The Ultimate Guide to Workplace Dress Codes | Articles | The Washington Center
Dressing for work can be tricky. Use this guide to get familiar with your office dress code and build a work-ready wardrobe. Read article.
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Tips for Dressing Professionally at Work
- Ask your supervisor about the company's dress code policy and what people usually wear to work.
- Look for clues on the company's website and social media pages to see what employees are wearing.
- Observe what people are wearing during your interview and take note of their outfits.
- Find someone in the office whose style you admire and use them as inspiration for your own outfits.
- Keep the dialogue open with your supervisor or mentor to address any questions or concerns about the dress code.
- Familiarize yourself with common dress codes like business professional, business casual, smart casual, and casual.
- For business professional attire, stick to classic and conservative looks such as suits, button-up shirts, pantyhose (if applicable), and matching dress shoes.
- Don't feel the need to buy a large quantity of clothes for a business professional dress code; focus on simplicity and build around one or two suits.
Dress Codes for Business Professional Attire
- Suits need to be dry cleaned every four or five wears.
- Mixing in color with accessories is a good way to add personality to outfits.
- Business formal requires clean and simple attire for special occasions.
- The basics of business professional dress code are simple but can vary between workplaces.
- Casual dress code doesn't require expensive clothing and can be mixed and matched.
- Business casual allows for some self-expression with printed shirts and cool accessories.
- Summer business casual dress code may allow for cooler fabrics and sandals.
- Smart casual is a compromise between business casual and completely casual.
- Smart casual can be achieved by dressing up regular clothes with a few touches.
- There aren't any hard and fast rules for smart casual, but it's about feeling dressed up for work.
Dressing for Different Work Environments and Video Calls
- Commuter Casual:
- Comfortable and sturdy clothes for commuting.
- Consider wearing sneakers while commuting and changing into office-appropriate shoes.
- Suitable for small companies, the arts, and tech companies.
- The Basics of Casual Dress Code:
- Minimal or no dress code.
- Find the line between casual and too casual.
- Be aware of what casual means in your specific office.
- On a Budget:
- No need to buy new clothes.
- Ensure well-fitting and clean clothes.
- Mixing It Up:
- Don't go overboard with casual outfits.
- Smart casual or favorite outfits can boost confidence.
- The Zuckerberg Variant:
- Mark Zuckerberg's daily outfit: grey t-shirt and jeans.
- Simplifying wardrobe to focus on work.
- Consider "less is more" approach to reduce decision fatigue.
- Dressing for Video Calls:
- Observe colleagues' attire on video calls for guidance.
- Ask about dress code expectations.
- Dress up slightly rather than underdressing.
The Washington Center and its Impactful Internship Program
- The Washington Center is the largest and most established student internship program in Washington, D.C.
- They have helped over 60,000 individuals expand their academic pursuits into rewarding jobs and careers.
- The program aims to open career pathways, solve recruitment challenges, and promote access, equity, advancement, and representation.
Dress Code Tips for Work
- Ask your supervisor about the company's dress code policy and what people usually wear to work.
- Look for clues on the company's website and social media pages to see what employees are wearing.
- Observe what people are wearing during your interview and take note of their outfits.
- Find someone in the office whose style you admire and use them as inspiration for your own outfits.
- Keep the dialogue open with your supervisor or mentor to address any questions or concerns about the dress code.
- Familiarize yourself with common dress codes like business professional, business casual, smart casual, and casual.
- For business professional attire, stick to classic and conservative looks such as suits, button-up shirts, and matching dress shoes.
- Don't feel the need to buy a large quantity of clothes for a business professional dress code; focus on simplicity and build around one or two suits.
- Suits need to be dry cleaned every four or five wears.