Are you dressed for the boardroom or the beach?

June 27th, 2008

Corporate culture strongly influences the dress code for employees, but If you make the move to be your own boss, it is up to you to determine what is appropriate. Lately I have noticed that all entrepreneurs are not up to this particular challenge! The freedom to work barefoot from home some days may feel liberating, but don’t get carried away!

Believe it or not, the woman pictured was walking into a quarterly Business Breakfast Event for 250 people hosted by the municipality of The Hague. The program included a welcome by Mayor van Aartsen, followed by an annual award ceremony and a 10.000 euro prize for Business of the Year. There were no extenuating circumstances, the event was at 8:00 am, not an after work happy hour. The venue was a new office center, not an amusement park, and there was no theme such as luau or beach party, etc. Based on the facts, I can only wonder how a woman in her mid to late forties would choose a denim mini skirt, open toed espadrilles and a floral top with a plunging neckline for this business occasion. Women are scarce enough at these events; you don’t have to take such desperate measures to be noticed!

Here are a few tips to avoid becoming a fashion don’t: Please take a second look at your outfit before you leave the house!

If you could, under any circumstances, wear the same outfit to the beach without looking like a complete freak, you must change!
“Dress for the job you want, not the job you have,” is the cliché on the subject, but it just might help you get there.
Take the time to choose a few suits and separates that fit well, and are classical and comfortable for networking events. You will be most confident when you know you look your best.
In business, it is always better to be over dressed than under dressed. If there is no chance of your outfit being too formal, step it up a notch!
If you’ve worked in the same office for ages, showing up in your bath robe might go unnoticed. On the other hand, if you will be meeting new people, they will, without a shadow of a doubt, base their first impression on your appearance. It is all they have to go on.

If I have scared you into being afraid to leave the house, I have done my job. It is better to stay home than to go and make a bad impression!