One thing everyone was told as a child is to “Never judge a book by its cover”. As you must have realized, that’s not how the world works. Others take your appearance as a representation of your true self. Even though this seems unfair, flouting this in favor of unprofessional attires can significantly undermine your climb up the corporate ladder.
A professional appearance instills trust and credibility in the eyes of others. It implies reliability, competence and responsibility. The pros of professional attire doesn’t end there. It can also boost confidence and self-esteem. When you look your best, you tend to feel more confident in your abilities, which can positively impact job performance.
This article aims to teach you the makeup of a professional outfit, so you can present an appearance that would be best regarded as “Fashion meets business”.
What Corporate fashion is
Corporate fashion encompasses a set of guidelines and expectations for dressing professionally in a corporate or business environment. Although there exist some disparity in specific dress codes across industries and companies, there are some common features that constitutes corporate fashion:
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Formal clothing
There is a universally accepted basis on what is termed serious or business fitting, and that is formal or semi-formal clothing.
The concept of formal clothing dates back centuries and has its roots in European aristocracy. Formal attire was traditionally worn by nobility and the upper class during ceremonial events, balls, and important social gatherings. Over time, these dress codes became associated with formality and elegance.
For men, formal clothing includes tailored suits, blazers, dress pants, and dress shirts. Women’s formal clothing constitutes tailored pantsuits, skirts or dresses with appropriate lengths, blouses, and blazers.
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Neutral colors
Corporate fashion often leans towards neutral colors such as black, gray, navy blue and brown.
Because they are gentle on the eyes and are devoid of the ability to produce visual stimulation, they connote the serious nature of business and work.
That is why they are considered more professional and conservative, creating a polished and sophisticated appearance.
On the other hand, colors like fiery red, loud pink, neon and yellow tend to be eye-catching and extremely stimulating to the eye. In a work environment, this is considered distracting from what should be of utmost importance – business.
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Conservative designs
Conservative designs often favor simplicity and minimalism, focusing on clean lines, restrained color palettes and uncluttered layouts. They reflect close attention to detail, precise execution and craftsmanship. Also, the cuts and styles are not overly trendy or revealing to avoid calling attention. This meticulous approach adds on a layer of refinement and sophistication to the design, contributing to its formal qualities.
An ideal conservative attire is made up of modest well-fitted clothes, without being too tight or too loose.
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Professional accessories
Accessories play a significant role in corporate fashion.
Professional accessories often have a clean and sophisticated design. They tend to be minimalistic and avoid excessive embellishments or flashy elements. Neutral colors such as black, brown, or gray are commonly used to convey a professional look.
For men, ties, belts, cufflinks, and polished dress shoes are considered professional. Women can incorporate accessories like dainty jewelry, neutral colored handbags, and closed-toe shoes with moderate heel heights.
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Grooming and hygiene
Your appearance extends beyond what you put on. The foundation of a professional appearance lies in self care. The act of maintaining proper grooming and hygiene contributes to the impression that you value yourself enough to pay attention to yourself. The value is then conferred onto others because people would treat you how you treat yourself.
Proper self care involves;
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Taking daily showers. This should be increased to two showers per day if you live in hot humid places
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Clean well groomed hair. Women should avoid hairstyles that deviate too much from what’s natural.
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Brushing your teeth two times a day. You can go the extra mile by flossing. Flossing helps to remove debris in between teeth which can otherwise cause odor if left unchecked.
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Clean and polished shoes
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Clean trimmed nails for men and women. Women that prefer polished nails should opt for medium length nails that have toned down colors.
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A neat overall appearance. For men, beards should be tidy and trimmed to a moderate length.
Conclusion
These guidelines are not absolute. Depending on the situation and company, what is considered professional can tend towards the more casual or highly formal attires.