We often hear the saying “You are what you wear.” Fresh graduates who are ready to start their working life, or who aspire to become white-collar professionals in the business world, though fully aware of the saying above may not have the financial means to dress well, nor fully understand what it means to dress appropriately for the corporate world.
Let not your body fit the clothes, but let the clothes fit you.
So how can freshies enter the workplace confidently with the right working attire that is within their means? We talked to Ms Laura Chen, lecturer for the Diploma in Fashion Design programme, Centre of Art and Design (ICAD), INTI International College Subang, to learn some practical fashion tips.
“The clothes we choose to wear every morning is a reflection of the attitude and emotions we want to set for ourselves for the rest of the day. When we dress well, we carry ourselves confidently and even walk confidently,” Laura defined what is meant by “dressing well”.
When talking about dress sense, one may think that it takes a certain body size or figure to look nice, but Laura disagrees, saying: “Let not your body fit the clothes, but let the clothes fit you. After all, it is not all about being fashionable. Rather, it is about knowing how to dress appropriately for the occasion.”
In a nutshell, “appropriateness” is the keyword when choosing office attire.
For fresh grads who have a small budget, yet aspire to portray a good dress sense as they are sourcing for their first suit of office wear, Laura advises them to go for classic styles instead of current fashion trends. Most importantly, buy items and colours that never run out of style or season.
“For example, fresh grads may choose a classic white shirt, pin-striped shirts, pencil skirts, straight-cut pants, black or khaki coloured trousers, fitted blazers, and neutral-coloured ties,” suggested Laura, who is also a writer for ICAD and publishes an in-house academic magazine.
Before joining ICAD in 2014, she worked as a fashion writer for a women’s magazine.
With tight budgets as a precondition, there are some tips that fresh grads can learn in mixing and matching their garments to optimise their professional look.
“You can optimise the mix and match concept by understanding the basics of mixing colours in assembling an outfit. Neutral coloured-clothing, which is black, grey, white, beige and khaki, can be paired with almost any other colour or with another neutral colour. These colours often never go out of style!” shared Laura.
Regardless of gender, there are some golden rules suggested by Laura that fresh grads may adopt when it comes to choosing their working attire.
- Know the nature of your job
If your job requires you to constantly be physically active, like being on your feet or travelling often, you may want to consider choosing versatile clothing such as tapered, wide-legged pants, quick-drying and anti-crease fabrics, and a pair of practical shoes. - Know your office culture
Be observant of the dress culture within your office. While everyone has their sense of style, dress respectfully and follow the culture and environment you’re in. This requires good personal judgement and wisdom on a case by case basis. - Wear comfortable clothing
As we spend an average of ten hours per day in our work-wear, the most important aspect is to feel comfortable for long periods, so that you can focus on your job. Choose something you feel comfortable in, be it size, cutting, fabric choice or accessories but be mindful of your workplace expectations. - Your outfit should fit you perfectly
Be mindful not to wear clothing that is too tight, which might leave you and others uncomfortable. Similarly, do not choose clothing that is too loose, as it may give the impression that you are dishevelled and lack confidence.
Laura Chen, lecturer for the Diploma in Fashion Design programme, Centre of Art and Design (ICAD), INTI International College Subang.
As a newbie in any office, fresh grads should aim to look clean, sharp, approachable and ready to take on any task that is assigned to them. They should Pay attention to their hygiene and invest in affordable products to keep them fresh and clean throughout the long workday.
“You must have a well-groomed, tidy head of hair. For women, light make-up consisting of well-groomed eyebrows and a light foundation is necessary. As our eyebrows frame our eyes, a well-defined eyebrow shows that a woman regards her works seriously. Unkempt eyebrows give the impression of an indistinctive person,” shared Laura.
“Having body odour, bad breath, creased and un-ironed clothing, open-toe flat sandals, casual sandals or slippers, stilettos or heels that are overly high, shoes without socks, T-shirts and shorts, faded clothing, caps or hats are an absolute ‘no-no’ in the office,” she continued.
To sum up, having a good dress sense can be an empowering tool that helps fresh grads navigate their new career path confidently, especially when meeting new acquaintances.
“Do not be afraid to look good, because everyone has that ability to do so through the right clothing choices!” Laura encourages.