Fashion is a great way to express your individuality. Throughout your whole life, you will buy clothing items from various brands and try out different styles. Experimenting with different looks is always going to be fun, but that is an activity that you should save for your personal life. If you’re about to start working in finance, you will need to stop thinking of fashion as a way to express your individuality. Instead, you should view it as a business communication tool.
Transitioning from college to a job in finance can be pretty tough. Nearly every new recruit will struggle with crafting their professional image. You may feel out of place in the beginning, but remember that you will get the hang of it soon enough. You just have to learn what works in finance as far as fashion is concerned. Here are some of the biggest do’s and don’ts regarding fashion and finance.
Be Yourself
Just because you won’t be able to wear a lot of different clothing items doesn’t mean that you should stop expressing your individuality through fashion. When you’re shopping for new clothes don’t buy something just because it would be appropriate for the workplace – get it because you really like it. Being limited to a certain set of items isn’t a bad thing and shouldn’t make your appearance dull. There are still plenty of ways that you can show your personality through business attire.
Don’t Become Too Comfortable
You should never become too comfortable, even if you’re doing great at your job and have even made a lot of friends during your first few months at the company. Just because you’re relaxed doesn’t mean that your wardrobe should be too. Remember that all the other people were dressing appropriately when you started off, and that made a positive impact on you. So, the best thing that you can do is continue respecting the dress code and set an example for all the future recruits.
Don’t Be Too Trendy
Although it’s great to follow trends and wear new items, it’s important not to be too trendy. In other words, you should definitely follow trends but just don’t try to wear them all in one day.
Do Assess the Situation
In case you’ve already landed a job in finance, it means that you know how to make a good first impression and that you wore the right outfit the interview. Nevertheless, there are countless days of going to work ahead of you and you need to have a wardrobe prepared for every situation.
The general rule is that you should dress nicely but not make any loud statements. For example, if you want to wear a nice watch, make sure that it isn’t too flashy. Instead, you can get a chronograph watch that is perfect for the corporate world. It will be noticeable, but it won’t make a loud statement.
It’s also important to note that you shouldn't spend budget you set aside for clothing before you start your job. During the first few days at work, it’s recommended that you figure out what’s appropriate for your firm. Watch how the majority dresses and get something similar. Keep in mind that you can also ask your colleagues about what is and isn’t appropriate to wear at work.
Do Make Sure the Fit Is Right
It goes without saying that both men and women should avoid wearing any type of oversized clothing. Keep in mind that wearing an oversized clothing item will look sloppy and unprofessional. Nevertheless, it’s also important to note that the clothing isn’t provocative or suggestive in any kind of way. This is especially related to women, who should avoid wearing tight fitted clothes if they’re working in finance.