Fashion Statements That Won’t Work at Work

Survey shows how clothing choices affect promotion prospects

In a survey from OfficeTeam, 80% of executives interviewed said clothing choices affect an employee’s chances of earning a promotion, and respondents gave some pretty hilarious examples of outfits that missed the mark.

The good news for the wardrobe-challenged is that proper attire may carry less weight than it did six years ago: 93% of executives surveyed in 2007 tied professional wear to advancement prospects. Among those respondents, 33% said clothing significantly affects a person’s chances of moving up the ladder, versus just 8% who feel this way today.

Managers also were asked to recount the strangest outfits they have heard of or seen someone wearing to work, not in observance of Halloween. Following are some examples:

• A dinosaur costume
• Pajamas
• Parachute pants
• A chicken suit
• Coveralls
• A space suit
• Studs and motorcycle gear
• A wolf mask

These professionals got creative with their clothing combinations:

• A T-shirt, tie, and flip-flops
• Short pants and a winter jacket
• One red sock and one white sock
• Tennis shoes and men’s knicker pants
• Shorts and house slippers
• A red suit with sporty footwear

Others donned apparel that left little to the imagination:

• A see-through dress
• Fishnet stockings and stilettos
• A bathing suit
• A tube top
• A backless shirt

This gear was more appropriate for the gym than the workplace:

• A muscle shirt
• A sweat suit
• Yoga pants
• Very tight bike shorts

These outfits just didn’t make the “cut”:

• Torn jeans
• A vest with a big hole in the back
• A T-shirt with cut-off sleeves

And the following getups might be viewed as fashion faux pas both in and out of the office:

• Saggy pants
• Sandals with socks
• Flood pants