You may wonder ‘What is the big deal about professional dressing? How is it different to my normal going out dressing? The truth is, business dressing is a completely different ball-game to say a weekend social dressing. No matter how snazzy a dresser you are, you may need to consider your work wardrobe if you want to be taken seriously as a professional.

Although an individual’s style, personal taste and fashion ultimately come into play when they turn out at social functions, it is important to consider what is appropriate over what is fashionable when dressing as a professional. In a society that places so much importance on dressing and the way people turn out, it is necessary to stress that the fashion trend that you adore may not be advisable when it comes to business.

Whilst it is expected you go to town with jewellery, make up, style and colours at an evening event, discretion is clearly needed when getting dressed for the office.

I often see career women at work, often in a front office role looking like they have just stepped out of Vogue magazine. The bling (jewellery) is outlandish, the hair immaculately coiffured and six inches Manolo style shoes. Whilst the dress sense of Nigerian and indeed African women is commendable, it is important for a professional to remember that the work place is a place for serious business and a corresponding dress code is required. I often pity the men when I consider the suggestive, hip-hugging, tight-fitting, cleavage-blearing attire some of our women wear to work.

Men also get things wrong in this department. Shiny, brown, snakeskin and sharp pointed shoes may be trendy for a weekend party but will certainly misrepresent you in the workplace. Your clients need the perception of a serious minded professional, not the hottest guy at the bar or a P-Diddy wannabe.

Sadly in life, we are judged by ephemeral things, not by the real value of a person which lies in their character. A client meeting you to discuss a million dollar deal may develop cold feet if your dressing presents you as clownish entertainer. In the same vein, for a woman, the idea of flaunting your cleavage could backfire if you are meeting a conservative business partner, male or female.

What to remember is that the office place is a business environment. The latest trend may therefore not suffice when cutting a business deal. Also a business professional must be ready at all times, as there may not be an opportunity to change into ‘a more appropriate outfit’. The following are suggestions and ideas:

• Cleavage, hot trends and loud colours are best left for the weekend.

• Keep a separate wardrobe for evening and social functions.

• Looking smart is what is necessary for business, not looking sexy.

• Your business counterpart must be able to hear what you say - your clothes shouldn’t be doing the talking.

• Black, dark brown, navy blue shoes are best for business for ladies.

• Open toe, strappy and embellished sandals are not advisable for business.

• Black women are often very curvy; however, curves are best kept under wraps during business hours.

• Women should consider their body shape when wearing trousers.

• Jewellery and make-up should be understated.

• For men, combine your ties, shirts and suits appropriately – no striped tie on striped shirt etc. - Black shoes is the business for men.

We all benefit when we do things right. 

Atinuke Badejo is a Principal Partner at the ParkRoyalFinishingSchool (www.lagosfinishingschool.com). She is also the publisher of Etiquette Bank 

(www.etiquettebank.com) 

Robot  # 1 | 13.08.2008 22:16

You may wonder ‘What is the big deal about professional dressing? How is it different to m...Read the full article.

philipikita  # 2 | 14.08.2008 00:43

Thank god I'm not a business man to become a slave of certain ways of dressing termed as "appropriate" or "professional". My professionallism lies in the quality of my work. I dress freely and I love the freedom to dress freely!

draftman  # 3 | 14.08.2008 11:46

@ author, What is looking smart? the promotion of eurocentric dressing is absurd. When are we going to start dressing our own africa way, afterall its match our tropical climate. Our forefathers know better when they design our style of clothing. We as pp has entrenched in euro style that we must dress like them orelse is not good enough. I realise that is the state of our polluted mind, but if we start the business world will realise and respect our way. The Indian women wear their native wear to the office, most middle eastern men wear their native to the office including banks, even the Hausa really wear the european attire, the rest of us are the slave to the euro mentality. If we wear our fathers african style, we would not have to worry about cleavage. on the other hand curves may get you some business if i am the customer :) Yes, they should consider their body, if it is good show tastefully, if it's not good, hide under iro. Stop euro style our weather is too hot for suit and tie.

atinuke  # 4 | 14.08.2008 14:31

=draftman;4295083472>@ author, What is looking smart? the promotion of eurocentric dressing is absurd. When are we going to start dressing our own africa way, afterall its match our tropical climate. Our forefathers know better when they design our style of clothing. We as pp has entrenched in euro style that we must dress like them orelse is not good enough. I realise that is the state of our polluted mind, but if we start the business world will realise and respect our way. The Indian women wear their native wear to the office, most middle eastern men wear their native to the office including banks, even the Hausa really wear the european attire, the rest of us are the slave to the euro mentality. If we wear our fathers african style, we would not have to worry about cleavage. on the other hand curves may get you some business if i am the customer :) Yes, they should consider their body, if it is good show tastefully, if it's not good, hide under iro. Stop euro style our weather is too hot for suit and tie. Draftman - I have read the article over several times and I can't find anywhere it suggested that business dressing equals European or Western dressing or that our African attire is not good enough for the office. There is not even the mention of a Western style suits. That was not the intention of the article. Rather, what it suggests is modesty when dressing for the office as oppossed to a social event. Rather than jump into a baseless conclusion, I will advise you read the article again.

fxo  # 5 | 15.08.2008 06:03

=draftman;4295083472>@ author, What is looking smart? the promotion of eurocentric dressing is absurd. When are we going to start dressing our own africa way, afterall its match our tropical climate. Stop euro style our weather is too hot for suit and tie. The Agbada was designed and perfected in Asia more than few thousand years ago. For people who lived in a windy, dusty and "chilly at night" enviroment Cannanites, Hittites, Ishmelites, Moabites and et al. The Ankara was invented in Europe and top quality once are produced in Austria, The Netherlands and India. considering that contact with this culture is less than a thousand years old, so its not appropriately a local attire. Lace -- is also traced to Asia and Europe during their colourful and cerimonious era.This days they are used for upolisery and drappery. "George" ( The delightful wrapper of the Niger Delta) - Was invented in India during the "Chandra Gupta Muria" age. It was first brought to Opobo and environ by British traders during the reign of King George IV ( The Locals named the style 'hat and all' after the British King 'George'). How functional is Agbada and wrapper in the work place? If we are talking of simplicity, where is the simplicity in Lace and George? Maybe one of the questions you should be asking is how seriously is anybody going to take you when you arrive at a business meeting looking dressed for a carnival'. _________________________ _________________________ =philipikita;4295083314> I dress freely and I love the freedom to dress freely! Freely or not, do away with 'appropraite' at your own peril.

FoxCatcher  # 6 | 15.08.2008 06:55

FXO. Thanks for that post. If we want to go back to our forbears, we may end up with loin clothes and what else.:D:rolleyes: The same applies to Westerners, Asians etc. Each civilisation develops by borrowing from the innovations of its neighbours as no one wants to re-invent the wheel. Why use western means of communications today??? :rolleyes: We had our 'local' communications before the 'oyinbos' came; lets stick with those:D:D Abegi, 'let your moderation be known to all' is still a wise saying. @Atinuke, Go on soun.... we (esp some of our ladies...:rolleyes:) need to hear these things. H/e, we do have some snappy dressers in 9ja o... d best (in my humble opinion). How some of our ladies manage to look so good on the shoe string budgets some live on never ceases to amaze me:icon_ques:icon_ques:D I guess its a reflection of that inherently innovative spirit that encapsules Nigerians (for good or bad:rolleyes:) Ciao