What not to wear to work: just because office wear has gone casual doesn't mean you can't still make a mistake

As more and more companies adopt Friday (or Everyday) Casual policies, holey and frayed jeans, tracksuits, flip-flops, jog bras--even pajamas--are creeping into workplace wardrobes. Perhaps it's time to take a close look at what's acceptable for casual--and what's a bad professional judgment call in the average office. Here, a few head-to-toe pointers from those in the know.

Tame your mane

"Big hair may be in, but make sure it does not distract from your face," says Judith Rasband, founder and CEO of the Provo, Utah-based Conselle Institute of Image Management. The same goes for hair color: Keep up with your highlights, but don't go for brassy or unnatural-looking shades, like pink or blue. "Some women don't realize why they're actually turning heads; it's comical."

Vie for best pressed

Invest in an iron or find a good dry cleaner. "If your collar is rumpled, it doesn't matter which designer you're wearing; it tells your supervisor that you couldn't be bothered," Rasband says.
Get the right support

"If you can't wear a bra with it, you can definitely forget it!" says Julie Chaiken, founder and CEO of the San Francisco-based Chaiken clothing line, which caters to sophisticated, urban working women. "You want to make sure that people are paying attention to what you are saying"--not to your breasts!

The same holds true for skintight or midriff-baring clothes, says Colleen Abrie, past president of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Association of Image Consultants International. "What exactly are you advertising, and is it really for sale?" Abrie asks her clients.

Show your good jeans

While corporate casual has become synonymous with jeans at most offices, shuffling into the office in sandals and torn, faded denim still conveys a sense of sloppiness and disregard. "Keep your look very tailored and polished," Chaiken advises. "Pair up dark jeans with a cute, crisp button-down blazer and nice pumps. Nothing faded, ripped, torn or too low-rise."

Treat your soles right

Similarly, open-toed shoes have become more widely accepted in warm months. "Flip-flops are great--if you work at a pool," Rasband says. "No matter how colorful or embellished, they snap and slap against your heels while you walk, and that's distracting to those working around you."

Instead, Rasband suggests finding a decent pair of microfiber or leather mules. "The strappy platform sandals and kitten-heeled slides are cute, but they're often difficult to walk in," she says. "If we have to walk with mincing steps, we lose our sense of authority."

Dress for tomorrow's success

"It takes just three seconds to form an opinion about someone," Abrie points out, so ask yourself what you want your co-workers to know about you at a glance. "What your wardrobe should not reflect is what nightclub you're headed to later or how much you've been working out to get those six-pack abs."

The bottom line? In a "corporate casual" environment, "corporate" still comes first. "If you look professional and polished, people will treat you with respect," Chaiken says. "Even if you are not in an authoritative position now, you should show that you want to be."
COPYRIGHT 2005 Weider PublicationsCOPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group

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