You Are What You Wear

I’m reading a good book at the moment that has me gripped.  Well it’s on my kindle actually but saying “I’m reading a great download on my e-reader” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it…….anyway back to my ramblings.  In the book, one of the characters has everyone fooled as she is meek and mild Beth at work, all demure cardies and sensible shoes, whereas her evening and weekend alter ego, Lizzie, is all sexy LBDs and killer heels.  It got me thinking about how we dress at work and what are we trying to say.

Everyone at IM Towers has a uniform – smart shirts/blouses and fleeces with our logo and black trousers.  It’s practical, it looks smart and we believe it gives us a sense of “team” and belonging.  It also saves an awful lot of time in the morning in deciding what to wear!

However, when you do have to choose your own clothes for work are you wearing the clothes that will get you promoted or are they holding you back?

You may think that your comedy socks tell the world that despite the fact you may have all the responsibilities of a job and family, that you’re still a fun guy at heart.  It could be telling your bosses something else – that perhaps you don’t take things seriously enough.  A reputation as the office joker may not be the mantle you want.

Ladies – much as you love that gorgeous little skirt you know makes the best of your legs, should you really be wearing it whilst wandering around accounts? The more senior you become in a company, the more there’s the opportunity to be in a client facing role.  If you don’t dress more conservatively, that may not happen.  Yes, the clothes you wear in the office can hold you back.

So, what should you be wearing during the week?  In an office a smart suit or shirt and trousers is required for men and skirt/trousers and a smart (not too revealing) blouse is ideal for ladies.  Although there are some industry exceptions, for instance the creative and media industries tend to have a more laissez faire attitude to dress codes.  However, if you work in a more traditional office, read on.

There are also things to consider beyond the clothes you wear.  There are other DOs and DON’Ts too……

Ladies:

·         Not too much makeup and subtle perfume

·         No facial piercings (although discrete nose studs are acceptable)

·       If you wear high heels, make sure that a) you can walk in them and b) they wouldn’t be better suited to Saturday night clubbing

·         Not too much jewelry

·         Nail polish should be clear or a conservative colour – never chipped!

Gents

·         Ties should be conservative

·         Socks should not declare you as “World’s Best Dad” or a fan of Duff Beer

·         Keep your hair neat and facial hair trimmed

·         Remove earrings and rings, other than a wedding ring

Ok, so now you know what you should be wearing, but  are those clothes saying the right things too?   We’ve all heard horror stories of the chap in the crucial meeting who suddenly realises he has toothpaste on his tie; or the super professional lady who turns up to a presentation with baby sick on her shoulder (ok – that was me! I confess and yes, I was mortified and it put me off my stride all day).  If this is the case, dry cleaning your clothes is the answer. And there are lots of reasons why.

For a start that baby sick and toothpaste will be a thing of the past, as dry cleaning has a much superior stain removal process. Dry cleaning removes grease and oil stains from all types of clothing by using special blend of chemicals to break down tough stains more efficiently, giving your expensive clothing an excellent “like-new” appearance.

Another benefit is that your expensive clothing will last longer than in a standard home wash. Dry cleaning agents don’t fade colours and also prevent the weakening of fabric. Fabric remains soft and new for years. Aside from this, there is no shrinkage.  Sorry girls, you can no longer blame your washing machine for shrinking your skirt – it was the pizza quattro formaggio and 2 large pinots – be honest now!

With our dry cleaning service, it’s also incredibly convenient.  We can collect it from your home or office and return it clean, pressed and bagged at a convenient place and time.  This is especially useful if you work in an out of town office, as so many of us do now with business parks being the industrial estates of the future.

Why not contact all your colleagues, get all your dry cleaning together and give us a call.  See the dry cleaning section on our site or give us a call today.  After all, you are what you wear. If you look professional, you will feel professional.