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While the pandemic has challenged us in various ways, there were some perks we didn’t see coming. One of them was working from home. At first, many needed to warm up to the idea of working from home, however, with time the advantages started becoming apparent.
For one, we could set our own worktime as we saw fit. Second, and perhaps best of all, we could work in PJs and no one would even know. This latter reason has certainly won the hearts even of people who swore they would never like working from home. Be that as it may, now that we have started waving the health and safety measures goodbye, this means we’re headed back to the actual offices.
It’s easy to get used to the comfort PJs and streetwear provide, even to the point of forgetting how to set up a corporate workwear ensemble that’s appropriate for the workplace and at the same time looks sophisticated. It’s not enough knowing that the most common pieces of clothes include men and women’s blazers, tailored pants, long sleeve Oxford work shirts for ladies and gents, chino and khaki pants, midi skirts, and knitwear – you need to choose them properly first.
Regardless of whether you’re choosing for your own company, or you’re an employee in a corporate setting, these are the tips that can help you choose better.
Choose Based on the Business Environment
Every business is unique, even when it comes to uniforms. Some businesses are more on the side of formal, whereas others are more on the side of business smart and even casual. Determining which is more appropriate for your specific corporate setting can help you narrow down the extensive range of corporate workwear and choose the ideal pieces that would fit every employee.
If this isn’t your business, but rather you’re shopping for the company where you work, see what’s acceptable and what’s not based on your co-workers’ uniforms and the dressing code. If it’s business formal, tailored pieces are a must, which isn’t the case with the business smart and casual where even denim, in a combination with T-shirts, could make its way through.
Decide on the Fabric
In most cases, people choose clothes mainly by style, failing to notice the importance of the fabric too. After all, comfort is an essential component of looking professional and staying productive. Next time you’re out shopping and selecting the pieces of corporate uniforms remember to focus on the fabric.
Cotton is a primary option because of how comfortable it is to the skin, however, if you work in warmer environments a more moisture-wicking fabric might be better. Organic bamboo is even used for underwear so it’s known for its soft and thermoregulating properties and as such it’s a nice substitute. Keep in mind that it’s also more expensive, and that’s where synthetic materials come to the rescue.
Polyester and polyester blends are ideal for keeping you cool, and moreover, you’d come to love them because of being wrinkle resistant. This is an important consideration especially if you count on utmost presentation in terms of the professional image. Synthetics are also good for multiple washes and standing up to wear and tear.
Consider the Indoor Temperature
In shared office conditions where men and women work together, there comes a time when there’s a “fight” for setting the right temperature, so it’s either too hot or cold. Most women prefer it warmer than men, so consider this next time you’re deciding on the corporate workwear for the company.
If there’s no middle ground in the setting, and there’s no chance of separating the offices by genders, perhaps it can be solved by letting men decide, and allowing women to use some warmer pieces of knitwear, or stylish blazers. If it’s the opposite, and women win over with the higher temperature, then men must find something more breathable, like shirts and pants that are more lightweight which again can be decided based on the fabric.
Set the Budget
This is an equally important factor that can help you with choosing the corporate wear for each employee. While it’s economical to consider going cheap, especially if you’ve got other expenses to cover too company-wise, it’s not that advisable if you think of long-term success.
Invest more upfront, and it would pay off with time in durability. Choose a quality brand that stands out from the rest, and you won’t have to do this kind of investment often.
Another key consideration that should also be included here is that of the branding. Uniforms are best when used to advertise your business, and you’ve got various options to choose from with the branding, from embroidery to printing, so think of the price and style. In an office environment, you can use the embroidery for the shirts but carefully choose your logo so it would be stylish and not overbearing. Remember, beauty is in the details!
