Eight thoughts about dressing to work in India
Vaidehi Mehta
Over an eclectic career spanning some thirty years, I’ve had several people ask me about what is considered appropriate dressing for work. From my role as an agony aunt, teacher, and manager, and some serious arguments about “appropriate” with people older and younger than I, I’ve put together the answers to eight questions that cover almost anything you may want to know about how to dress for the office.
Like everything else that has evolved over the years, in India too, rules about office-wear are so much more relaxed now than they were twenty, even ten, years ago. Then, full-sleeves-and-tie for the guys, and starched-pleated-and-pinned sarees for women were de rigueur even at middle management levels. Though these were not the most comfortable options, we accepted them. These “rules” did not impact our lives in any significant way.
No longer. People and offices have let their hair down about rules in general, including the dress-code. Thank God for the greater freedom, including the freedom to wear what you like. More natural and all that. It literally is “lighten up” and “loosen up”.
Yet, there are companies even today that have strict rules about what to wear and how to wear it. Some even have rules about how long your sideburns can be and the state of your beard. If you wear a beard, keep it nicely trimmed or you’ll find yourself walking to the washroom, razor and shaving cream in hand. Stuffy? I guess, but there you have it.
1. Is a dress code necessary? #
No.
However, offices do expect you to be appropriately dressed. Every office wants to project a certain image, at least when it faces its customers. It depends on the kind of work you do. Client-facing people need the spit and polish. The well-groomed, buttoned-up image. Perhaps because they are supposed to show the world that they are smart and professional and know what they are doing.
It’s not so strict for the guys in the back office. Or in the digital marketing world. Here, employers are more easy-going when it comes to dressing. So go ahead and dress casual.
2. How casual can casual dressing be? #
That depends on where you work.
The more formal offices think casual is tie and jacket. The laid back ones will not even shrug if you turn up in shorts and t-shirt.
Shorts and t-shirt work fine as long as they don’t look like you just rolled out of bed. Facebook lets you walk in in your pajamas; Mark Zuckerberg arrived for his IPO in a hoodie. Google simply has a 4-word policy: You must wear clothes.
Here, in India, unless the guys who hired you really, really don’t care, I’m not sure wearing Hawaiian shirts and baggy-saggy, multi-pocketed shorts with flip-flops to work is a great idea. You could save them for the beach. For that matter, I wouldn’t recommend that you show up in your sweats or gym socks and shoes either. I mean, why would you wear your gym-wear to your place of work. (Unless it has a gym attached so you can take a break and break a sweat.)
3. What about jeans? #
By all means.
Jeans have already become the default piece of clothing for everyone today. Skinny ones, baggy ones, blue ones, frayed ones, ripped ones — we see them all. As long as the skinny ones don’t split where they shouldn’t, the baggy ones don’t fall off, and the rip and fray on your jeans are “in” and “cool” and do not display your underwear or hairy legs, you’ll pass muster.
You might consider investing in a pair of sharp blue jeans that will work even when meeting a client.
4. Are shorts and vests ok to go to work in? #
No.
Underwear is exactly that: meant to be worn under your clothes. I doubt you will score any points if you turn up in your boxers and vest or knickers and boob-tube.
Ditto for the short shorts, mini skirts, lungis and the like.
5. Do women have to wear western clothes to click? #
Certainly not.
Women in more formal lines of work have taken to wearing western clothes. News readers on national television wear power suits. This move towards western clothes is but natural given the greater exposure and access to western styles and international brands via the internet and overseas travel, and the ease of online shopping.
Indian and Indo-western garments work very well as office-wear; there is a multitude of options and brands to choose from. Whether you choose Indian or western garments, as long as they suit you, fit well and are not too “loud”, go for it.
6. Are sarees too formal for a digital agency? #
I’ve heard them say it’s unwieldy, cumbersome and not as comfortable as say, a pair of jeans and a t shirt.
Perhaps.
Yet, the saree is a timeless classic that works for almost every Indian woman. No matter what your shape is, the greatest plus of this graceful and versatile garment is that it covers a multitude of sins. And they are making a big comeback as office-wear what with the 100-saree challenge and all.
7. What about footwear? #
Comfort is the most important measure of good footwear. Steve Jobs started the casual trend by walking barefoot in office.
It won’t hurt if comfortable footwear also look good. Invest in a good pair of shoes in black or tan (ladies, read sandals, too, please). It’s worth it. As I said before, save your flip-flops for the beach. Or the loo. Or for that quick run to buy groceries or veggies.
8. And accessories? #
Guys - check belt, wallet, shoes and kerchief - you’d be surprised that people notice these things. A nice watch will work well too, if you are the man-jewellery type.
Girls - all of the above and smart or funky jewellery that doesn’t scream Bling! Or blind those around you.
This said… #
You decide where you want to work. Look around and observe what the others in the office are wearing. That’s a good starting point. If the place has a dress code, stick to it. There will always be some who will buck the system and thumb their noses at “rules”, it’s smarter to toe the line and conform.
Is there an alternative? Of course there is. Find another job.
Vaidehi Mehta is our “propah” Content Strategist. She spends her time at Influx curating content, editing copy, and correcting everyone’s English.