Dress to impress in the workplace

Newscasters Fiona Bruce and Emily Maitlis caused a stir recently when they dared to bare their legs on national TV. Forget about stuffy Victorians getting all worked up about bare ankles, it seems the sight of a woman’s pins can still create a scandal, even in this day and age.

What we wear creates an instant impression about who we are, what we do and how well we can do it, particularly at work. Too short a skirt in the office might scream ‘incapable of doing a good job’, while too sombre a suit might shout ’too boring to be here’.

“What you wear to the office will, of course, be influenced by the fashion of the moment,” says Stephen Overell of The Work Foundation, a research consultancy that works with businesses to improve the quality of working life.

“But there’s a fine line between doing your job and attracting too much attention - you don’t want to end up becoming the story yourself, as was the case with Fiona Bruce on Crimewatch.”

According to Stephen, one of the reasons there was such a furore about ‘Fi Fi la Bruce’s’ attire, as she’s been dubbed, was not so much the showing of a bit of flesh, but that the skirt was too revealing for the serious issues featured in the show.

“Wherever you work you don’t want to end up detracting attention from important matters,” he explains. “Whether it be sales targets or stationery supplies, it’s important to look the part. Whether you’re a builder or an admin assistant, what you wear to work will certainly get people talking if you make the wrong decisions.”

To put it bluntly, we all like to express ourselves through our clothes and show we’re unique individuals, but being too creative, outlandish or overtly sexual can make us look unprofessional - which is not only bad for business, but also for our reputations and careers.

But exactly what are the golden rules to remember?

“One of the most important things I can stress is being aware of the environment in which you’re operating. Bear in mind the etiquette and expectations of your working environment and clients, as well as things like company policy and being the public face of your organisation. Understanding the dress codes that apply to various situations will help you operate more effectively,” advises Stephen.