Getty Images
Five Things You Should Never EVER Wear to Work (and by "work" I mean "any setting in which you will be representing yourself as a professional with specific expertise in your field").
1. Flip flops. I love flip flops, particularly for summer, but they are not appropriate for the office. Nicer flip flops--made of leather, say, or even those pretty ones with the ribbon straps--are fine for weekends or evenings, but never for work. And those rubbery ones from Target should not EVER be worn outside the house. EVER.
2. Visible underwear. I don't mean visible panty lines (although that's something to avoid as well); I mean high waisted underpants with a low-waisted trouser or skirt, or -- even worse -- a thong peeking out of the top of your pants. If you opt for pants with a lower rise (which I am all in favor of, by the way) please PLEASE put on some panties that fit properly. The same goes for your bra--straps should stay under cover during the day, and NO ONE should see the pretty lace detail on the front.
3. Visible stomach. I don't care how fantastic your stomach looks, unless you are a belly dancer, exposing it during the work day is not professional. By the same token, your shirt should touch your waistband in the back when you sit down. This is where I find most women falling down. When you're putting together an outfit, do everything you will be doing at work. Stand, sit, bend over, reach up. Be sure that your top and bottom meet in the middle all the time.
4. Shorts. Yes I know that longer "city" shorts are big just now and yes I know that you can buy shorts SUITS, but I'm putting my foot down here. Shorts are casual wear, no matter what you make them out of, and they are not appropriate for work (unless you are a park ranger or a camp counselor). For hot days, go with a skirt or dress or cropped pants, but do not wear shorts to the office.
5. Jangly jewelry. Charm bracelets are lovely, but if yours is particularly noisy, or if it is going to clank against your laptop when you type, think twice about wearing it to work. The clink clink of your bling will distract potential clients from the brilliance of your mind and your presentation, and may drive whoever sits in the next cubicle batty.
Easy enough! Right? Right. Now what are YOUR Office Don'ts?
Susan Wagner blogs about putting together a great work wardrobe that fits your life at The Working Closet, and dishes out fashion advice for the yoga pants generation at Friday Style.
