Can someone help me figure out what clothes to buy for my new position?

Question

I work for the government and have just been promoted to a new position within my agency. I now have entirely new duties that I will have to be trained for, a new boss, and most of my coworkers work in a different building, however for the time being I am staying where I am. My old building was super casual. I wear jeans and polo shirts 5 days a week. The people who work across the street at my new job wear button up shirts, polo shirts and the women wear pants suits and dresses. A couple of guys (including the boss) had on ties. I of course am going to lose the jeans and my new boss said what I had on was otherwise fine and I shouldn't have to change to months. I am thinking of wearing a button up shirt and a tie a few days a week though. I feel more professional doing that, but I'm afraid if I do it right at the start it will be viewed as brown nosing. Also anytime I have worn a tie in my old building I felt horribly out of place, due to everyone else being so casual.

How often should I dress more formally if at all and what do you suggest I buy to beef up my wardrobe?

Answer 1

A sport coat and color-coordinated dress slacks with a pastel dress shirt might do. But a solid navy-blue or medium-to-dark gray business suit is best, as is a solid-white, long-sleeve dress shirt with a conservative silk tie. Silk makes a smaller, much nicer knot than most other fabrics. If you can't afford 100-percent silk, try a silk blend.
A tie clip or pin will keep your tie from flopping around when you open your sport coat or suit jacket.
Wear calf-length dress socks (not crew or tube socks) that match the color of your suit.
Wear low-heeled, conservative dress shoes that are color coordinated with your suit. (For example, don't wear brown shoes with a navy-blue or gray suit. Wear black.) Some say that laced shoes are dressier than loafers, but that's a minor detail. The important thing is to wear conservative, color-coordinated dress shoes, not sneakers, cowboy boots, etc.
Don't go without a belt if you're wearing pants with belt loops. Wear a dress belt that matches your shoes (e.g., black with black).
Get a professional haircut or trim. If you can't stand the thought of cutting your long hair for interviews, at least tie it back in a ponytail. But short, well-groomed hair is best.
Clean-shaven is the best way to go too. If you have a beard or moustache, shave it off for interviews. If you just can't, at least make sure it's well-groomed.
If you ordinarily wear one or more earrings, remove them before interviews

Answer 2

Since you are going to be in a higher position, I suggest slacks (pants) that fit, a jacket and good shirts. Don't forget good shoes, not sneakers.

I think a tie is only necessary if your boss tells you "You must wear a Tie." otherwise I think it only cuts off circulation to the brain.

The best thing to do is go to your local better clothes store, and talk to the sales people about your situation. They will be happy to help you find what you need. Also, try the clothes on and make sure they fit correctly. (That makes a big difference in how the clothes will look.)

Learn about proper care for your work clothes. They are an investment into your future which will help you in the long run.
A classic suit is never out of place.

Ask your boss about casual Friday wear; some places want you more dressed than others.

Do not feel like you need to follow the others in your building who are more casual. (Those who want to advance are suppose to dress more like their bosses, depending on how dirty their job can get them.)

Good luck.

Answer 3

Try the Men's catalog from Lands' End, or www.landsend.com

They have excellent business casual & business clothes at reasonable prices, and so does LL Bean.com.

If you start off with some basic dress chinos, and a button-down oxford shirt, you should be fine. Then if you need to go a little dressier you can add a tie, or even a blazer. Maybe for important meetings, go with some woll dress slacks, pinpoint shirt, and a tie. Lands End is really good at helping you match everything, and they'll even send samples.

Good Luck with the new job!

Answer 4

First of all, Congrats on the promotion.. you must have earned it.. in earning it, they must have seen some potential there.. Go more dressy if you want to.. Brown nosing is a thing to worry about in high school.. you are in an office now.. and you are an adult.. Dress how you want, if that is more formal and you are comfortable that way then do it.. I think it is better to dress up in the beginning and then slowly if you want to, go more casual.. doing it the other way around may be perceived as by others, as (brown nosing) as you call it. Dressing the part will show that you respect the new job you have been given. Dressing well makes you feel good, and when you feel good you exude confidence.

Answer 5

You can start easing into the new attire by doing the following:

1st Start wearing jeans less often. You can wear your polos with khakis/slacks.

2nd Integrate the button up shirts with khakis/slacks without a tie.

3rd Mix in the tie with the button up shirts and khakis/slacks.

As you start going from one step to the other you can start letting go of the jeans and polos little-by-little. This way your new business attire will not appear as you are brown nosing the new boss and/or trying to rub your promotion into your old colleagues faces. If they still end up feeling that way - guess what?! - you don't work with them anymore so don't even be bothered!

Answer 6

At most offices, Fridays are casual days. So it might be a good idea to wear a button up and tie Monday thru Thursday and then dress more casually on Friday.

Don't worry about feeling like a brown noser. I think maybe dressing up at first might be better, it's always better to overdress than underdress. Besides, if you show up to your first day of work with a button up and tie, people will get used to seeing you that way. New job, more professional. No reason to feel weird about it.

Good luck with your new job!

Answer 7

Based on what you say, I'd definitely go with the button up shirts and slacks with ties worn on intermittent days. When you wear ties, make sure they are representative of YOU and not super-conformist ties, this will set you apart from the other "tie-wearers" without looking like you're trying to fit it too hard. I'd go with a tie everyday, but thats me and I tend to be more formal than others.

Like they say, "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have".

Answer 8

dress a little nicer than your co-workers, wearing a tie some days would be fine. Always dress at least as nice as your co-workers. Don't worry about being viewed as brown nosing, to me you are just being smart and trying to get ahead. Dressing for success states that you dress like the position above you that you would like to be in. In my experience, men also judge each other's shoes, so always buy the best you can afford. Just get good quality clothing and shoes in classic styles and it should last you a long time.

Answer 9

im sort of in the same boat as you, minus working for the gov. if you know you have meetings or higher ups are going to be in, dress fancy, fridays are always a good day to dress a bit down, polo shirts and whatnot. You wont be seen as brown nosing since you arent from that building, you just need to find out how everyone else goes about it, from observation. good luck on your new job.

Answer 10

Buy the standard lands end khaki pants, thats the upgrade you need. Sometimes grey is acceptable. They are about $40. I never figured out why jeans are not ok in these situations. Again, you just need some khakis. Also, maybe a white shirt and a tie for some situations.