Office Dressing

She walks in and everyone in the office cranes their necks to take a look. Today she is in a tight sweater top, short skirt and cowboy boots to boot. The top has a low neckline and they can see the bust.

What does your dressing style say about you or affect those around you? There are some companies that have a dress code and others don’t. In some other areas people are influenced by the norm from their colleagues, friends who work in other firms, and yet others are influenced by magazine and TV. Does a dress code count so much at the work place?

I would like to think that it can go either way. On one hand having a uniform way of dressing breeds confidence to the external customers as it exudes professionalism and maintains formal working environment. This is predominantly in banks, legal, and audit firms where the goal of dressing formally, read suits for both sexes, to inspire customers to trust them with their money people. It is a simple psychological battle, look presentable and you are trusted. To the internal customers who are workmates, the dressing of one especially the ladies can be distractive from a man’s point of view and in this day and age to some ladies as well. Look at it this way, one may be holding a discussion and then a scantily dressed lady walks by. Chances are that the conversation will stop and after she is gone and out of sight the momentum will be destroyed leave alone remembering which point was being discussed. This is one of the negative effects that can results as a free for all dressing stand a company might be employing.

On the other hand, a policy that states specifically what can and can’t be worn is perceived by some employees as limiting their self-expression hence hindering their focus and application thereby affecting their ability to meet their targets. Take an example of a radio presenter, a rapper, or even a fashion designer; I believe their individual expression is most important. A fashion house can’t have an employee dress code

I am for a dress policy that gives direction and a platform for the right course of action if there is a breach or defense needed. Morally, being decently dressed adds more value to the impression you stir. Ever heard sleeping my way to the top? You can be perceived as one who is an easy lay judging by the way you dress. You can still be perceived not being straight judging by your dressing.

The point is that we are at the work place and need to have exercise some restrain so that we make it possible to have good working environment. Even if it is Funky Fridays or Dress down Fridays, we should ensure that even if we are going clubbing later in the night we don’t dress that way from morning. Some people may be at the brink of giving in to their temptations then she walks by, out of the window goes the strength, the last will-power to stand tall in the face of adversity. At the end of the day you may be an individual but in a team we have to pull together. If you dress well without crossing certain boundaries may be we can get some work done and attain the objectives set for us as a team if we don’t meet them we shall all get the boot. Therefore the big picture is that policy or not decency should be a priority that we should all achieve. To stop being called certain names let us remember the adage advice of dressing how we want to be addressed.

A guy approaches a lady and solicits for sex as though she was a hooker; enraged the lady replies to the man’s advance in a violent manner arguing that there was no way she was a hooker. Calmly the guy apologized for the mistake but not before explaining himself. If you see a person in a police uniform, it goes without saying that he/she is a police officer. How about if you see a person in a hookers uniform?

WAZZAM