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Office Dress Code Do's and Don'ts

Help Your Staff Dress for Success

Office-appropriate fashion seems fairly obvious. So why do so many employees still make eyebrow-raising mistakes, especially during summer? The problem could be your company's dress code policy, or lack of one.

If you still don't have a policy, you're not alone: Plenty of companies -- especially those operating in small, casual, or creative environments -- are content to work without a formal dress code. That is, until the receptionist waltzes in one sweltering day in shorts, a tank top, and gladiator sandals.

To free your workplace from such unintended drama, consider drafting a detailed legal dress code policy. But even the best written policy can sometimes be vague or ambiguous. That's why we created this unique slideshow: to point out some common dress code don'ts, and offer simple fixes.

DRESS CODE DON'T: Too Much Leg

When the weather heats up, somebody always gets a little carried away and shows up at the office in shorts (or even worse, skimpy hot pants). Other summer wardrobe offenders to watch for include tank tops (men included), tube tops, sheer dresses, and micro-miniskirts.

Whether you helm a mom-and-pop shop or a multimillion-dollar enterprise, make sure employees understand summer is no excuse for a skinfest.

Spell out in your employee handbook what is acceptable and what is not, using as many details as possible (for instance, list specific types of clothing and specify how short is too short).

Warning: Instituting a specific dress code may elicit a few eye rolls from employees, but at least they'll understand your expectations.

DRESS CODE DO: Say Yes to Capris

Should female employees swelter in the woolen slacks they wore all winter? Of course not, especially if your office sets the temperature a little higher in July and August to save on energy bills.

Luckily, capris can look both fashionable and professional: a great compromise when the mercury begins to rise.

For men, Bermuda shorts may not make the cut -- depending on your corporate culture, they may be too casual. If it feels right, though, consider meeting somewhere in the middle and allowing Bermudas on Fridays in the summer.

DRESS CODE DON'T: Sport the Sloppy Look

Rumpled or torn clothing, partially untucked shirts, baggy-fit jeans, baseball caps -- when employees look this sloppy, it's almost like they're trying to make the business look bad.

Time to ban the "I just rolled out of bed" look and give employees (especially repeat offenders) specific guidelines for managing their appearance so it fits with your brand identity.

Remember, customers want to feel comfortable spending their hard-earned dollars at your place of business. That's difficult to do when the person helping them dresses like a hooligan.

DRESS CODE DO: Keep It Simple with Business Casual

We admit it: "Business casual" can conjure a plain-vanilla generic vibe (sensible khaki trousers, button-down shirt that is clean and pressed, matching shoes and belt).

But there's a reason that business casual has become a new workplace standard. It doesn't scare off potential customers or million-dollar clients. Even better, it shows that a tasteful office wardrobe can still be comfy and relaxed.

DRESS CODE DON'T: Bare the Midriff

Some female employees may be tempted to wear midriff-baring tops in the summer months. That's fine for evenings and weekends (on their own time), but bare bellies at work are a definite no-no.

Let employees know midriffs should stay where they belong: at poolsides, county fairs, and concerts, not by the copy machine.

If a specific employee has a problem, talk to her discreetly in private and get her to change her behavior without criticizing her style.

DRESS CODE DO: Cover Up

When even one employee dresses provocatively, it can lead to offensive or hostile comments from other employees -- and the last thing your business needs is a sexual harassment lawsuit.

At least the bare midriff has an easy fix: She just needs to add a little more fabric, and voila! She's got a business casual outfit that's both smart and stylish. As this top-and-vest combo shows, dressing fashionably for work (without overexposure) is possible and easy. And it keeps the whole team focused on work priorities, not one employee's midriff moment.

DRESS CODE DON'T: Flaunt Tattoos

Celebs like Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp may have upped the cool factor of tattoos, making them practically mainstream -- but that doesn't mean tatted-up employees are appropriate in the workplace.

Even if you sport tattoos yourself (that your employees don't know about), you should worry about the message it sends when employees flaunt their body art at work.

DRESS CODE DO: Keep Tats Under Wraps

Most business experts agree: Tattoos should be anything but visible in the workplace.

Keep in mind it's legal to ban visible tattoos in the workplace as long as they are secular and not religious in nature. Also, your official regulations must apply equally to both men and women.

On the plus side, bicep tats are easy to hide: All the employee needs are long sleeves.

DRESS CODE DON'T: Flash the Tramp Stamp

Ah, the lower back tattoo, lovingly known as the tramp stamp.

Most likely, these are covered by your dress code policy (phew!). But that doesn't mean they're always "covered."

We've all worked in offices where the tramp stamp unexpectedly blares into view, often unbeknownst to its owner as she bends over to retrieve a file. Even if it's not on purpose, it's simply not acceptable.

DRESS CODE DO: Stamp Out the Tramp Stamp

Shirts that tuck in, blazers, dresses, higher-rise slacks -- with a few small wardrobe modifications, even a sprawling lower back tattoo can be 100 percent hidden.

But out-of-sight in most situations isn't good enough here. Tramp stamp coverage must also pass the "reaching down to pick something up" test.

Next time a new hire joins the team, prevent a tat flash from the get-go by communicating your dress code policy on day one.

DRESS CODE DON'T: Brandish the Hardware

When body jewelry -- like ear spacers, nose rings, and assorted piercings -- adorns an employee's face, it's virtually impossible to hide it.

Like tattoos, facial piercings are often still viewed as distracting and unprofessional. If you fear they're detracting from your business's image, consider your options: You can ban them completely or limit the number of piercings per employee. You can also consider whether said employees interact with customers or not.

Just remember, any policy you enact must not discriminate against a particular gender or religious group.

DRESS CODE DO: Lose It or Leave It

Some employers, such as Trader Joe's, are known to be accepting of multiple piercings and body jewelry. If that's too casual an approach for you, detail your piercings policy in your employee handbook and require offending employees to remove the adornments when in the office.

Best case: They follow the new rules (even if grudgingly).

Worst case: You could lose creative contributors or stellar recruits who feel suffocated by your regulations.

How best to handle these issues depends on the business you're in, who your employees are, who your customers are, and what kind of image you're trying to project. Our advice, unless you know what you're doing, is "Better safe than sorry."

Wireless Business Solution Zee Tawasha