Your coworkers want to hear how awesome the music festival was, not see evidence of it. (Our take? It depends on where you work.) Some would argue that even spunky ponytails undermine your professionalism. Too-cute hairstyles. Pigtails have no place in a formal environment.Get a blow-dryer or shower at night, but don’t show up to the office looking like a swamp animal. Even if you keep it minimal (a slick of mascara, a hint of lip color), a bit of makeup shows that you’re making an effort. The more formal your work environment, the more natural your makeup should be. Clean, bare nails are perfectly fine if you don’t want to bother with nail polish. Nothing screams “unprofessional” like a two-week-old manicure. Get your heels shined, polished, and re-soled when necessary. We think they’re cool, but your corporate clients probably won’t. Your outfit should make a subtle statement-not a literal one. If you’re teetering or can’t walk by the end of the day, they’re too high. You might love your worn-in cardigan, but you don’t want to look like a stray cat, do you?

Some things-like the color of your lingerie-should remain a mystery to your coworkers. It may sound old-school, but the corporate world looks down on skirts that hit much above the knee.

If you’re bordering on cleavage, retreat and reassess. Forgive us if some of them seem obvious, but we can all use a little reminder once in a while.īehold, our list of common style faux pas: Clothing As you build your work wardrobe and your career, you’ll gradually pick up cues on what to wear. But equally important? Knowing what not to wear. When it comes to looking sharp and setting yourself up for success in the office, we swear by the following rules.

Style faux pas