First impressions count!

The topic for today is “dress code”.

Task 1

Read the text below to get the general idea:

Although a widely-used proverb claims that people should not judge others by appearances, it is a common habit to do it. The saying is especially relevant in the world of business, where professionals are expected to dress in an appropriate way because their looks speak for themselves and their style of clothing reflects the corporate image. To help employees navigate through various social or business situations, a set of particular standards, unique for a given company, is needed. Such guidelines are usually referred to as a dress code. By definition, it is a list of rules regarding clothing in the workplace. In other words, a dress code imposes some limitations on employees on what to wear or not to wear to the office. In short, for male managers experts recommend dark suits, white shirts with ties and elegant shoes. For female executives smart trouser suits with elegant blouses plus high-heeled smart shoes will be very appropriate for business meetings.

Depending on the amount of the employee-client interaction, the dress code may be very strict on weekdays or less formal on the so called dress-down (or casual) Fridays, for instance. The code may be written or not, but everybody should know it and follow it, since clothes convey various signals not only about your position within a company but also about your social status and cultural identity.