Executive Makeovers

  • Shilpy Arora / FG
  • India
  • Apr 07, 2014

 

 

Everybody wants to look good – and not just at a party. A greater significance is now being given to dressing at the workplace (and not just by women). The way people dress for office has seen a major transition. For women, simplicity and modesty were the earlier ‘themes’ – they preferred high collars, long tops and full-sleeved sari blouses; their hands and legs were always well covered. Today, office wear follows a different fashion statement. However, comfort is still the most important consideration that is influencing the trends at the workplace.

30-year-old Siddharth, Wealth Manager at Axis Bank says, "Formal wear certainly commands a lot of respect. I mostly wear a white shirtand black trousers, as my work demands it. Being a banker for the last 10 years I feel that clients - be they corporate or individuals - take you ‘seriously’ only when you are dressed ‘professionally’. People are uncomfortable with those who are ‘casual’. Misguided wardrobe choices could be distracting.”  An HR professional at Aricent, Sukhna Makhija, 40, who is extremely style conscious and always wears business attire, says, "I interact with a lot of people on a daily basis and it makes perfect sense for me to dress up elegantly. Moreover, wearing the right brand is important. I do most of my shopping from Armani, Gucci, Versace and Aldo. I always make sure that my footwear and accessories match my attire." For Ashita Modi, 20, a young professional working at Bloomberg Institution, it is more about dressing in a stylish, subtle and comfortable manner. "The first impression is the last impression. It pays to be well-dressed all the time, as ‘competition’ is increasing at the workplace by the day. Being from the corporate world, I can vouch for the significance attached to formal wear." Ashita also gives importance to ‘co-ordination’: the right belts, ties, shoes and socks with her formal dresses. For her, a right pair of heels reflects well if a person has good dress sense.


 

Office-perfect Look

Many companies are working with Image Consultants to set guidelines for their employees – on clothing, make-up, hairstyles and the overall look that they should carry at the work place. A City-based Image Consultant, Bhumika Mitra, who has been providing consultancy to many MNCs for the ‘right’ Corporate Dressing, says, "You don't need to give too much emphasis to brands. You should rather opt for something that suits your style and gives you the right fit. I think that Indians need to learn a lot from the West. Look at the way the Italians dress for work - it looks effortless, yet is elegant and neat." She suggests that men need to dress ‘neat’, as unlike women they can't carry big accessories to ‘cover up‘, say, a non-creased shirt. Another point that men should keep in mind is to always have the sleeves of their shirts tucked, while in the office. Besides clothes, footwear is extremely important. It is appropriate to wear closed footwear, which completely covers your toes. Obviously, women have more options - even when it comes to ‘official’ wear. Bhumika feels that while skirts, business suits and dresses are acceptable, the length of the dress should be odest. "Even in the West, wearing any ‘revealing’ outfit in an office setting is a strict no-no," she says. She adds that the way the workforce of a company is dressed represents its culture and ideology. For instance, the Taj Group of Hotels wants to give a message to its guests that the company is Indian. That is why the women employees, especially at the front desk area, wear saris. Other companies, who claim that they are (or wish to be) ‘global’, want to have a blend of Indian and Western dress culture. A universally accepted business attire is therefore preferred. "It is important to make people, especially your co-workers, take you seriously.  It is good that companies here also want to project their employees as global workers - with no fixed nationality. The conventional shirt and trouser, or a skirt and top, ‘shows’ you are at par with your co-workers overseas," feels Ashita.

Despite the focus of global/international companies on formal wear, some believe that comfort must play the major role in deciding on a wardrobe. It is believed that the 'shirt and trouser' dress code is a legacy of the colonial era, and we should get more ‘practical’ now; there should be emphasis on a combination of chic style and comfort. Gagan Sachdeva, 48, Vice President, MKM Solutions, says, "Things have changed over the years. Till a few years ago, attending a corporate meeting in a half-sleeved shirt was considered inappropriate. But now it has become a common sight, as they are very comfortable in a hot and humid place like Gurgaon. I prefer wearing ‘half sleeves’ as they are not only easy on the body but are also ‘different’." MKM Solutions is even encouraging its employees to wear a more ‘vibrant’ look; they want their people to feel ‘good’ at the workplace. And surely Individuality should be a major part of a ‘perfect office wear’. Bhumika agrees, "We need to get out of the ‘colonial’ way of dressing. It is time to say goodbye to black pants and white shirts. Men should wear grey pants with red and blue checked ties! Women should give more emphasis to accessories. A double strand of pearls can be worn even with formal wear, to break the ‘monotony’. They can wear their favourite knee-length dress to work, by pairing it with a chic white or black jacket, to ‘tone it down’ - without compromising on the style. A white leather belt is perfect to give an ‘ideal corporate look’. You need to be at least a little experimental, maybe depending on the need and occasion."  

Of course this ‘unofficial dress code’ has not yet been welcomed by some. For them, business attire may ‘seem’ to be stuffy or old-fashioned, but this look is ‘necessary’. They believe that a ‘professional’ wear at the workplace makes the best impression. Professionals however believe that the ‘fine line’ that divided formal wear from semi-formal and casual wear is fast disappearing.

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