Make up, hygiene and more!

As a whole, apparel doesn't have to mean physical clothing. Dictionary states that the word 'apparel' also means 'superficial appearance; aspect; guise.' With that, make up is certainly one of the biggest issues within girls but I would honestly like to touch base on hygiene as well.

For make up, you have to have that same mentality as per quoted earlier:
"If you can see yourself using it at a club, bar or to a formal event, AVOID IT"
If you haven't heard the expression before, you'll hear it here now... you don't need to 'cake on' your make up in order to impress someone. Small amounts in thin layers is perfectly fine, but don't overdo it. Bold colors are usually the spring/summer trends, which is perfectly fine, but putting massive amounts on your face to make it stand out too much isn't professional.

Here's an example of what's a definite no-no:

As pretty as she is and as nice as her make up looks... that same checklist needs to go through your head:

Can I wear it to a bar?
Can I wear it to a club?
Can I wear it to a formal event?
If you checked yes to any or all of the above just by looking at her, which you can, then you certainly shouldn't wear it to work.

Now here's another example of someone else:

What do you think as you go down the check list? I would say none because of the simplicity of the look, which is perfect for the workplace.




Now for the most important part, hygiene. No one likes a person who smells really bad or really strong. The stench of poor hygiene wreaks havoc amongst the workplace, especially if you share a small room with a lot of your co-workers. No one will want to come near you too much, as nice as you are and it's certainly a distraction to others. At the same bathing yourself with cologne or perfume doesn't help your cause either. Sinuses starts acting up and the same things will happen within a room full of people. It really becomes a distraction to everyone... so much that most work places actually hand out clothing guidelines with good hygiene as a must as well.

Keep in mind, if all else fails, always look at others around you or....
ASK SOMEONE TO MAKE SURE!!

Accessories for Men & Women

Men doesn't have too many selections to accessorize with but certainly wearing ties, bow ties or cufflinks can make a difference to an outfit. Some may find it too formal and some may think it's more of a fashion statement. It all depends on your working environment and how your co-workers dress up as well. There's many ways on how to tie a tie and it's all personal preference, here's a quick video on how to tie the popular knot -- the Windsor Knot:

As for the women, think of it this way... If you can wear your necklaces, bracelets or earrings to a club or a formal event -- that might be a sign to NOT wear it to work. It's as simple as that. No need to be "blinging out" at work with all the sparkles and diamonds... better yet, don't pull a "Lady Gaga". You can be creative but there's a line between what is good and what is TOO much. There's no need to impress people and gather unwanted attention. Simplicity is key and creates a more professional image. Prim and proper will get you far without trying too hard.

Here's what NOT to wear -->
All of the above. Meat is not an accessory and all those diamond jewellery is certainly unnecessary for work either.

Shoes for Men

Believe it or not, there's more to it than just your average dress shoes. It's important that you wear comfortable footwear because face it, you'll be wearing them the whole day until you get home. Depending on your workplace, certain types of shoes must be worn, if not, then a guideline on what types of shoes is usually laid out.

Waiters
Having a service job means you'll be walking and standing all day. Comfortable shoes is a must and will also protect your back from standing long periods of time. With that, restaurants normally mandate that employees wear black leather shoes, so choose a pair with non-slip grip with cushion inside to avoid slipping in case of accidents.

Construction
Construction jobs mean heavy duty work and your safety is of importance. Your shoes must be durable and should have a safety feature, whether it's steel-toe shoes or support all around. I would suggest a pair of shoes with insulated and waterproof leather with steel-toe protection feature, so that in case of an accident, your foot doesn't become severed.

Office
Choosing work shoes for office jobs is really easy. There's no standards as long as they're clean. Some work places even lets you wear running shoes as long as they're neat and clean... Just don't pick one with flashy colors. Black leather is always safe. Loafers and Oxfords are usually the popular ones to wear at work because they're comfortable and formal with still keeping that simple look.

Shoes for Women

When it comes to shoes for women, I'm sure most of us has a closet or two dedicated to shoes alone -- if not a closet, then at least owning more than 15 pairs. From flip flops to "pumps", we'll cover it all on what type of shoes qualify for your job.

High heel shoes gives the confidence in women that would typically generate positivity or even smartness. In addition to that, I believe that wearing heels also gives that 'attitude' that women needs in a male-domination world (although that theory is beginning to deplete slowly as we speak).

Here are 3 tips or guidelines to typically abide by when it comes to wearing heels or shoes in general:

1. Observe what your co-workers are wearing, especially to those who's position you want to get into next ;)
2. Don't give up your own style in order to "fit in" because everyone is entitled to their own flare or 'pizzazz' as long as it's not too eye-catching. You don't want to stick out (negatively) like a sore thumb.
3. If you're still unsure, you can try this little trick. Try dressing conservatively with them at first and slowly switch over, experimenting on what might be too 'loud' within your workplace.

