Work attire and fashion can vary significantly, especially between industries. Regardless of what you do or wear for work, there are tons of ways to improve your style and appearance. You don’t need to look like you’re on a runway when you’re working on a roof, but adding a personalized touch to a uniform can make you feel unique. Expressing yourself with fashion and style can also help you gain confidence. If you’re stumped on how to customize your uniform, wardrobe, or suit, learn some practical and fashionable advice most pros recommend for men.
Accessorize Your Uniform
Sometimes, accessories make the outfit. If you’re limited on what you can wear due to formality or safety rules, accessories are your only option. Add a patch or pin to any part of your uniform to stand out and express yourself subtly. Patches can be adhesive for easy removal when needed. Work-appropriate jewelry, such as a nice watch, ring, or bracelet, can make you appear sophisticated and stylish. Choosing a pocket watch with a chain over a dress shirt or vest can make you look classy and luxurious. Even a decent leather belt can show you care about your appearance and wardrobe. Scarves, socks, ties, or bowties can be subtle but extravagant ways to make any outfit stand out. Your bag or briefcase can also make a statement when your wardrobe can’t. When in doubt, check with your supervisor to determine what accessories are allowed.
Combine Safety and Style
You don’t have to sacrifice your style in order to wear safety gear or a work uniform. Consider accessorizing or personalizing your wardrobe or uniform with safety in mind. You can still wear high-visibility gear in any shirt type or cut, including ones with fun logos or stylish patterns. Armed American Supply long-sleeve t-shirts are a great example of high-visibility shirts with slogans. You can add reflective patches to other accessories or clothing to increase their safety and visibility. Safety vests can include custom texts or patches as well. You can decorate a hard hat with decals. Come up with some unique ways to style your uniform without compromising on safety.
Tailoring Makes a Difference
Regardless of what you have to wear for work, the fit is important. Overly baggy shirts or skin-tight pants can reveal more than you’d like. Improperly-fitted clothes won’t be as comfortable during a workday, and you may not appear as professional. Make sure your clothes are well-tailored for you. Measure your body and use size charts if you’re unsure what size to buy. Try on different sizes to make sure the clothing is comfortable. Certain garments will have different fits; fitted or slim styles will have a tighter look, while regular should be a happy medium. As a general tailoring rule, collars shouldn’t be choking you, but they also shouldn’t hang low; two fingers should fit comfortably between your neck and a buttoned collar. Shirts should be long enough to tuck but not long enough to cause bunching. Cuffs should allow a watch to fit comfortably, and sleeves shouldn’t go longer than the base of the thumb. Blazer seams should fit on your shoulders and never slope downwards. Buttons shouldn’t gape or strain.
Use an Accent Color
You may be limited to the types of colors you can wear, and that’s fine! Sometimes, a subtle accent color can add expression without detracting from a wardrobe. However, be certain to ask permission before altering an official uniform or dress code. Consider a vibrant pattern or color on your tie, socks, shoelaces, or anywhere you can showcase a small, subtle area of color to complement the rest of your attire. Even a watch wristband or belt can showcase an interesting pattern or color. Don’t go too vibrant, however. When choosing a yellow accent, neon yellow will be too obvious and clashing—choose a subtler, golden yellow instead.
Trailblaze with Blazers
A blazer can spruce up any work outfit. A well-fitted blazer shows professionalism and style without compromising on the comfort or flexibility of the rest of your uniform. If you have to mix field work or hard labor with customer service and office work during your work day, comfortable clothes for the field and a blazer for office work can do nicely. You can remove the blazer when it’s time to do the “dirty” work if needed. Blazers should be well-tailored and neutral in color and pattern in most workplaces.
Combine Pieces
You don’t need to purchase a new outfit for every day of the week. Buy a few pairs of pants, shirts, blazers, and ties, and mix them up—combine the pants with different shirts for a new look without shelling out too much money. Clothes with neutral color palettes work great for mixing and matching. Swapping out a dress shirt or blazer can completely change an outfit!
Neat and Tidy
Your style isn’t just about what you wear; it’s also about how you wear it. You could walk into the office in the finest tailored suit and still look unrefined if you don’t take care of the garments. Make sure your clothes are regularly cleaned and free of wrinkles. A five-minute ironing or steaming session can make most garments look neat and tidy. If your dress shirt is riddled with wrinkles, you may want to consider remedying that. Blazers may require professional dry cleaning, but many brands allow for gentle washes and steam sessions. Pay attention to care tags!
Fraquoh and Franchomme
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