DRESS CODES’ EFFECT

ON THE WORKPLACE AND INTERVIEW PROCESS

Annie Nelson, Jackson Britt, Amanda Jones

MEET THE TEAM

Annie Nelson Amanda Jones Jackson Britt

INTERVIEWS!!!
One of the most important aspects of dress is
the color you choose. Our group chose to
focus on this aspect of the interview outfit, as
the formality of dress differs from company to
company.
So what colors are the
“best” to wear to an
interview?
The 3 best colors are...
 1. BLACK
★ Best color to wear to an interview
★ Conservative work environments
★ The safest bet

It shows:
★ Power
★ Sophistication
★ You are ready to work hard
★ Same benefits as black,
but less harsh
★ Pro-tip: Don’t wear gray
if you tend to sweat in
interviews

It shows:
★ Independence
★ Self-sufficiency

2. GRAY
 3. BLUE
★ Nearly a quarter of hirers named
this as the best color to wear to an
interview
★ BEST SHADE: NAVY
★ Softer shades

It shows:
★ Honesty
★ Trustworthiness
★ Credibility
Honorable Mention: WHITE
★ Pure and clean
★ Goes with everything
★ Easy to add pop of color
★ Shows you are detail oriented and organized
And what colors should I
AVOID wearing to an
interview?
The 3 worst colors are...
 1. ORANGE
★ Abrasive
★ Too playful and unprofessional
★ Overconfident
★ Bright and fun, but better safe
than sorry
★ Uninteresting
★ Old-fashioned and
uninventive
★ Unmemorable
★ If going into an innovative
field, definitely avoid

2. BROWN
 3. RED
★ Love/hate relationship
with red
★ Domineering
★ Rebellious
★ Hostile
★ Fine line between assertive
and aggressive
Dos &
Don’ts
General tips to look your best!
DO...
★ Research the office environment of your potential employer

★ Wear a pop of color

★ MATCH, MATCH, MATCH

DON’T...
★ Wear loud patterns

★ Overdo the accessories

★ Be underdressed
WORKPLACE!!!
Formal dress
vs
Casual dress
The difference & its’ effect on
the workplace
Formal Dress
★ Formal dress is defined as professional attire, usually consisting of a suit

★ Advantages: ★ Disadvantages:
○ Conveys professionalism ○ Can lead to burnout
○ Distinguishes rank in the ○ Limits freedom of expression
workplace
Casual Dress
★ Casual dress is defined as more relaxed, informal attire

★ Advantages: ★ Disadvantages:
○ Boosts morale ○ May diminish professional image
○ Allows for open ○ Can cause more “casual” work
communication between drive
employers and employees
○ Cheaper
Statistics
On
Workplace dress
Which dress is best?
Statistics
★ 41% of employers revealed that they were more likely to promote
employees who dressed in more professional attire
★ 44% of employees at a law firm stated that more people were late
or did not show up to work after casual attire was implemented
★ 51% of employees stated they do their best work when dressed
casually
★ 60% of CPA’s surveyed stated casual attire increases productivity
Which is best?
★ Well… it depends
★ Formal is best if you are trying to make a good first impression or if
you want to appear more professional in your industry
★ Casual is best if you want to come off friendlier or if you work in an
industry that tends to encourage free expression through attire
Accessories

Types & when you should wear

them
Accessories
★ Tattoos and piercings shine light on a person’s personality, and
sometimes these accessories do not give off a positive or even
neutral connotation in the workplace.
★ Make-up can cause some confusion when first going into the
workplace. There is such a thing as too much and even too little
make-up and finding that just right amount is necessary.
★ Hair and facial hair should be groomed when in the workplace.
Take into account the type of job you have and if facial hair is
appropriate or not.
★ It is important to be yourself and express who you are as an
individual. Just keep in mind your environment and clientele.
 Hair
★ Most workplaces offer a handbook with information about the
dress code. One section will be dedicated to hair and facial
hair.

★ Many workplaces require you to have neutral/natural colored

hair that is well-maintained.

★ Some workplaces view facial hair in the sense of clean shaven

or full out beard. As in, you have a beard or you do not have
any facial hair. In these places, stubble may be seen as
representing negative traits.

★ Not every workplace is the same and checking the handbook

or asking a more experienced and trusted coworker is a must!
Tattoos and Piercings
★ For the most part, businesses will prefer for tattoos to be
covered. Especially if they are considered obscene or go
against the company’s or clientele’s beliefs.
★ Piercings are different based on who has them. For women
(or those who identify as such) simple ear piercings with
modest earrings are usually a good way to go when first
starting out. Some companies do not want men (or those
who identify as such) to have piercings and may require
the piercing to be removed or replaced with a clear filler.
This may also be asked of women with more than a simple
ear piercing.
★ Different jobs have different requirements and
expectations on these matters.
Makeup and Jewelry
★ A modest work environment requires a modest amount of
makeup. It is always best to stay as close to your natural color as
possible.
★ Look at the people around you and try to style yours to be
similar in regards to the amount and color of the makeup used.
★ Jewelry depends largely on where you are working and what
you will be doing. Someone who will be working with their hands
a lot, like an engineer or mechanic, will need to consider not
wearing any jewelry or replacing important jewelry such as
wedding bands/rings with a rubber or silicone alternative.
★ Jewelry should fit your workplace. Big fancy jewels and large
pieces are not the best type for an office environment.
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Bosveld, E. (2004). Loopholes and the Law: Facial Jewelry, Personal Expression, and the Regulation of the Workplace. Canadian Labour & Employment Law
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