With the Christmas season well and truly over and office parties behind us for another year, employees will have returned to the suit and tie policies that govern the majority of workplaces. This means the emphasis will, once again, be on smart dress rather than fashion as January progresses.
However, many workplaces have a more relaxed policy when it comes to what employees wear, ruling that as long as outfits are appropriate for a working environment anything goes.
You may think that this type of outlook would be welcomed by employees struggling to afford formal wear with dwindling disposable incomes– yet according to a recent survey, it seems that many workers prefer the tight boundaries of an office dress code in their place of work.
Miniskirts are deemed unprofessional the survey says
The study focuses on the attitude British workers take towards outfits in the workplace, and was carried out by the British Heart Foundation to coincide with its Rock Up in Red day on February 1st. This initiative is designed to raise both money and awareness for heart disease in British workplaces to launch National Heart month.
Fundraising Project Director for the British Heart Foundation, Polly Shute, claims that wearing red in the office to raise awareness of heart disease will actually boost productivity levels, as employees tend to feel more confident in a bold colour according to the study.
She says; “It seems the fail safe weapon at work for 2013 is the colour red.
“Whether it’s a dash of red lipstick, wearing that desirable Little Red Dress, or donning a red tie, organising a Rock Up in Red event is a great excuse to dress to impress with colleagues.
“Not only will you have the perfect opportunity to wear a colour seldom seen in the workplace, you will also help the British Heart Foundation beat the UK’s single biggest killer.”
It certainly seems that Ms Shute may have a point when she says red could be a power colour in the workplace, as 13 per cent of women participating in the survey claimed to choose a red outfit when wishing to impress important clients or seal deals in the office. Meanwhile, over a quarter admitted to adding a layer of red lipstick before meetings with their boss in order to boost confidence.
Dr Gayle Brewer, a senior lecturer of psychology at UCLan, agrees that our outfits do have an effect on our demeanour and success in the office.
She says; “The clothes and colours we wear have a real impact on the way we feel and the image we project. Finally
“The colour red is associated with confidence and power.
“It seems women are donning their best red dresses and suits in order to make their mark at work.”
Of course, while some colours and outfits can clear your path up the career ladder, others can likewise bring you crashing back down to the bottom rung. Unexpectedly, it seems that skimpier outfits worn by women could damage their chances of progression in the eyes of male colleagues and bosses, with a third of men participating in the British Heart Foundation study calling for hot pants, miniskirts and sheer or low cut tops to be banned from the workplace.
32 per cent of male participants believe that hot pants are too distracting for female colleagues to wear to work, with 67 per cent of women agreeing with this sentiment. Miniskirts were also deemed unprofessional by 24 per cent of men and 52 per cent of women.
As for those who favour an animal print accessory with their outfit, it may be better to save it for the weekend – 30 per cent of participants stated that leopard print has no place in the office.
So next time a big promotion comes up at work, or an important client meeting is approaching, it may be a good idea to carefully examine the contents of your wardrobe as well as your sales pitch. Just make sure the leopard print hot pants are left on the hanger on Monday morning!
Does your place of work adhere to a strict dress code, or are employees largely allowed to choose what they want to wear as long as it is suitable for a working environment? Finally, will your office be taking part in the British Heart Foundation’s Rock Up in Red day on February 1st? Let us know below.
No related posts found for this post.
