August 28, 2008 10:34 AM

You can't wear that here
Posted by Jesse Nunesat 10:34 AM

The workplace dress code. It varies from job to job, industry to industry, region to region.

I've worked in some places where a baseball cap, jeans, and sandals were not only accepted, but expected. I've also worked in offices where you stood out like a sore thumb if you didn't have a tie on.

You never really know what the allowable attire is until you have a few days in the office. Now, for pretty much every job, going to a job interview in anything less than your Sunday best is not advised... you want to suit up for that first impression. You should always dress much better for the interview than you would if you're working there day to day.

But what about after the interview, after you get that job, when you are given your cubicle or workspace and want to blend in with the rest of your co-workers? I've found it's probably best to overdress the first week and then slide into the status quo once you get a better feel for the style of the office.

Because in almost every office there are rules. Most of the time they're unspoken, but you know they exist. For example, most jobs probably don't have to say that it's inappropriate to come to work dressed only in a smock (see video at right). It's just one of those things that don't have to be said.

However, many other times the rules are a lot more murky, and you may not know you've made a workplace fashion faux-pas until it's too late. Shorts in the summer? Come on, man, this is a respectable accounting firm! A sweater vest? Geez, Louise, how can you paint in that thing? An orange pant-suit? Betty, we own a cranberry bog, not an orange juice press!

So, what is the dress code -- spoken or unspoken -- at your job? What do most people wear to work? What would be considered "crossing the line?" Do you have any examples of someone who made a horrible wardrobe mistake at your job?

Share your workplace wardrobe do's and don'ts in our discussion forum.