Obvious-but-must-be-stated-rules:

→ 'Blacks' and 'browns' are always safe colors when it comes to any type of shoe. In some countries, sandals are even accepted as long as they're in leather or synthetic -- not fabric or canvas! If your company allows sandals, try to avoid strappy sandals because it tones down the professional look ten-fold. Lastly, as much as you love them, flip flops and plastics are a definite NO in most cases.

→ Don't wear pumps or closed shoes if temperature doesn't allow it. Example: If you're wearing a jacket (even in hot weather), don't wear sandals.

→ Don't wear socks with sandals (although it apparently may be the new spring/summer trend of 2012) but always wear socks with runners and boots. Try to avoid socks made out of synthetic material because they don't absorb sweat well at all! It gives off a funky smell mid-day and can be damaging to the skin as well.

→ Some colors I suggest you stay away from would be yellow or deep red. Anything that sets too much attention towards the shoes, distracting fellow co-workers is a no-no. I think that anything extravagantly bright or showy like gold and silver are not suited for the work place in general.

All in all, like I always say -- ALWAYS ASK TO BE SURE!

What do you think is good enough for YOUR workplace?

1....2....or 3?

What Is Too Casual?

What is too casual? Many people may have different definitions on what is considered too casual based on their workplace, but most places, they would consider it to be clothes that are not conservative and improper for work.

Whether it is ripped, graphic, too revealing or too much, you have to think of it this way... can I wear this clubbing? Can I wear this to the beach? Can I wear this to the gym? If any of those questions were answered "yes", then we may have a problem.

The main idea of dressing up into "work clothes" is to literally "dress for success". If you want to climb up the corporate ladder, wearing clothes that's appropriate for the position will certainly get you somewhere.

Here's a great and quick YouTube video on what not to wear in the office:



She explains what is too casual in a comedic way, but certainly easy to remember.

Casual Work Pants for Men

This all comes down with what your company is comfortable with, whether they're okay with jeans or not. Obviously, the safe bet is to wear dress pants that doesn't sit lower than the bum (as much as we love that style in men... not!). After you have asked your boss or human resource whether or not you are able to wear jeans and they have agreed that it's fine, you're lucky and safe to do so.

In this picture here on the right side, is shows how NOT to wear your pants. Honestly, as obvious as it sounds, lots of guys still wear it this way.

Try and keep it neat and tidy without any tears/rips or designs. Nothing flashy and keep it simple -- the darker the better.

How do YOU wear your pants?









How low do you wear your pants?

Say YES to:

Wouldn't you rather wear these instead?






Here's a great quick video on how to wear a men trouser:

Casual Work Pants & Skirts for Women

Pants are very flexible with women in the case of dress pants or corduroy whether it's long or cropped. It can be any dark or neutral color and can be used in all occasions within the workplace (meetings, every-day or meeting with clients). Jeans on the other hand are optional for some companies and sometimes allows the employees to wear them as long as they're dark and appropriate -- ALWAYS ASK TO MAKE SURE! Most workplaces has a dress-down Friday event where you are given the opportunity to wear Jeans. Some companies uses that as a casual day environment and some can even ask to give a certain amount for donation to stimulate the company in being a part of a bigger cause whether if it's helping the company and environment buy solar panels or donating the money to a charity. Take advantage of it, but do not go over board by wearing ripped jeans. As much as you would love to be trendy, keep it casual and professional... after all, you're still at work.

Here's a quick video on how to find pants that fits well:


Skirts can be fairly tricky because some can be comfortable with wearing them and some would rather opt out because they're not used to that type of skirt within a professional field. The ideal of an appropriate skirt allowed is usually anything within 1 and a half inches above the knee and anything below the knee is perfect. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work, taking professionalism too lightly. I know that some women aren't comfortable in wearing below the knee skirts because of the inaccessibility and lack of room to walk around with. The trick to that is look for a skirt with a slit in the back of the skirt -- it give you that allowance to maneuver around without looking like you're struggling to walk. A slit to the back is fine but a slit to the front is not -- keep that in mind!

The first part until the 1:10 minute mark on this quick video gives quick tips on wearing a skirt within the business field:

Appropriate Tops for Men

Here's an easy one. Keep it simple, sophisticated and WRINKLE-FREE!
I cannot stress enough that having a clean wrinkle-free top on men looks much more organized and gives you a responsible image in a workplace environment -- something you DEFINITELY want co-workers and managers to see you as. That appearance alone will give them the image that you're a responsible individual vs. another person wearing a sloppy top.


There's a variety of appropriate tops for men, not as much as women, but still quite a handful. Just like the women, we'll go through it from "unders" to "overs".

Men's tank tops. Shouldn't even be an option because that's a DEFINITE no-no in the workplace.

Polo's and Tees are certainly one of the most popular during the warm weather days. You can always clarify whether a simple tee is appropriate within the workplace, double checking to see if it may be too casual or not. With that, try and avoid any graphic tees that may depict anything to hurt anyone or better yet -- keep it simple. Try not to get a low cut tee such as a scoop neck or a deep-v because that causes too much unwanted attention within the workplace.

