The old saying that a person should dress for the job they want and not the job they currently have is a good one to remember. However, it would seem weird if you showed up at your construction job in a suit on a hot day when you are installing shingles on a roof. Still, you get the point.
Clothes can make the person and will actually earn you respect in the right situation. Just think about it for a second. Are you going to show more respect towards someone approaching you on the street in a nice suit or a pretty dress? Of course. Are you going to pay attention to someone who approaches you in gym shorts and a torn shirt? Not so much. In fact, you may just want to turn around and walk the other way.
Here are some tips for dressing well at your job even when you are on a tight budget.
When In Doubt
We all have those special occasions in our careers where we don’t know if the event is going to be formal or more casual. When in doubt, always dress as if it is formal. It is better to show up and be dressed to the nines rather than risking being the worst-dressed person in the room. If you are dressed well, you will be standing out for all the right reasons.
You Don’t Have to Always Go With a Tie
Back in the day, all men seemed to wear a tie as they headed off to work. However, ties are pretty optional for most careers nowadays. Unless you are a lawyer and are constantly getting ready to present a case to the jury, you can save some money and just have a couple of ties in your closet.
Women and Dresses
There are those women that basically switch between a few wardrobe options. They either wear a dress, yoga pants with a nice shirt over the top, or dress down with the dreaded sweatpants. Don’t limit yourself to these options.
You do have the ability to wear women’s workwear pants regardless of your size and shape. Many of these pants are slimming as well so if you think your current weight will not allow you to wear these, you are wrong. Plus, they add a look of professionalism that others will take notice of.