ordinary workday outfit. In most cases, this is where you opt for a classic choice rather than an overtly trendy style.

World has the most casual people. The climate has changed; people that are still in the field have stepped up a notch when it comes to their dress. It's not too formal, but more funky, stylish professional at the same time, like a cool pantsuit paired with a funky t-shirt.

What to wear? Today, it can be anything from jeans and sneakers to the traditional office suit. But in an increasing number of companies, the trend for relaxing the dress code is beginning to veer back to the traditional look, with variations that can keep any new employee guessing without first memorizing company policy on the topic.

Men are dressing down from full three-piece suits, oxford shirts and ties down to golf shirts, khakis and loafers. Women in our country wear salwar-kameez or sari in the working environment. How can we dress down without crossing the threshold of revealing, or plain inappropriate? With a few basic guidelines, the modern man and woman can indulge in the fashion world - piecing together funky and dressy outfits that transition wonderfully from weekend to working day professional- without breaking the bank.

Often times, a lukewarm outfit can be won over by a confident attitude in the way you carry yourself. That 'chin-up' and 'back-straight' thing not only applies to shoe-wearing but also your show of attitude. Let people know that you're in charge of you and that you can take over the world - even if it's just a pair of killer shoes that's giving you the million-dollar grin.

Getting dressed for the office doesn't mean leaving your personal style behind. Find out which looks give you a professional look and which fashions can be a career killer.

Your goal to getting dressed for work is to project a professional, competent image, regardless of your employment level or career path. The styles, colors, lengths and fit of your fashion choices will speak volumes about your ability to do your job. If you are concerned about your career, you'll be more concerned with looking professional than looking cute or trendy.

Don't know where to start working on your career image? You're not alone because most companies don't have specific guidelines about what to wear to work. Designer labels are great, but heavily logo clothing and accessories look cluttered and perky in the work place. A small designer bag is fine. Choose well-made items that are free from obvious designer labels for the most professional look.

One of the best clues to company dress codes is what your boss wears or if you don't have a reliable executive to emulate, then trade on what the men are wearing. Some organizations encourage employees to dress as well or better than their customers, especially for sales people and others that meet clients outside the office.

It is a dilemma that working women as well as men across the world face every day: What to wear to work. But for many, the question is more complicated than simply what outfit to pick from the closet. In recent years, corporate managers have noticed more casual styles invading the workplace. Fancy shorts outfits, sandals and tennis shoes have infiltrated corporate world.

