by Connie Rae

Created on: August 09, 2009   Last Updated: September 25, 2009

Work is many different things to many different people. The farmer going out to plant his crops, or who works for someone else in the field, wears very different clothes than the wall street executive walking into his high-rise office building.

The person working on their computer from home might be wearing pajamas (or less!) or comfortable sweats. This clothing would be out of place in an office setting.

What a person wears when going to work has more importance that simply the clothing they choose.

Most employers give at least some guidelines as to how they want their employees to look on the job. Many work settings have uniforms, or state what they want the employee to wear. But even within those parameters, there are some important things to consider when dressing to go to work.

1) What kind of job do you do? Are you alone in a backroom or warehouse area? Do you sit in a cubicle separated from everyone else? How much interaction do you have with other employees? What do they wear to work? What are the safety issues you need to be aware of? How much contact do you have with the general public or persons important to your employer?

2) What is comfortable to wear in my working environment? A three piece suit in a warm office may lead to heat stroke! A sleeveless dress may keep you shivering even on a hot summer day. If your work environment requires you to to be "dressed up," look for comfortable, loose fitting, but attractive clothing that presents your company , and yourself, well. If your company is more casual, then choose more casual, but comfortable attire.

3) Whatever you wear, it should be clean. Something spilled on a shirt at lunch may be understandable (and cleanable- carry Shout wipes with you, just in case) is different than dingy, wrinkled clothing with long term stains and rings around the collar and sleeves.

4) Clothing at work should be modest. This is not the place to parade breasts, behinds, and cleavage. Anything that causes people to notice your body parts distracts from the job at hand. There is plenty of opportunity for fashion statements in other areas of your life. Work should not be one of them.

5) Wearing perfumes or "splashes" that announce your presence may make you feel more feminine or masculine, but can offend others who must work beside you, or be an actual health hazard to persons with severe allergies. Go to work smelling clean and fresh, but without the "extras." And remember, body odor can be fixed. Use a good deodorant.

6) Perhaps the most important thing you can wear to work, and never go wrong, is a smile! Even in a somber work setting, a friendly and encouraging smile can make a difficult situation more bearable. A smile, and a good attitude are never wasted.

If you have questions about appropriate work clothing, it is always safe to ask your employer, or your supervisor, of perhaps the HR department. In this time of precarious work situations, do everything you can to conform to your employer's expectations.

You can never go wrong when you dress simply, modestly, and you "smell" clean. And, SMILE.

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