Whether you are transitioning to a new job or even just entering the workforce, you need to think about what you wear and how you present yourself. Dressing well is an art, and when you are selecting your outfits for the day, you will pause as you consider a pair of jeans. Many, many businesses these days ascribe to a business casual dress code, but does that mean that jeans are in? Consider the following before you decide.
Read the Dress Code
When you get the job, ask the recruiter if there is a dress code. A dress code may only be the two words, “business casual,” but in many cases, they will offer you some hints and guidelines. Just because you have dressed business casual in another office, do not assume that you know what it means in this one. Read the dress code carefully, because some places actively do ban jeans! This is an important thing to be aware of.
History
In general, over the past twenty years, jeans are not considered business casual. Business causal clothing includes skirts and khakis, but jeans are usually part of casual Fridays and things like that. However, the world is changing quickly, and there are many business that, while still calling themselves business casual, will generally have a laissez faire attitude towards what is worn as long as it is tidy and clean.
Remember that clothing norms change surprisingly quickly. For example, during the fifties, jeans were considered the sole province of blue-collar workers, and teens who wore them were defiant and dangerous. Styles and fashions change, and the best thing you can do is to be aware of them.
Get to Know Your Corporate Culture
It is always better to err on the side of caution before you venture into the water, suggests the Huffington Post. Jeans are practically the work uniform for some creative companies, but they are frowned on even when they are technically permitted in others. It seems unfair to say that you simply have to observe what others are doing and copy them, but this is generally the best option that is available to you in the long run.
Keep Them Nice
When you are thinking about jeans and wearing them to work, CNN cautions that you should choose only good jeans for the office. Even in offices where casual is key, remember that you still want to present yourself as someone who is tidy, organized and mature. This can be pretty hard to do if your knees are poking out of your jeans or if there is a lot of fray around the hems! Make sure that your jeans are in great shape if you are going to wear them to the office. That means no holes, good color, and a working fly and button.
Class It Up
Hollywood Blue Jeans says, “If you wonder if jeans are a possibility, test the waters by wearing a pair of new jeans with a relatively structured top. This means may mean a new button-up shirt instead of a polo shirt, or it might mean choosing a blouse rather than jersey shirt.” This is something that allows you to test the limits of your workplace’s tolerence, and it is also a great way to work out your own personal style. Remember that if the jeans are the most casual piece in your outfit, they are much more likely to go unnoticed.
Just Say No
If you are worried about whether jeans are acceptable at your new workplace, simply skip them for the time being. There will be enough opportunity later on to decide if they are a good fit for your workplace, so be patient. Choose something a little more formal and wait until you know for sure.
Jeans are a wonderfully versatile piece of clothing, and it can be quite handy to wear them when you are work. However, you do not want to jeapordize your standing or your position, so take it slow!
