Top 10 Workplace Style Tips for Men
- Jackie Vermeulen
- Aug 19, 2016
- 5 min read
Hello gentlemen, welcome to style school. Today we are going to break down the top ten workplace style tips that will help you exuberate confidence and pulled-togetherness for your day in the office. No matter your location or company’s dress code, here’s what you need to know:
1. Take note from your company and your team.
The easiest way to decide which outfits are appropriate to wear to work is to take a look at other people in the office. You might find that all of the guys in IT wear short-sleeve button down shirts with jeans, and all of the salesmen wear collared shirts with ties. Then there’s marketing with their Motley Crew style.
No need to clone yourself. Use the team’s style as a starting point, and find ways to incorporate your own. If you want to really stand out, do so by making yourself look even more pulled-together. Just follow this list; we are making it easy for you.
2. No stains, rips, or holes.
If it looks like you could wear it while you paint, mow the lawn, or wash the car, keep it out of your work wardrobe. Non-negotiable. Even for companies with casual dress codes. This applies to clothes that have the purposefully ripped look. Save them for the weekend.
Remember: when it looks like you take care of your things, it looks like you take care of yourself and you will take pride in your work.
3. Find the right fit.
There’s something ever-so-admirable about a man in a tailored suit. And you can pull off the tailored look without dressing to the nines every day.
Special order. Many stores carry Tall sizes, Slimfit sizes, and you-name-it sizes. Find the size that fits just-right and it will give the appearance that it was tailored just for you.
Tip: once you find the size and style that fits you well, stock up on multiple items from that store. Easy peasy shopping.
Get it hemmed. If you can’t find a size that gives you that customized look, get your clothes (at least your nice ones) hemmed. It doesn’t cost much and shows you are mindful of your appearance, and by association, mindful of the work you do.
Depending where you shop, you may not even have to go to a tailor; some stores do it for free. Sweeet.
4. Get your hairs in order.
There are three areas you need to focus on:
Your beard. A well-kept beard is fantastic. A cleanly shaven face is fantastic. One that’s in-between or totally out of control? No thank you. Either way you choose, clean up your neck on a daily basis. And to our bearded friends: trim regularly and keep it even.
Your hair-hair. Get your hair cut in a way that’s manageable for you. If you know you’re not going to put in the effort every morning, don’t go for the trendy cut. Plan to visit your hairdresser on a regular basis to keep yourself looking clean. And be sure to take care of any back-of-the-neck hairs in-between cuts.
Your eyebrows. Ask the hairdresser to trim your eyebrows while you’re there for your haircut; it’s usually free, and if it does cost a few dollars, it’s worth it. You want people focusing on your presentation, not considering whether or not your caterpillar eyebrows are going to make a move.
And bonus areas: your nose and ears. You never know when someone shorter is going to get a good (bad) view straight up your nose, or someone in the middle of the meeting is going to look left and have a staring match with a stray ear hair.
5. Keep your nails trimmed.
It’s the little things that show you care about your appearance and will impact how people perceive you in the workplace. Keep your nails clean so people don’t question your hygiene as you go in for a proper handshake or exchange business cards.
6. Pay attention to your shoes.
Other people will. Having a nice dress pair is important, and depending on your position, stylish sneakers and casual (boat-style) shoes are easy choices. For your dress shoes, invest in a high-quality, leather pair and keep them looking new by polishing often and taking them to a cobbler when the heel is starting to look worn. The time and monetary investment is worth it when you can wear that same pair for a few years.
7. Wear and take care of your clothes properly.
It doesn’t matter how nicely your clothes fit if you don’t take care of them or wear them to their full potential. Iron your clothes before work. And when you’re washing, pay attention to the tag to make sure you are washing and drying as recommended to extend the life of your (now perfectly fitted) clothes. If you don’t trust your washing skills, take your shirts to a dry cleaner for a crisp look.
And when you wear collared shirts, please tuck in long-sleeve ones every time, and tuck in short-sleeve ones when they are too long.
8. Keep a few essentials in your closet.
You never know when you’re going to need a tie or blazer (it’s more formal than a sports coat, less formal than a suit jacket). You’ll be happy to effortlessly pull it out on the day the client visits the office, when the CEO of the company wants to come to your presentation, or for the office holiday party.
Plus, as long as you don’t have too stressful of a day and sweat through the blazer (hey, the CEO was here!), you can wear it a few times before taking it to the cleaners…yet another reason you want to check the tag.
9. Pick your baggage.
Many professionals are now lugging around their laptops in backpacks. Totally acceptable, job depending. If you are a salesperson heading to a big sales pitch, the receiving party might nod at your professionalism when they see your nice bag (read: briefcase). With that said, there are certainly backpacks out there that are on the nicer-side and acceptable for more than just the casual dressers. Whatever your bag of choice, keep it clean.
10. Mind your smell.
Because if you don’t, other people will.
Wear deodorant. And if you’re going to wear cologne, find a mild and agreeable one (get opinions!), and use it sparingly. You don’t want to give people flashbacks to middle school, getting second-hand cologne smell from kids who don’t know moderation.
Please. Brush your teeth. Use mouthwash. And keep mints and/or gum with you throughout the day in case your cup of coffee or lunch is catching up to you. Bonus points if you keep a toothbrush and toothpaste or mini bottle of mouthwash in your desk. Great ideas are not heard when people are hurrying to escape the smell of stale coffee breath.
When it looks like you take care of yourself and your things, it will give off the impression that you will also take care of your responsibilities at work. People do and will take notice for the wrong reasons. But you, sir? People are going to notice you for all the right ones.
Now, be off to your shopping trip and schedule that appointment with your hairdresser. We’ll be here when you return.
Class dismissed.
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Jackie Vermeulen is the founder of The Career Mint. She works closely with the mentors and some off-site experts to address the hard-hitting career topics in articles like the one you’re reading now.
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