What To Wear To Work

Dessert Anyone?

The weather is warmer and that means it’s time to show off the new tats.

Today, I saw a most interesting one on a woman. Right above her 6-inch cleavage was written 
Chocolate in the most beautiful script font of 72 size.

What was she thinking? How will it impact her professional career? 

Statistics show that one in four Americans has a tattoo. That will make it difficult for companies who want to  hire employees with no body art. Some employers now have written grooming codes that state “all visible tattoos must be concealed” in their dress code guidelines. Remember, certain industries tolerate more body art than others. Be on the conservative side and cover your tats so their message doesn’t become the focus and override the messenger (you).

Will the Chocolate tattoo impact her career negatively? It won’t if she’s advertising dessert!

 

Peek-a-Boo … I See Too Much of You: Sheer, See-through Clothes and the HR Dress Code

Your "what to wear to work" clothing list changes with each season. Most Human Resource dress codes are not in sync with the latest fashion releases.

Big fashion looks for the summer include sheer tops, blouses and  even dresses. These garments are designed for impact because they are romantic, flirty, translucent and suggestive.

Most women wear sheer, unlined garments to work to spice up a boring outfit, give the boss a peek, show off the “girls” or some other body part. Some of you wear airy garments because your body temperature is hot, or the climate is hot. While you stay cool the men in the office get hotter looking through your clothes. The hint of a bra, a glimpse of thigh, the curve of the waist are seductive and fire starters. You and your diaphanous clothing become topics of discussion and gossip.

Here is our What To Wear To Work list of sheer and see-through fabrics that should not be worn to work or to any work related business event:

chiffon, lace, eyelet, open crochet, fishnet, mesh,
gauze, organza, georgette, voile, gossamer, batiste

Unlined, see-through sensations are precious but too revealing to wear to work. They should come with a warning label. When I show up at work, HR shows up too.

If sheer clothing is not a dress code violation this year, it should be added to your next policy update.

Thongs and HR Dress Code Policies

According to the January 2010 issue of Cosmo, the thong is nearing its death.  It has not come soon enough for Human Resource Managers who have agonized over having the uncomfortable conversation with employees about exposed underwear in the workplace.

Thongs are most often visible when female employees sit down, bend over or reach for an item on a shelf. Thongs were heavily promoted as a solution to avoid visible panty line.  What those marketing geniuses left out was that you would have no derriere support, your buttocks would jiggle when you walk, you would have to maneuver the little devil, and the butterfly would peek out in full view of others.  

And to make matters worse, a former thong wearer blamed these sexy creations for reoccurring bladder infections because the string that connects the front and back caused excessive friction.

There are more types of underwear choices to wear under your business clothes today than ever before. There are light-weight sheer briefs, boy shorts, and shapewear for every budget. You can buy name brands at Target, Wal-Mart, Kohl’s and Macy’s, or designer brands at Saks, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. They vary in weight, lycra content, and leg length from the upper thigh to the ankle. 

Test drive your new underwear before going off to work by sitting or stretching to see if others will see your intimates.  Also check yourself in a three-way mirror to see what you look like from the rear. You may be surprised at what you discover. (By the way, men will tell you the thong looks great because it is provocative.) Just because thongs come in your size doesn’t mean you should wear them. Some women have so much cellulite it looks like they’ve been “sitting on gravel” when they wear thongs. Keep in mind those catalog models have had their cheeks airbrushed.

I was coming down the escalator in the most expensive clothing store at Fashion Square in Scottsdale when I caught a glimpse of the lower back of the display assistant working on the jewelry case. I was compelled to tell her that other shoppers and I could see her underwear. When I told her what I saw, she asked, “Are you sure?” “It’s a black lace thong,” I assured her. She was mortified. She never noticed her pants slipping down in the back as she squatted down to remove the lettering on the case.