But many executives feel that such attire is inappropriate, who hopes to advance their career. For those who want to climb the corporate ladder, they say, business suits, dresses and sensible shoes are still the best way to dress for success.
" For success, one should have technical skills, communications skills and interpersonal skills, alonwith image skills. Those of us who are serious about our careers have invested a lot of time, effort and money in them," says Rashida Haq, an architect."It doesn't make sense to sacrifice all that by falling down in the image category."
The standard for business attire varies and depends greatly on whether you work in a large metropolitan area or a small town. Corporate attire in large cities, such as Dhaka and Chittagong, tends to be less conservative than in smaller towns. For instance, Nargis, a NGO worker says when she worked in Dhaka, she wore bright colors, such as reds, golds, purples and greens. However, since moving to Rangpur, she's had to revamp her wardrobe to make it more conservative.
It also must be noted that persons in certain professions, such as finance and law, as well as executives in major corporations, are expected to dress more conservatively than those in creative fields, such as the media, advertising and public relations.
Faisal Ahmed, operation manager of Akiz Group of Industries, says that in the corporate world, classic attire is preferred. "People are generally concerned that they are taken seriously, and attire is very important," he says. "When people look at you and see the way you act as well as the way you dress, they draw impressions concerning your ability, your credibility, whether you are serious and should be taken seriously."
Anisur Rahman, Head of Sales and Marketing of National Commerce and Credit Bank, says work attire should reflect the position you hold, the organization you represent and, of course, a little of the individual. "Being well-groomed from head to toe is part of preparedness. That's why I feel most comfortable in a classic suit and pants," he says.
He offers the following dress-for-success tips for office-goers:
1. If you want to get ahead, look around. Emulate and imitate those persons who are moving up in the company.
2. Dress appropriately and blend in, yet maintain your personal style. If you are in a traditional corporate setting, wear the navy suit and white pearls, but accessorize with a colorful scarf.
3. Stay away from clothes that wrinkle easily.
4. If unsure, go conservative. If you are interviewing for a job or starting a new job, dress conservatively until you get a feel for how other women at the company dress. Avoid a situation in which you have to be told what not to wear to work.
5.Less is more. Keep your look simple and successful until you become accustomed to the environment and learn about the company's dress code.
6. Wear fabrics that represent the season - ie: no terrycloth in summer and no linen in winter.
Career Killers
Unlike a fashion faux pas, a career killer outfit can do your professional image permanent damage. One should avoid wrinkled clothing, too many layers, baggy-fit clothing in the workplace. Jeans, shorts, T-shirts, sneakers, see-through lace, miniskirts, strappy stiletto sandals are strictly no-no.
Especially for women
The younger generation of working women, in particular, favors trendy styles, rejecting even the notion that they should be judged by their clothes. Women in top positions are more likely to use fashion to convey a particular image or to send a business message. The modern-day woman knows how to be a chameleon - transitioning from corporate professional to night-time party girl. Without breaking the bank, here are a few tips to 'stretching the closet'. Nargis Jahan, Counselor of an immigration company wears her hair in a twist with a braid, also favors chiffon saris, and doesn't shy away from bright colors. And she takes fashion cues from other successful women.
Munni, CEO of Quebella Beauty Parlour, could walk a runway herself in her sleek, high-style sari or western dress and strappy high heels -- and serves as an advertisement for the beauty industry.
Suzana Imam, a lawyer, who owns half a dozen black suits, shuns most designer creations. "A lot of it is geared toward looking stylish, and that can detract from being effective at work," she says. "I want to look attractive, but I dress to create trust and credibility with my clients. You still have to dress for success and avoid anything provocative or too revealing, especially when you are surrounded by different type of persons."
Men and women who work in creative industries, such as advertising or entertainment, have always had more license to wear funky fashions than those in, say, manufacturing.
Your appearance can be the difference between getting that promotion and being stuck in the same position forever. Check out some rules to make sure your work attire doesn't let you down.
Accessorize: Accessory is a finale that lets the public know that this fashionable woman pays attention to the small details - and what could be a more important detail than the accessories that dress up your super duper outfit?
Basic jewelry can be summed up in one word for the working woman is pearl. Pearls are the perfect everyday accessory to dress up a suit at the office and after work, to head out for martinis with the posse. A way to funk up the classic look is to twist a double strand together, forming a wreath to frame the face on top of a suit or twin-set. A good set of pearls complete the professional look and are the essential item to any girl's wardrobe. The second perfect accessory is the multi-functional brooch. Choose a medium-size brooch made of the best stones that you can afford - a beautiful brooch can dress up the most boring sari or brighten up a old winter shawl. Jewelry that jangles (chandelier earrings, stacks of bangles) is distracting. Opt for stud earrings or single bracelets.
Slouchy handbags look sloppy. Choose structured styles that project an organized image. The young professional start off with the trusty three-pack: large canvas holdall, small black handbag, and lastly, fancy clutch. Three well-chosen handbags can carry a girl through an entire year of work and pleasure related functions - always appropriate for the occasion of the moment.
The large canvas holdall is essential for the working part of the day - it fits the day-planner, large-form wallet, makeup bag, change, smaller handbag and other miscellaneous knick-knacks that a gal's got to have on-hand. It is paramount that the starter uses a canvas holdall - extending the life of the bag from fall/winter to spring/summer without looking heavy and outdated. Look for a practical, good quality day-bag that has enough capacity to transport the essentials, yet chic enough to be hidden or clutched by the arm. Lastly, your fancy clutch should be embellished and unique, delicate and light.
Color - Traditional career colors include navy, gray and black. Most of these colors work well in pantsuits and shoes. Loud colors like hot pink and wild prints are much riskier in the office, but some creative types can still pull them off. Choose solid pastels, non-busy floral patterns as well as vibrant hues but be sure to mix within the specific colour/pattern group. As a general rule, throwing red and green together is a bad idea and wearing a yellow suit might leave the impression of victimization, rather than a mastery of fashion expertise.
Spring/summer often features the most whimsical notes: mint greens, deep corals and candy pinks. Take every opportunity to dress for the season and enjoy the beauty of vivid colour. These days fall/winter isn't limited only to shades of black and white anymore. Chocolate browns are a popular alternative to classic black and from year to year, paired up with pastel pink, electric blues or teal green - you've got a stunner of a winter outfit.
Shoes should be neat-Your footwear is the most important aspect of a woman's work wardrobe. Work shoes shouldn't be too outlandish yet they should be stylish. Avoiding styles that are too trendy - a working girl first needs black and tan in a medium height (2.5 - 3 inches) plus slightly rounded pointed toe with a classic refined heel.
If your job's dress code is less restrictive, you can select from the trendiest styles--slippers, slides, mules--which run the gamut from sporty to stylish. Choose a slight heel--even a half-inch is better than a totally flat skimmer. On that same note, avoid anything that looks too much like a slipper.
Carefully consider each piece that you want to purchase: how it might fit into your wardrobe, and more specifically, what the final outfit will look like. It's very tempting to buy one-of-a-kind stunners that will knock the socks off your colleagues, but contemplate the mileage out of a given item and where your money might be better put to use. Purging is an important part of good working closet maintenance. Review the contents of your walk-in at least twice a year: anything untouched for two years should be chucked away or else packed for donation.
Confidence is the key to the game. A frumpy outfit and a killer smile is enough to outshine any fashioner that fidgets and worries about how s/he looks all the time. Know what you stand for, trust your taste and go for it. Confidence exuded will only add that extra layer of flavour to your attitude.