The Filipino career-seeker has developed a habit of being complacent with following colloquially-established principles of business attire. This is just fine because these principles take into consideration that we are in a tropical country. After all, we rarely – if ever – see either job applicants or professionals walking around in full suits.
However, the Filipino career-seeker has not been exposed to the idea of being judged by more than the kind of clothes she or he wears. Far more than categorical compliance with the standards of each piece of clothing, how these clothes compliment the wearer’s features will have a tremendous effect. Even a person wearing only a properly-fitted buttoned long-sleeved shirt with a tie and trousers will look more respectable and have more of an impact than someone wearing a full suit that doesn’t fit right.
Apart from fit, there are other considerations like the colors and patterns of business attire, as well as the propriety of different accessories. Dig into each of these aspects, and be on the way to mastering the professional look. Oh, and remember the only ground rule here: clothes and accessories do not define the professional. Instead, they are enhancing complements to a person who grooms and carries herself or himself professionally.
1. Grooming – Hygiene must be the number one concern for career-seekers and professionals. Cleanliness reflects on appearance. The senses and the brain are hard-wired to connect untidiness with unreliability; someone who cannot maintain a clean appearance cannot be trusted with more complicated responsibilities. Hair of any length can be made to look neat as long as it has been washed, dried and styled properly. Ensure that it is not getting in the way of the face; short styles can be styled as is, while longer styles – for both women and men – can be combed back or tied neatly.
Blemishes like fresh wounds or acne are a real possibility; take care of them so they heal quickly and try not to irritate them so that they won’t be noticed. Keep the hands clean and trim long fingernails, and ladies who want to color their nails can do so provided that the color is not too eye-catching. For the most part, wearing perfume or cologne is fine but try to keep it subtle and use just the right amount.
2. Top clothing – The best option is always the button-down long-sleeved business dress shirt (for men) or a similar blouse (for women). A relaxed fit that’s not baggy and loose will produce the best results. Try to find dress shirts or blouses that fit well on the shoulders and the neck, since those are the parts that are almost impossible for a tailor to alter.
The neck of the dress shirt or blouse must have enough room to insert 2 fingers while it’s being worn with the neck button fastened. The shoulder seam must correspond exactly with the corner of the wearer’s shoulder. The shirt must be long enough to be tucked into the trousers without being pulled out by slight movements. And yes, this is non-negotiable: the shirt or blouse MUST be tucked into the trousers. The sleeves should reach the base of each hand and be narrow enough so that the cuffs must be unbuttoned for the hands to go through. Make sure that the fit is just right around the upper body and waist; there should be 1-2 inches of room to pull when the shirt or blouse is fully buttoned.
When it comes to shirt or blouse color, white is the most professional choice. Light blue is an alternative, while pastel colors like lavender, light yellow and light pink can convey a youthful personality. Black shirts and blouses, and darker shades of basic colors in general, will make the wearer look like a bar-hopper and should thus be avoided. Striped or checkered patterns are acceptable, as long as the background color is still conservative and the pattern is small enough; thicker stripes or big checker patterns will look too casual.
And please, ALWAYS wear a t-shirt underneath the dress shirt or blouse. The best color for the t-shirt is a shade of gray that closely matches the wearer’s skin tone, so that it is not too obviously seen from under the sleeve of the dress shirt or blouse.
3. Suit jackets, waistcoats or both (optional) – Because of the Philippine climate, applicants are not really expected to wear a suit unless specified by the person who set the interview appointment. Professionals are also only required to wear suits for very special events at work. When in doubt, clarify with the company being applied to or do some research on the dress code of the company.
When needed, the suit jacket (colloquially and incorrectly known as a coat) and waistcoat (also known as a vest) are complementary garments with situational usefulness for both women and men. As part of an actual suit, both of these garments together can be used to show a level of confidence and attention to detail – provided that the venue has an appropriate temperature.
Separately, either the jacket or the waistcoat can be used to make interview or office attire more formal. Since we are a tropical nation, it may be best to carry the jacket when outdoors and put it on only when stepping into the office.
Blazers and sports jackets are very similar to the suit jacket in basic design and purpose. The difference is that the suit jacket belongs to a whole suit while blazers and sports jackets do not have matching trousers. Despite this, blazers and sports jackets can be used similarly to the suit jacket to add a level of formality to business attire.
Other kinds of outer layers like plain-colored sweater vests and cardigans are usually acceptable, but as always the safest option is to research the dress code followed by the target company.
Still with us so far, career-seekers? Remember to drop by this post on our Facebook page if you have questions or if you would like to start a discussion. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this guide that’s sure to have you dressing like the professional you’re meant to be!