DO you plan what to wear to work or do you grab the first thing you find in your closet?
Your dress sense plays a key role in the image you present at work. Do you come across as formal, professional and elegant, or casual and laid back?
Work attire matters when cultivating a professional image and the goal is to look smart, strong and confident, says image and brand management strategist Dr Wendy Liew.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, with work from home becoming the norm, work attire has seen a drastic shift from formal/semi-formal to smart casual and laid back, says Liew.
Nevertheless, now that most companies are encouraging staff to resume work in the office, the work wardrobe needs to be given more focus.
"A versatile work wardrobe is one that offers multiple mix-and-match options, and more importantly, suits the occasion, person and place," says Liew, who is also a speaker, author and trainer.
Formal need not necessarily be straight laced and boring, while smart casual can be tweaked to ensure some semblance of formality.
Liew says pairing a structured jacket in a stiff fabric with jeans and a white shirt, for example, immediately gives the wearer a more formal look without losing the essence of a smart casual dress code.
BUILDING THE WORKWEAR WARDROBE
When putting together a work wardrobe, one needs to pay attention to basic staples in good quality fabric and look for well-tailored ensembles.
For women, besides a few tops in various colours, sleeve lengths and textures, a well-tailored skirt or pants suit is also essential.
A crisp white shirt is important too as it offers multiple styling options, whether with pants or a pencil skirt, while the classic "little black dress" is essential for evening engagements.
When it comes to handbags, Liew recommends three types - a large work bag, a medium-sized one for midday meetings outside the office, and a smaller clutch-type bag for evening events.
Opt for two pairs of heels when building your first work wardrobe - one in black and the other in nude with heel height at about 2½ inches to convey a more professional look.
Prints and patterns add variety to the work wardrobe, and still look professional when mixed and matched appropriately.
"Florals generally make a person look more approachable while geometric prints or motifs send the message that you're a strong, confident person."
For men, dress shirts are an essential part of the work wardrobe, preferably in light shades or colours like white or light blue.
"Generally, the higher the hierarchy of a person in an organisation, the lighter the colour of his shirt," says Liew.
Business suits should ideally be in shades like charcoal, navy or grey, she adds, instead of black which can come across as too "harsh".
A smart sports jacket and polo T-shirt should also be included in the men's working wardrobe to stylishly channel the smart casual dress code when required.
"The more staples you have, the more versatile your wardrobe will be. Research shows that most people only wear 20 per cent of their clothing 80 per cent of the time," says Liew.
It's also a fact that most people fall into a rut where their work wardrobe is concerned, she adds.
They stick to the same styles or colours, never considering an update or fail to consider their body shape and skin tone when making clothing choices.
Ultimately, this results in the person looking outdated rather than strong, confident and relevant.
WORKWEAR - STYLING TIPS
*Show less skin
*Avoid sheer clothing
*Pay attention to fabric quality
*Opt for structured cuts/designs
*Look for staples that can be easily mixed and matched
*Fit is important - avoid overly tight or loose garments
*Accessories should complement rather than overpower your attire
*Don't be a slave to trends. Opt for classics that are always in style
DRESS CODES
Business Professional
Very formal work attire. Usually consists of business suits for men and skirt suits for women worn with appropriate dress shoes. Practised in fields like banking or accounting.
Business Casual
Smart-looking sports jackets, button down shirts, slacks and sweaters are acceptable, paired with footwear like Oxfords or pumps.
Smart Casual
Casual but still stylish. Dark or light-coloured jeans, well fitting blazers, floral or printed tops, maxi skirts, dresses, khaki pants, polo T-shirts and trendy sneakers.
Casual
This is about as informal as dress codes can get. You can get away with loose T-shirts and jeans, relaxed cardigans and sneakers.
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