While it is understandable that it is tempting to dress sloppily to prioritize comfort, it is still a must to follow dress codes due to the rules at work and the benefits of dressing professionally. In this regard, the clothes worn differentiate a sloppy dresser and a power dresser. Women’s workwear usually consists of formal business, smart casual, and business casual.
Boosts Confidence
It may sound cliche, but first impressions do last, and it usually takes a while to work around and change this. Looks play an important role in achieving a good first impression, and dressing appropriately, especially in women’s workwear, should be emphasized. Even though you are unsure of how well you will be doing, make it a point to dress well enough to show an air of confidence and everything else will follow. Fake it until you make it still applies to confidence, and dressing up may equate to getting more confident.
Dressing the part at work empowers employees by showing stakeholders that they know what they are doing, which is especially important for women who are usually regarded as incapable of doing their jobs. From getting interviewed for a job to ultimately doing the job, dressing appropriately will provide an advantage to the employee over someone who chooses to dress down. Certainly, an employee who looks and dresses the part is more convincing than someone who looks like a passerby.
Being believed in also helps in achieving a sense of validation. For example, an employee whose capabilities are appreciated by others will feel valued, thus giving her the confidence that what she is doing is proper and per the company’s standards. In other words, through the validation received from others, the employee’s confidence may in no doubt be boosted, and this may be achieved through initially dressing well, not just in accordance with the company’s rules, but through the employee’s own accord to dress to impress.
Better Productivity
Dressing properly also concretely delineates the separation between work and play or work and rest. With this concrete separation, employees are expected to be more focused and get the job done more efficiently because it sets the expectation right for the employee. For example, someone who dresses in women’s workwear will set in her mind that she is working for the day, in contrast with someone who dresses too comfortably who may feel sleepy and slack through the day.
Time management will also be a breeze for these employees that dress accordingly since getting work done will enable them to concentrate, thus producing better outputs in a more reasonable period.
Still, be Comfortable
While it certainly does not reach the level of comfort afforded by dressing down, power dressing does not need to be restrictive and uncomfortable. It is thus a matter of choosing the right clothes that strike a balance between looking professional and being snugly fit.
Conclusion
Following dress codes at work is important not just because it is required based on the rules at work but also because it helps employees improve their work lives. Dressing the part at work helps make the employees look more presentable and boosts their confidence while still being comfortable. Check out Oxford’s collections for women’s workwear which can follow the dress codes while still ensuring comfort for the one wearing the clothes.