‘DRESS THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE ADDRESSED’

In the early 90’s with more and more corporates relaxing the dress code for their employees, the business casual way of dressing became the norm. It was a welcome change from the stiff, formal trouser, jacket and tie look for men and the saree for women. Slowly, we saw a shift towards chinos replacing formal trousers, mandarin collar shirts replacing the more formal, classic button-down collared shirts, in case of men. For women, sarees were replaced by a whole new wardrobe with the inclusion and acceptance of western wear and salwar kameez, in the professional arena. And while the latest trends in corporate attire were relaxed, at times one was left wondering if flexi-attire meant dressing down the casual to the jeans and loafers look, or dressing up the casual to give it a business, yet comfortable look.

And now, with remote working becoming the norm in the pandemic times, with life becoming more comfortable, we are under no compulsion to wake up early, we do not have to worry about the stressful commute to office through peak hour traffic and we do not have to worry about our colleagues or peers checking out our appearance on a day to day basis. This has led to the emergence of a new way of dressing, the ‘work from home’ attire, which is more relaxed than our business casual wear which was prevalent in pre-pandemic times. 

The way we dress and the way we groom ourselves has always been an important part of business etiquette. After all, our visual image or our appearance is what shapes our professional image and based on it, others make impressions within the first few seconds of meeting us. And it is no different for the virtual world. 

While work from home may be the ultimate comfort that we may have desired, has it made us lax regarding our dress code? With people having an individual interpretation of work from home attire, has it made life easier or has it complicated matters for all? Does the casual work from home look affect our productivity and most importantly our professional image? How do we strike the right balance between comfort and the visual image that we display while we work from home? 

1.      A neat look is appreciated by all: Personal hygiene and grooming comes first when we talk of our visual image. A neat and clean look is an essential part of our personal branding. We cannot expect to be well received by our colleagues or clients with our hair dishevelled, an unkempt stubble, crumpled clothes and a look like we are straight out of bed and have stumbled into a virtual meeting. Small details towards our grooming and personal hygiene will go a long way in helping us to create an impactful impression on others. Remember, impeccable grooming is always in fashion!                                                  

2.       Dress as per the company policy: Every company has a dress code policy… if there isn’t one, then just by observing the management, seniors and peers can help us understand the perfect fit. By making a note of what others wear during online meetings while they work from home can help us get an idea. Typically, the management and seniors will set the tone for what is acceptable. And when it comes to managing our professional image, there is no difference between the dress code for office and ‘anything goes’ for work from home. The same rule applies to both. 

 3.       Keep it comfortable for yourself: Wear clothes that are of the appropriate size and fit. Wearing clothes that are too tight or too loose can be distracting for us as well as the other persons who are viewing us on camera. What we wear affects the way we feel, think and how productive we are on a particular day. It is best to keep the comfort level high but at the same time, casualness must be restrained keeping in mind our professional image. Sweatpants and tights are best suited for the gym, instead it may be better to opt for a comfortable pair of trousers and a smart shirt which may be in keeping with company culture.

 4.       Keep the agenda for the day in mind: On days when we have an important meeting which has been planned well in advance, we must take extra care to see that we are well groomed and dressed appropriately. The extra level of professionalism comes through in the way we present ourselves. Putting in the effort to get your visual image right will help with opportunities at work and career advancement… after all, ’if you want the part, it’s imperative that you look the part’.

 5.      Don’t push the boundary of appropriateness: Decency of dress must be maintained at all times while at work. Too tight and revealing clothes, t-shirts with bold prints on them, or shirts in loud/pop colours are a complete no. Ladies should refrain from wearing short skirts with the length above the knee. Men should stick to shirts in muted and understated tones and only one or two buttons at the top should be left unbuttoned, in the absence of a tie. Appearance matters, even when you are working from home. Remember to keep it decent, professional and smart. 

6.      Don’t forget to keep your smile on: A smile has a very positive impact on people’s attitude and influences their responses towards us. Smiling can be contagious and makes us look trustworthy and likeable, which is so important in business. Nobody likes to interact with a person who has a frown or who looks grim and serious every time. A smile can instantaneously warm up the atmosphere and elicit a favourable response from others, whether we are meeting them in person or online.

Our dressing has an impact on us as well as others who we interact with. Clothes make a strong visual statement of how we see ourselves. Opting for comfort wear, may aid productivity but we need to know where to draw the line. Keeping our work from home attire too casual may express our individuality but send out the signal that we are not professional. Moreover, the clothes we wear affect our mental and physical performance. Every conference call and video session that we are a part of, contribute to the impression others make of us and these are all based on appearance. It may help us to remember that we must “dress for the job we want, not for the job we have”.

Shalini Mehta                                                                                                ‘Courtesy & Carriage’