FashBlog.com

By Brandi M. Seals

While it may seem unfair, we are judge every day by our appearance. This is especially true at work. If you dress too casually you will be seen as too unorganized. If you are over dressed it may send the signal that you are pretentious and uptight. It is not fair, but it is reality.

Dressing appropriately is a must if you want to get ahead and be taken seriously. But, that can be difficult due to the sometimes vague language used in dress codes or the lack of any dress code. What is acceptable varies widely depending on the job. The following, however, are rarely acceptable and should be avoided.

1.)Smells
All smells should be kept in check. If you love your perfume that is great but do not drown your coworkers in it. Some people have allergies to smells and smelling someone before you can see them is very off-putting. Keep all scents to a minimum. If you accidentally put too much one, use some rubbing alcohol to lift up the scent where you sprayed it.

2.) Showing too Much Skin
Cleavage should be kept to a minimum and shorts or skirts should stop very close to the knee. No one needs to see the majority of your breasts. A little cleavage peeking out the top is fine, but otherwise keep the girls under wraps. Too often women march around in tiny skirts and shorts that just are not appropriate. For most jobs men should wear pants. If shorts are permissible make sure they are in good condition, fit well, and end near the knee.

3.) Bad Hair
Messy hair looks unkempt and gives off on unprofessional vibe. Go to the salon regularly to keep the hair under control. Also use styling products to keep the hair from going crazy during the day. Men also need to make sure facial hair is trimmed and kept neat.

4.) Wearing Clothes that do not Fit
All too often people end up in ill-fitting clothes. Maybe they are hand-me-downs or store bargains or maybe some of us just do not know what fits. Ill-fitting clothes make anyone look disheveled and unprofessional. Steer clear of clothes that are too tight, too loose, to long or too short.

Avoid any unsavory perceptions by making sure your clothes work for you. It is rare to find a piece that fits perfectly, instead of wearing it as is, get a tailor to fix it for you. Always fit the largest part of your body and have the tailor shrink the rest to fit you.

5.) Visible Piercing and Tattoos
You may love your nose piercing, but your boss may not. Any visible piercings and tattoos tend to give the wrong impression. If you have facial piercings, remove them for work. If you have visible tattoos, try to cover them. There are few jobs where these are seen as appropriate now. However, things may change in the future.

There have been lawsuits lately that are fighting discrimination for tattoos and piercings. A large wholesales club was recently sued by a member of "the Church of Body Modification." The girl complained that the club's policy of no facial piercings was unfair.

The wholesaler won because the piercing removal was for sanitation reasons while working with food. But, employers not involved in food handling may not have a reason to keep piercings out.

6.) Makeup
Too much or too little makeup can be seen as inappropriate. Try to keep makeup natural looking. Save the cat eyes for the night time. In addition to wearing too much makeup or brightly colored makeup, no makeup can send the wrong message. It seems archaic this day in age, but women without makeup still seem unprofessional to some.

If you just do not want to wear makeup, there may be hope. Recently a female employee at a casino challenged the casino's dress code policy that required all females to wear makeup. The women lost the case in a federal appeals court; however she has brought attention to this situation. She has done a lot to show that forcing women to cover their faces in makeup is based on a gender stereotype and it should be unlawful.