For anyone who works in a corporate office, it is important to look polished and professional at all times. After all, there is a reason why people say you need to ‘look the part’.
Your own personal style is an important factor in how people perceive you, not just in the workplace but in the wider world as well. So, if you want to climb the corporate ladder, you need to present the best version of yourself every day.
But how do you go about doing that?
Here are six excellent ways to bring style into your 9-5 workplace.
1. Start with the basics
The foundation of any style is the basics, such as hair, skin, and nails. So, it is important to get these right before you focus on other aspects of your work appearance.
When you think of a stylish woman, you typically think of Kate Middleton, Grace Kelly, and Audrey Hepburn. All of them radiate beauty and elegance, and the foundation of this is their immaculate hair, nails, and skin.
For this reason, you should make every effort to maintain all of these aspects by regularly getting your hair trimmed at the hairdresser, your skin rejuvenated, and having your nails painted and manicured often.
You should also prioritise getting 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep every day, eating healthily, drinking at least 2 litres of water every day, and doing regular exercise.
At the end of the day, before you invest in clothing items or accessories to enhance what you wear, you first need to invest in yourself and your physicality.
2. Wear a quality pair of glasses
Did you know wearing glasses is associated with intelligence and wealth?
For this reason, if you need to wear glasses in the office, you should make sure they are a top-quality pair.
A good example is Oroton glasses frames, which is a highly esteemed brand and very practical.
This means that they will not only look good on you but also help you to see how to perform your tasks more effectively.
3. Choose high-quality pieces
When it comes to clothes and accessories, the easiest way to bring style into your office is to choose high-quality pieces.
High quality isn’t just about what they cost, although, generally speaking, you get what you pay for. It is also about how well the clothes fit you. For this reason, you should try to get them tailored to perfectly suit your silhouette.
Additionally, it also refers to how well the garment is made, which is usually evident in the stitching, buttons and zipper, and the quality of the fabric. As a general rule of thumb, pieces made from fibres like cashmere, silk, linen, wool and cotton will create a more elevated look.
Lastly, whatever items of clothing or accessories you embrace, you need to ensure they are always well cleaned and maintained. Stained blouses or wrinkled skirts are not a style you want to bring into your office.
4. Dress appropriately
Every workplace has a different dress code. So, it is important that you are aware of yours.
The last thing you want to do is wear something that is not appropriate for your office. If you are in any doubt, don’t be afraid to seek clarification from Human Resources or your management team.
Notwithstanding, there is a school of thought that you should dress for the job you want and not the one you have. Therefore, don’t be afraid to break out of the power suit if it makes you feel more ‘in the zone’.
Generally, the dress code within a workplace is either business casual or business professional. The latter is more formal and usually comprises classic attire such as pencil skirts, heels, and suit jackets for women.
Here is some more information about what defines business professional attire.
5. Little Details
One way to elevate your look to really stand out in the workplace is to focus on the little details.
Accessories like watches, jewellery, belts, shoes, and handbags can really affect how your look is perceived.
It is good to keep it consistent, so, for instance, go full gold or silver throughout your whole ensemble, with a watch, belt buckle, rings, stud earrings, and even a little bit of detailing on your handbag or shoes.
Try not to go too overboard with your accessories because less is more. It is good to choose one or two pieces that really stand out as opposed to half a dozen which don’t have quite the same visual impact.
6. Be confident with your choices
Last but not least, the best way to bring style into your 9-5 office environment is to own everything you wear.
We are not talking about purchasing the items but rather having the confidence to wear them without caring about what other people think.
The more inner confidence you feel about your appearance, the more it is likely to influence your level of poise and professionalism.
So, hold that head up high and be proud of your choices.
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