Workwear - The Uniform of the Masses
Even without a written policy on dress code most people in employment know there are certain standards that have to be met, the uniform of the masses. From their initial interview, for which they probably dressed smartly in order to create a good impression to doing the night shift, there are clothes you wear for work and those you do not. Common sense tells you not to wear fancy dress, eveningwear or your graduation robes and to a certain extent there are limitations on the style of sportswear and the casual clothing like jeans you might don for work.
Just as employers may suggest you cover tattoos or remove piercings when dealing with the public, it is not meant as an insult to you personally it is only that they want to appeal to as many customers as possible in the general public and some people just can't get past first impressions - good or bad in their opinion. As you are reflecting the company values being their face to the public and therefore their ambassador, it is safer then in their eyes to be either bland and anonymous or to project an image they wish to convey that will be associated with their company. C'est la vie.
Realistically, you probably wouldn't want to wear your 'special' outfits to work, something from the Corporate Clothing line would be much easier. What would you wear out on you day off? Would you turn up at an occasion in the same threads you were wearing behind your desk or counter? It is possible when wearing work clothes to actually slip on a sense of pride, a sense of purpose and a new identity. Many people in their private lives can be terribly disorganised and lack self-confidence but when they put on their work clothes, much like an actor putting on a costume for a part in a play, you can assume an altogether different character, efficient, effective, dynamic and be in role as long as you are dressed for the part.
I know of a woman who worked as a secretary in a small firm who used to dress for work in a rugby jersey and jeans as she had to travel into work by tube in London in the days when smoking was still permitted on the underground and the journey left her clothes smelly and grubby before she even began work. There was no official dress code and her colleagues were relaxed; it wasn't a problem and she was very good at her job but she had the whole office in fits of laughter when she did the 'secretarial walk' to the filing cabinet to put away some photo-copying to make the point that clothes (when you get past first appearances) really don't matter. She did have the good grace and professionalism to appreciate that others are affected by first impressions and to assume the 'secretarial uniform' when there were clients expected in the office, though she never did the 'walk' in their presence.
As long as employers provide workwear for their employees they can expect a certain standard of dress every day, not just when a client is calling in and that can only be a good thing in the long run. Who knows when you might pick up business unexpectedly?
Just as employers may suggest you cover tattoos or remove piercings when dealing with the public, it is not meant as an insult to you personally it is only that they want to appeal to as many customers as possible in the general public and some people just can't get past first impressions - good or bad in their opinion. As you are reflecting the company values being their face to the public and therefore their ambassador, it is safer then in their eyes to be either bland and anonymous or to project an image they wish to convey that will be associated with their company. C'est la vie.
Realistically, you probably wouldn't want to wear your 'special' outfits to work, something from the Corporate Clothing line would be much easier. What would you wear out on you day off? Would you turn up at an occasion in the same threads you were wearing behind your desk or counter? It is possible when wearing work clothes to actually slip on a sense of pride, a sense of purpose and a new identity. Many people in their private lives can be terribly disorganised and lack self-confidence but when they put on their work clothes, much like an actor putting on a costume for a part in a play, you can assume an altogether different character, efficient, effective, dynamic and be in role as long as you are dressed for the part.
I know of a woman who worked as a secretary in a small firm who used to dress for work in a rugby jersey and jeans as she had to travel into work by tube in London in the days when smoking was still permitted on the underground and the journey left her clothes smelly and grubby before she even began work. There was no official dress code and her colleagues were relaxed; it wasn't a problem and she was very good at her job but she had the whole office in fits of laughter when she did the 'secretarial walk' to the filing cabinet to put away some photo-copying to make the point that clothes (when you get past first appearances) really don't matter. She did have the good grace and professionalism to appreciate that others are affected by first impressions and to assume the 'secretarial uniform' when there were clients expected in the office, though she never did the 'walk' in their presence.
As long as employers provide workwear for their employees they can expect a certain standard of dress every day, not just when a client is calling in and that can only be a good thing in the long run. Who knows when you might pick up business unexpectedly?
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