Back in July, The Week magazine ran an article about dressing down at work. Only 38% of employers allow casual dress today, vs. 53% in 2002.

I give several customer facing presentations every week, and often look odd in slacks and button down with a sweater where others are wearing shorts and t-shirts. My opinion is that if you aren't customer facing, then what you wear is between you and your peers, and in hierarchical organizations, between you and your manager.

For talking to customers my best advice is dress like an advisor. That doesn't always mean a tie, but a sport coat and a nice shirt and professional slacks and well-polished shoes is a sign that you care about your appearance, and will more likely care not only about what the client or customer thinks, but will care about what you say about the client or customer to others.

I know some very smart people who advise others and have a very quirky sense of style. I have to say that my eclectic advisors are seen in a very different light than my "professional" advisors. I love to chat with people of all backgrounds, but when trying to build trust, dressing in the right way is important.

Even at trade shows, and I have been to hundreds, I think those organizations who step up the dress, also give more credibility to the booth or presentation. Wear button-downs that fit. Don't skimp on size (many XL or XXL shirts really aren't when purchased from a trade show supplier - get cloths for your people that fit). Polo shirts are OK for some things, but I would advise against them for the trade show floor. You don't know who you are meeting, and not every one is going to meet an executive, but they should feel like they are being respected, and that they are meeting a professional - and they only way they can tell on a crowded show floor is to start with appearance.

Why is this important to the future of work? Because dress is a reflection of the attitude of the workforce, and more and more people become professionals, their education should include how to dress well, not just how to think well. You can still assert your own style, and you should, but build up from the basics, rather than building down.

Here's a link to one of image architect Sandy Dumont's entries on this topic if you want to explore it more.

Source: Blog
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