The Sunday News
Rutendo Chidawanyika
We are going into 2019 and I know most people’s goal is to improve in business. That improvement could simply be the way you dress.
Dressing well for work isn’t limited to white collar only; you can look good while you sell your vegetables.
Dressing well will attract more customers and they will take you more seriously. That means your clothing is going to have a direct effect on people’s assumptions of you — the better you’re dressed, the more respect and attention you will receive.
Even after the first impression is over your clothing can help improve people’s reactions to you.
Society is very visually-based, and better-dressed people routinely experience better treatment and service than their sloppier counterparts.
Clothing serves as a substitute for character in the eyes of people who don’t know you well enough to judge you by anything else.
Id doesn’t matter what your job happens to be and who you’re working for, or even if you’re your own boss — if you’re well dressed enough that you can step away from work and into a meeting with a client, customer, or supervisor without advance preparation, you’re more useful.
Having the casual, day-to-day presentation to step into any situation and look respectable is a huge advantage in the working world.
Wear clean and pressed clothing.
If you don’t have the time or the ability to iron your pants and shirts, get them ironed at your dry cleaners. You may make up the extra expense with your next promotion. The rest of us will do laundry during the weekend, then press your clothes the night before, in case of power cuts.
The same is true for business casual environments. Your slacks and dresses should not look crumpled. Dirty clothes turn away a lot of people.
Don’t wear too many designer items, unless you work in fashion.
If you have a low-paying job, but you only wear designer fashions, your boss may get the idea that you aren’t smart with money or you aren’t grounded.
Looking presentable does not equate to Gucci shoes and Alexander McQueen dress, if you can afford designer then its good. However, the type of job you do will determine what is appropriate.
Cover tattoos and other body art.
Place spacers in piercings during the work day. Some people harbour prejudices against people with body art, so it’s not the right way to make an impression at work. Cover up your tattoos when you are at work, unless you are a tattoo artist.
Invest in good grooming as well as good clothing.
Get a haircut at least every six weeks. Men should be clean-shaven or sport a well-groomed beard or moustache.
Women should visit the hairdresser at least every monthend.
Ladies! Do not stay with a hairdo until it starts to smell bad or fall off on its own.
Have your nails done frequently and neatly. If you can’t afford manicures, just file your nails at home and paint them. Nails that are too long may draw the wrong kind of attention.
Keep your hair a natural colour. If you want to dye it, opt for another natural-looking shade or highlights.
Wear clothing that fits.
Dress wear that is too tight may look inappropriate. Clothing that is too loose can make it look borrowed or like a hand-me-down.
Next time you go shopping, take your hip, waist, chest and in-seam measurements to improve your chances of finding tailored clothing.
Take loose clothes to a tailor or designer. Some tailors will also mend clothing to keep it looking like new.
Checklist
-Wear professional and conservative clothing.
-Ensure that clothing is clean, pressed and not too tight.
-Wear conservative shoes that are clean and polished.
-Choose accessories that complement your clothing rather than distract from it.
-Remove facial and body piercings.
-Cover visible tattoos to avoid distraction.
-Keep fragrances and jewelry minimal.
-Make sure your hair is clean and conservative in colour and style.
Get that promotion you want or get your business booming by dressing better. Have a prosperous 2019.
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