TheCleaners.net

Twenty years ago it was easy to dress for the office. You got up, put on a suit or dress,polished your shoes and found a matching belt, put on a tie or scarf and off you went. Then came the rambunctious '90s and the advent of "Business Casual" (an oxymoron if there ever was one) and things got muddled.

After the turn of the millennium, many companies reverted to a more manageable and conservative dress code, but there is still confusion as to what is proper and what is not in the business environment. We consulted a few experts and rounded up some tips to help you look terrific no matter what the "dress code" says.

See you soon!
Jim Nixon

First Impressions Factoid

Studies have shown that people assess
and make a judgment about other people
within the first 60-120 seconds of meeting them.

Dress for Success COUPON!

We have a vested interest (pardon the pun) in you looking your very best -- and nothing looks as good as professionally cleaned and finished garments. So,have your suit cleaned and we'll do a dress shirt or blouse at no charge to round out the outfit. (Include first page of this newsletter with your order. Offer expires May 7, 2005. Cannot be combined with other offers.)

What not to wear to the office.

• Jeans and other "off duty" garments like t-shirts, athletic shoes, baseball caps, exercise clothes. These all come from your other life, and should stay there. Remember that the reason you are at work is to be productive and make a good impression on everyone around you.
• Clothes for your next event. Suppose you have an event you're going to immediately after work; it's unacceptable to wear the semi-formal or other party wear to the office to save time later. From a purely practical standpoint, you're an accident waiting to happen -- imagine spilling copier toner on that nice outfit. From a business perspective, you're conveying the idea that what comes next is far more important that what you're doing for the 8 hours you are at work.
• Anything that needs repair, cleaning or pressing. Picture yourself on stage whenever you're at work. People are watching you constantly, and making judgments about your ability and competence based on your appearance.
• Outlandish or loud garments. People should not be so busy looking at your clothing that they overlook the great job you're doing and the skills you demonstrate. It's fine to express your personality with a piece of jewelry, an accessory, or a splash of color somewhere in your outfit -- but if people are taking a detour past your office just to get a look a what you're wearing, you've gone way too far.
• Anything that causes you to ask yourself, "Should I wear this?" If you have to ask, you shouldn't. To clarify the decision, think of someone in your office whose wardrobe you admire and whose career level to which you aspire. Would he or she wear what you're considering? If not, leave it home.

We've advised you before in these newsletters to dress for the job you want to have, not the one you've got. If they mistake you for the janitor or the mailroom girl, you need to take it up a few notches. Standing out from your peers in a positive way can only help your career in the long run.

Looking great has another side benefit -- it brings out the best in you. Have you ever noticed how just putting on a great suit or dress makes you stand taller, walk better, and think more highly of yourself? That translates into the indefinable "something" that bosses look for in those who are ready to move up. Give us your office clothes to clean and finish professionally, and you'll be a step ahead on the corporate ladder in no time.

Additional reading on the Web:

• Dress to Impress: Secrets of Proper Attire (from the Career Center of Florida State University).
• How to Dress Business Casual for Men
• How to Dress Business Casual for Women
• A Clothes Encounter in the Business World -- great advice and guidelines.
• Dress for Success -- Has Casual Friday Gone Too Far? (from The Etiquette Ladies.) Links to business-related quizzes and lots of other great ideas from North of the border.