A collector of twentieth-century clothing, Barbara Dickstein, once said, “Clothing, more than anything else – more than furniture, more than jewelry – clothing, represents a person. Clothing is always a symbol of who you are. It tells your status, role in life, and social position.”
Many can agree and relate that clothing is a form of representing oneself, and many have the privilege to dress to express themselves creatively through their outfits. Still, there are circumstances where fashion creativity is restricted, especially in the workplace.
Although men have their share of dress codes to follow for professional attire, the dress code for women is deemed more strict.
A woman’s professional attire has always impacted how they are perceived in the workplace.
The dress code for women in professional jobs varies depending on the industry and company. However, some general guidelines exist, such as conservative attire, neutral colors and the limitation of makeup and jewelry.
Women are presumed to fulfill each expectation of this strict wardrobe to fit into the professional work attire status quo.
Unprofessional business attire for women could include but is not limited to miniskirts, tight clothing, anything showing cleavage or stilettos. These restrictions are made to prevent women from being sexualized in the workplace. Studies have shown that sexualized body parts are more likely to be gazed at when a woman wears revealing clothing than in conservative attire.
The same research studies revealed that if women are sexualized in the workplace, they are perceived as less honest and trustworthy, but women dressed more masculinely are more likely to be taken seriously.
Although the dress code already seems to be demanding in the sense of muting colors, fashion and makeup for the workplace, throughout time, it has been shown that office environments are starting to be lenient on dress codes for the sake of being comfortable in the midst of work creating a healthier work environment.
SalmaPaola Baca is a contributor and may be reached at [email protected].
