Don’t let the summer heat fool you into thinking its ok to show up to your office job in beach shorts and flips flops. Although you might be tempted to justify your lax summer wardrobe with the lack of office windows or poor AC, most employers and human resources professionals won’t buy the spill.
Your presentation plays too much of an important role in your career to have it be anything less than professional. Therefore, if your nine to five wardrobe screams “cowabunga”, cover up! Your supervisors may get the impression that rather than focusing on the projects at hand, you’re mentally bathing in the sun with a margarita on stand by, which is an impression that may burn you when promotion time comes around.
But if you’re at a temp office job and don’t plan on including your current employer in your resume, there are other reasons why you may want to skip on the skin-baring clothing. For one, dressing against your employer’s dress code policy might make your colleagues feel that the rules are being bent in your favor. They may also get the impression that your laid back approach to your professional appearance is the same approach you take to your professional responsibilities, thus making you a less than desirable team member. Tight tops and skimpy clothing may also open the door to unwanted attention from your peers, which can lead to a hostile work environment.
Dressing Business Casual In The Summer
If financial troubles are holding you back from investing in an appropriate summer wardrobe, consider this: now is the perfect time to bargain shop. Since most retailers are offering major discounts in hopes of clearing last season’s leftover stock, you can find office staples such as light jackets, cardigans, blouses, pants, shoes and shirts for a bargain of the price.
If you must wear your t-shirt to work, pair it with dressy pants and clean shoes, not with jeans and your flip-flops (one faux paus is bad enough). Thin, bra-showing straps should be layered with a light top or cardigan, not worn as is. Note: your undergarments have no business making a cameo appearance at your marketing meeting.
A few basic wardrobe pieces that can prevent you from doing the walk of shame into your HR office are:
- For the ladies: slim cropped capris, skirts of appropriate length, summer weight sweaters, little jackets, blouses and wedged heels (with the exception of raffia wedges).
- For the men: look sharp and stay cool in sleeve pocket cotton shorts, chinos, crew neck t-shirts and dress loafers. Under no circumstances should your resort sandals be allowed into your office building and no matter how comfortable you are, removing your shoes and walking around in your socks should not be an option, that is unless you’re the boss but if you’re reading these tips, you’re probably not… so put on your shoes!
Major Office Wardrobe Faux Paus
Taken from my real life observations, here are a few office wardrobe mistakes that keep resurfacing no matter what season we’re in. My theory is that repeat offenders are on the loose either because they haven’t done the walk of shame or they’re hoping to soon collect unemployment.
Office no-no’s not limited to:
• too much cleavage
• tank tops and strapless shirts
• skirts too short or tight
• skinny pants or jeans worn with a top that does not cover the butt
• heels you can’t walk or stand in, or flip flops
• shear tops
• low rise jeans that reveal the butt crack
• low rise pants that reveal beer bellies
• exposure of belly buttons
• short shorts