Casual dress shirts & dress shirts. They're definitely the go-to men's top within the workplace because it's safe. Casual dress shirts are described exactly as per what it's called -- casual looking dress shirts haha! They come in different patterns, stripes, plaid and even jean material! With these casual dress shirts, the best part about it is the fact that you don't really need to have high maintenance compared to regular dress shirts. Less ironing because of the different material and still look professional, especially tucked in.

Blazers -- a tailored fit blazer always looks sophisticated and sexy within the workplace in my opinion. Some may look too formal, depending on the work environment but with all the new styles developed for men in regards to blazers, they give a more chic casual look, mixing casual and professional perfectly.

Lastly, we have sweaters and cardigans. Its become one of the more popular things to wear because you can just easily wear it during chilly days and take it off when it becomes warm within the workplace while still keeping the casual workplace image. As long as you tone down the colors/patterns, cardigans and sweaters are perfect on a cold day.

In summary, all the things said are just examples of the things a man can wear and consider casual work apparel. To be safe, don't be afraid to ask your supervisor or human resource for examples that you may have in mind in order to get an idea of what you're allowed and not allowed to wear. ASK BEFORE YOU WEAR IT!

Look HOT while looking sophisticated.
You'll only be considered for a higher role than your current ;)

...if you want it.

Appropriate Tops For Women

This is where things become controversial due to the fact that there's a fine line between casual and too much/too sloppy. Firstly, depending on the workplace, I would suggest you ask your manager or human resource representative to define what their business casual means. All workplaces have different meaning of business casual but it is widely accepted that one should dress one position higher than your current job. Secondly, another safe tip would be to wear any top with a collar. Having a collared top usually indicates professionalism since back in the day and carrying that theory around till now is a safe bet that your collared top will be perfectly fine.

Tops are a tricky one for women because there's just so many options to choose from! From the tank tops to the sweaters, there is a large subsection for each category, so we'll start by sectioning each category starting with the "unders" to the "overs".

Cami's, tank tops, racer backs, etc. These all fall under the same category -- layering tanks. I certainly don't suggest wearing anything sleeveless nor partially see-through for professional reasons as well as for the sake of keeping your job. It's called a layering tank for a reason... to stay underneath and to layer on top of.

Short/long sleeves and blouse shirts are usually the safe ones to wear for a casual work apparel due to the flexibility and comfort. Plain tees, whether it's a v-neck, crew cut, round, anything with a high enough cut around the collar is safe as long as the cleavage isn't shown too much because that would attract un-wanted attention and can automatically deem you as unprofessional and more. Blouses on the other hand tend to not be too revealing when it comes to the collar/cleavage area although, most blouses are usually thinner materials, hence being partially see-through usually creates the problem for those type of tops. Conveniently, that's where where the layering tops comes into play and can easily be resolved with a silk or regular spandex cami, hiding what doesn't need to be seen within workplace eyes.

Button ups & blazers are usually safe, although some can be too formal depending on the workplace environments. I suppose that you can say this can be situational because if you're wearing a collared button up with a blazer, it certainly gives that ambiance of professionalism but if your workplace is much more toned down, apparel-wise, you'll certainly catch people's attention because you're over dressed. At the same time, if you wear a flannel shirt with bright vibrant colors, if gives that grungy look, creating that un-professional look for most places. A thin stripped or plain blouse/blazer is perfectly fine if you're looking for casual work apparel in this case.

Sweaters and cardigans are the most popular one to go for, especially during our cold seasons. Using a layering tee or blouse, you can create a look that's casual and business-like. Both cardigans and sweaters certainly gives that leeway between our regular street-wear and workplace attire and can be used in both scenarios. Appropriate? I would certainly agree.

With all that been said, all tops worn can be any color, pattern or design, although, clothing that represents a religious/political beliefs or any graphic or words with slander is usually frowned upon in most workplaces. Unless you are working for an organization that stands for the same, I suggest steering out of wearing it in order to avoid alienating management, other employees or customers.

Overall, always dress neatly, avoiding a sloppy look. Just because the office allows casual clothes, doesn't mean you can push it far and show up in a revealing top. The clothes you wear usually reflects the type of person you are, so consider what type of top to wear while looking into your closet and think of what type of image you would like to project to people at work.

Thoughts of Casual Workplace Apparel

Considering I've worked in many different places in the business world, especially within call center environments, I can honestly say that this topic alone can go either direction. One can define their style in clothes or the way they dress through their personality and some will say for the feel, the comfort. In the business world, most would probably agree with the fact that they dress the way they do because they want to look professional or accomplished -- to be someone.


When starting a job, first impressions is defined instantly with how you look. Even though most people will say "no, I would never judge anyone based on the way they're dressed or how they look" -- they're lying. People subconsciously judge others by the way they're dressed because that's the first thing they see. If I was to describe someone going into your office dressed with jogging pants and a t-shirt, what would you think? Irresponsible, lazy, unprofessional and better yet... dirty? That's a first impression, regardless on how you say your personality is. With that, you must know your limits and the fine lines between what is casual and what is too casual in a business office atmosphere.