In the last couple of years, the old adage, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have,” has met some resistance. The counter argument is that by dressing above your paygrade, you could either be stepping on toes, or simply making yourself look foolish.
You see, at some companies, senior staff are recognisable by just how well they’re dressed. It is still common for these employees to wear double breasted suits, pocket squares, cufflinks, the lot. Meanwhile, the junior and mid-level employees are expected to dress smartly but not to outshine their superiors.
And sometimes the exact opposite is true, with those in senior positions having earned the right to relax their own dress rules a little, while the rest are expected to still keep nip and tuck.
However, we still believe that the old saying carries a lot of weight. Taking pride in your appearance at work creates a powerful impression of how seriously you take the job, and of your attention to detail. But there are right and wrong ways to do it. Here, we’ll take you through a quick and easy guide to dress for the job you want without ostracizing yourself from your colleagues.
Read The Room
Dressing for the job you want essentially means putting a little more effort into your appearance than your peers, without standing out like a sore thumb. If your workplace requires business casual dress, showing up in a tailored two-piece suit won’t do you any favours. With that in mind, you’ll want to take a look at your colleagues and superiors and try to find a nice balance between the two.
Invest in Quality
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: quality always pays off. You don’t have to break the bank for the sake of some decent clothes. Rather than buying the cheapest shirt off the rack get yourself two or three well fitted ones of superior quality.
The same applies to your trousers or chinos, overcoat, business suit, shoes, and even your accessories. Keep them smart and refined, and where possible, buy high quality.
Of course, owning high quality clothing means little if it’s not cared for. We all know that guy at the office with the scuffed shoes, the worn-out jacket, or the creased and faded shirt. It’s a simple and seriously effective little measure to take but shining those shoes and ironing your shirt makes a massive difference to the image you portray.
Amplify the Details
This is key when it comes to finding the right balance between aspiring to your next promotion and overstepping the mark too early. Coming soon, we will be talking in more depth about the 80/20 rule. No matter the dress code at work, it’s a good idea to bring your style mostly in line, while maximising the little details.
Here, the quality and fit of your clothing have a huge part to play. But so too does your use of accessories such as tie clips, belts, watches, and indeed your choice of shoes.
Lastly, if there’s one detail you can take full control of for little to no cost, it’s your own grooming. Trimmed nails, clean hands, well cared for hair (and facial hair), deodorant, and a subtle splash of cologne all add up.
Play it Cool
You’re not going to get the pay rise or the promotion simply by dressing well. Rather it’s your air of self-assuredness and ambition that’ll give you the edge. However, wearing an outfit you can be both proud of and comfortable in is going to naturally elevate your confidence.
Allow the image you portray to do the talking for you, take the compliments in your stride, and feel good about the fact that you’re giving yourself a great chance of climbing the ladder at work.
Dressing well is something we can take pride in. One of the best places to start is by adding a few high-quality well-fitting dress shirts to your collection. Check out the Nickson online store to discover more.
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