This is a common occurrence in offices, college classrooms, retail stores, airplanes, restaurants, buses, and any public place. What To Wear To Work provides solutions to Human Resource departments that are often at a loss when a male manager or supervisor has to confront a female with exposed underwear especially when some women think it is fashionable to let the thong creep out. Women do gain attention but lose credibility when their underwear sees the light of day.

Take inventory of your lingerie drawer and make sure to cover your assets.

I see London, I see France, I see Bob’s Underpants!

Oh yes Bob, when you sit and when you bend we are treated to the unsightly crack in your backside. Hike up your pants to no avail. You are wearing the wrong size pants.

It’s true because most men hate to give up the waist size they had as an athlete in high school or college. Maybe you are holding onto the waist measurement you had when you first married.

A man I was hired to transform told me during our phone interview that he had a 38” waist. When I arrived the next day he looked like he had swallowed a beach ball overnight. He was shocked to learn his waist had expanded to 49”. He said, “My wife told me I was wearing the wrong size pants.”  He kept pushing his 38” belt lower and lower over an 18-year period until it was cutting off the circulation to his legs. Had he heeded his wife’s observation, he would have saved his company my fee. Of course, I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of seeing him eat a filet mignon with his fingers at dinner with the company president.  

At What To Wear To Work we advise men who carry weight in their midsection to wear dress suspenders (braces) instead of a belt. They hold the waistband at your navel. Do your coworkers a favor Bob, keep your waistband parallel to the floor!

Tattoos in the Workplace: The HR Dress Code

The Tattooed Lady and Man were side show attractions at the carnival, but now they share your cubicle at work. Are they in compliance with the Human Resource dress code policy?  With increased popularity of tattoos, companies are rewriting dress and grooming policies to control/limit tattoo exposure in the workplace.

The tattoo industry is booming with customers from tweens to golden agers.  And, prisoners to politicians proudly sport their art. But in the workplace, visible tattoos can be problematic for the subject matter, messages, and grotesque images.

Of course, from a distance, some art looks like a disease or skin lesion. Others look like the work of a preschooler. Worst of all, much of what is tattooed is distracting, unappetizing, unappealing, vulgar and offensive thereby the need for HR to add grooming codes to the dress code policy.  

During the interview process, employers can ask prospective employees if they have tattoos that would be visible in clothing that they would wear on the job.  It is best to answer yes if you do.

A man I met while having my car serviced told me he just finished a sales job interview where they asked the tattoo question. I said, “I hope you told them you have tribal art from your shoulder to your mid-upper arm.”  He was shocked I knew he had a tat because he thought no one could see it under his white long-sleeve dress shirt. He admitted to the interviewer that he had one and the interviewer noted it on the application. He was not happy to know he would have to wear an undershirt with sleeves to conceal it under his dress shirts.

Every tattoo has a special significance to the bearer unless you were in a drunken stupor and someone else chose the subject. They commemorate an event, honor a loved one, connect you to a group, express rebellion or whimsy. For some it’s merely self-expression. Many are the result of a dare or impulse and little thought is given to future implications and limitations. 

We at What To Wear To Work have heard heart wrenching stories of regret and remorse.

One woman with a green serpent tattoo wrapped around her ankle and down her foot asked me if this would hinder her corporate advancement. “Yes,” I assured her. Since removal was cost prohibitive with no guarantees, she wrapped an Ace bandage around her foot and ankle for 18 months to conceal this tat. She was wearing socks when she got this in college and didn’t think about the impact on her career. 

Most college students don’t think long-term about this decision because they see athletes, celebrities, TV personalities, and musicians flaunting their tats. People of all ages are getting permanent art. They are tattooed on the neck, back, chest, arms, head, legs, feet and areas in between. Who knew there would be more ink on their bodies than in a trainload of Bic pens?

Wake up! These people are in sports and entertainment! They are not making presentations to stockholders, customers, buyers, decision makers, etc.  They don’t follow corporate dress codes.

