Apart from TECHNICALITIES Let's dress up for the office. This is what I think and I think quite...........
A few months ago I wrote an article on women’s business fashion from a man’s perspective. The
responses I got to that article were…well, let’s just say they were interesting. While the men who responded tended to agree with me, there were a few women who felt that I was way off base when I commented that women need to dress professionally in the workplace so as not to call attention to themselves in a negative manner. I find it strange that the vast majority of
psychologists will agree with my comments about men being hard-wired to appreciate the female form, but I’m sure that the opinions of the few count much more than the facts of the many. So the next time you’re ogled at the office in a manner that offends you, don’t call your lawyer to file a lawsuit. Just chalk it up to the coffee or the weather or some other good excuse and feel safe and secure in the knowledge that your opinion counts so much more than the facts.
But I digress. I’ve decided it’s only fair that I do a follow-up article and evaluate the way men dress in the workplace. After all, not every man who walks through the door at the office is wearing clothing appropriate for a business environment. In the process, I’ll try to compare the
differences in the way males and females are perceived at work.
A few months ago I wrote an article on women’s business fashion from a man’s perspective. The
responses I got to that article were…well, let’s just say they were interesting. While the men who responded tended to agree with me, there were a few women who felt that I was way off base when I commented that women need to dress professionally in the workplace so as not to call attention to themselves in a negative manner. I find it strange that the vast majority of
psychologists will agree with my comments about men being hard-wired to appreciate the female form, but I’m sure that the opinions of the few count much more than the facts of the many. So the next time you’re ogled at the office in a manner that offends you, don’t call your lawyer to file a lawsuit. Just chalk it up to the coffee or the weather or some other good excuse and feel safe and secure in the knowledge that your opinion counts so much more than the facts.
But I digress. I’ve decided it’s only fair that I do a follow-up article and evaluate the way men dress in the workplace. After all, not every man who walks through the door at the office is wearing clothing appropriate for a business environment. In the process, I’ll try to compare the
differences in the way males and females are perceived at work.
Blame The Spouse
Somebody’s going to ask the obvious question: So why don’t we dog men for the way they dress
at work? Well, let me answer that one by quoting from my previous article:
“…By the way, I’m not saying that we men have our act together when it comes to getting
dressed. Most of us have our clothing picked out by our wives or girlfriends…." Ladies, admit it. You have much more fashion sense than your husband. So if he looks good at work, you can probably pat yourself on the back for it. On the other hand, if he looks like something the cat dragged in, he’s probably been rooting through his closets again without your assistance. So gain some small comfort in the knowledge that behind every good looking man is a fashion-savvy woman.
Whether a man picks out his clothing choices himself or has his significant other do it for him, he
can still get it wrong. In most cases, it has to do with the way men want themselves to be viewed
by other men in the organization (strong, virile, productive) as well as by women (strong, virile, reproductive).
Again, this is something that’s built into a man. The problem is what an individual
views as projecting these traits society may view as the antithesis to those traits. The problem is compounded as society changes and the standard for what is considered strong and virile changes. Some guys get left behind simply because they don’t know any better.
Having clarified that, let’s talk about the things that men still get wrong when dressing for work.
Mid-Life Crisis
Quick! What was the image that went through your mind when you read the phrase above? If
you thought of a middle-aged man wearing a shirt open to his navel and wearing several hundred pounds of gaudy jewelry on his hands and around his neck, give yourself a gold star for going with the look the majority of people select. Thank you, Hollywood!
Somebody’s going to ask the obvious question: So why don’t we dog men for the way they dress
at work? Well, let me answer that one by quoting from my previous article:
“…By the way, I’m not saying that we men have our act together when it comes to getting
dressed. Most of us have our clothing picked out by our wives or girlfriends…." Ladies, admit it. You have much more fashion sense than your husband. So if he looks good at work, you can probably pat yourself on the back for it. On the other hand, if he looks like something the cat dragged in, he’s probably been rooting through his closets again without your assistance. So gain some small comfort in the knowledge that behind every good looking man is a fashion-savvy woman.