Men and women in food service, health care, and other professions are required to wear removable opaque sleeves to cover arm-length tattoos. Even the military has a policy prohibiting tattoos that are “extremist, indecent, sexist or racist” (Army Regulation 670-1).  Companies are listening to their customers’ complaints and mandating steps to deal with dress code violations. Also, there are health implications for women who have tats on their backs when it comes time for epidurals during childbirth.

Whenever I am asked what I think of someone’s tat I tell them “it’s too late for my opinion.”

All choices we make have consequences—some good and some bad. Our goal is to avoid the bad ones.  Getting tattooed is a decision that is permanent and often times the consequence is:  a lost opportunity, a negative first impression, a conclusion that you are uneducated, assumption that you have poor judgment, and a host of other career halting consequences. 

Think about your decision to get tattooed and how you may be excluded from corporate business opportunities by being included in a special section of the HR dress code policy. The Tattooed Lady and Man are no longer side show attractions; they are your co-workers.

Spring has Sprung: Cleavage - Part 3 of 3

This is the third and final blog post in this series about the transition from Winter to Spring business attire.

The warmer weather brings out the self-tanning products and visits to tanning centers in preparation for skimpier spring fashions.  Be careful how much skin you expose. Tanned shoulders, arms, midriffs, and legs are on parade in the workplace more than ever. The chest is the most often exposed body part and cleavage is one of the top dress code violations seen in companies. We are bombarded by boobs on TV, in movies, magazines, on billboards — everywhere. The “Girls” are on display and working overtime!

We at What To Wear To Work often hear from employers who find themselves in embarrassing situations when addressing cleavage in the workplace. Whether peek-a-boo or dollar-bill-length cleavage, women eventually become subjects of gossip or ridicule and that diminishes their credibility and undermines their effectiveness.

HR Managers, supervisors and executives receive complaints from customers and colleagues about overexposed employees. The result is the uncomfortable confrontation about violating company dress code policy.  Some women who need to feel sexy, desirable, and attractive, wear provocative clothing to work for validation. Apart from being unprofessional, exposed body parts are also distracting. And yes, people will talk to your chest -- not to your face.

What questions do you have about what to wear to work?  Email us.

Spring has Sprung: Footwear - Part 2 of 3

This is the second of three blog posts addressing the transition from Winter to Spring business dress.

Companies ask us at What To Wear To Work how to discourage men and women from wearing inappropriate footwear.

No more boots until next Fall. But, those shoes you stored in the garage or basement need a clean up before shuffling off to work. Polish does wonders. Check the heels and soles for needed repairs.  Worn and scuffed shoes ruin the overall impact of an outfit. 

The worst footwear choice is the flip flop. Many of our corporate clients bemoan the onset of warmer weather because they know they will have to deal with dress code violators who wear flip flops.  You may be wearing the flips while working remote but wear shoes that are recommended in your dress code policy for the office and on customer calls. Most people do not want to see your feet and toes at work especially crusty heels and hairy toes.

What questions do you have about what to wear to work?  Email us.

Spring has Sprung! Part 1 of 3

Warmer weather brings up questions about what to wear to work. This blog post is the first of three blog posts about what we see in the transition from Winter to Spring business attire.

Don’t let the fashion magazines and glossy catalogs steer you into the dress code violation zone. Most people jump right into spring with little thought of their corporate dress code policy. What are the restrictions? Feeling like flip flops today? How does that fit with your policy?

After a long and harsh winter, many professionals are shedding the heavy fabrics, boots, tights and coats for airy, sleeveless silhouettes with open-toe shoes, or worn khakis with last year’s faded golf shirt. 

Now is a great time to review your dress code policy and your closet. Toss the old, frayed, and faded.  Donate the too short, too low, too tight clothes to avoid a visit from HR.

In the next two blog posts we will be showcasing the most common dress code policy offenses companies deal with when people start shedding their winter wear.

What questions do you have about what to wear to work?  Email us.