Whether a man picks out his clothing choices himself or has his significant other do it for him, he
can still get it wrong. In most cases, it has to do with the way men want themselves to be viewed
by other men in the organization (strong, virile, productive) as well as by women (strong, virile, reproductive).
Again, this is something that’s built into a man. The problem is what an individual
views as projecting these traits society may view as the antithesis to those traits. The problem is compounded as society changes and the standard for what is considered strong and virile changes. Some guys get left behind simply because they don’t know any better.
Having clarified that, let’s talk about the things that men still get wrong when dressing for work.
Mid-Life Crisis
Quick! What was the image that went through your mind when you read the phrase above? If
you thought of a middle-aged man wearing a shirt open to his navel and wearing several hundred pounds of gaudy jewelry on his hands and around his neck, give yourself a gold star for going with the look the majority of people select. Thank you, Hollywood!
We know why men do it (see comments above). And if a guy wants to feel younger on his own
time, that’s his business. But wearing that type of outfit on the job is about as unprofessional as
you can get. When people joke about men’s clothing faux pas, this is one of the two that gets the
most air time. If you’re being laughed at because of your clothing choices, it’s time to buy
different clothes.
By the way, this isn’t limited to just clothing styles. The balding co-worker who refuses to
acknowledge his thinning hair and resorts to doing the combover falls into this category (and puts himself into the second group that people joke about), as does the fellow who suddenly starts wearing his hair in the style of a teenager from the TV series “That 70s Show". The guys in the first group need to get the buzz cut (balding is in – ask Patrick Stewart!). The guys in the second group need to check with their barber to find out what contemporary styles look good, rather than dorky, on a middle-aged man. And if you absolutely can’t stand the new look, take heart! It DOES grow back! (For most of us, that is…!)
The Hangover
No, I’m not talking the alcohol-induced kind. There are actually two different types of hangovers
here. The first is sported by the man who has an average-sized lower torso supporting a much
larger upper-frontal torso (translation: gut). You know, the employee who wears a 38-waist pant but whose stomach measures more like 50 inches. The second is the infamous “plumber’s
crack", where a man wears pants that are too tight and ride wa-ay too low on his backside.
Gentlemen, please. In both cases, the pants you’re wearing are too small for you. Go to a
reputable clothing store, get a salesperson to help you find the right pair of pants that fit properly, and then get them tailored for the parts of your body that need it. You’ll look so much more professional and will save your co-workers thousands of dollars in unneeded psychotherapy.
Rumpled-stiltskin
The grunge look was popular back in the 90s, I think. (I’m not positive, as I was too old to
grunge, but that’s what my younger friends tell me, so I’m taking their word on it.) It’s not now,
but has been replaced by something much more sinister – the “natural" look. No, I’m not saying
nudity is in on the job (thank God!). It’s the casual clothing that supposedly you can pull right out of the dryer, flap in the breeze a few times to remove the few wrinkles that might be there, and put on. No ironing required. Yeah, right. These clothing items have more creases in them than an accordion. Will people think that your work habits are as sloppy as your clothing style?
Possibly. Go for the all-cotton clothing and be comfortable. Just use the iron.
And Then There’s Casual Friday
Many businesses these days allow workers to “dress down" on the last business day of the week.
Unfortunately, too many men go a little too far down. I honestly think that if the company’s dress code allowed it, some men would wear tattered shorts, holey t-shirts, and flip-flops to the office on that day. I am a firm believer in being casual and comfortable, but guys, use some common sense. Try nice jeans and a polo shirt. Save the beach bum and urban looks for the weekends
What’s Good for the Goose…
In the business world, men want to project a youthful image that shows they have what it takes to compete. While it’s not always necessary (or appropriate) to wear the dark suit and power tie, it doesn’t hurt to think a little bit about what you look like to your co-workers, and especially to those higher up the career advancement ladder. Wearing inappropriate work clothing projects an image that can hurt your chances of going places in your company. What does your choice of
work attire say about you to your teammates, to your boss, and to your boss’s boss’s boss? If
you don’t like the statement you’re making, reevaluate your clothing choices and be prepared to
spend a little money on some more appropriate items for work. It may pay off for you in the long
run.
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