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In 1975, John T. Molloy wrote “Dress for Success.” It was an instant bestseller. In 1978, he wrote “Women’s Dress for Success,” another hit. We cringed at stories of careers derailed by a poorly sewn shirt button or a badly chosen tie. Our hearts ached for jobs lost over improper skirt lengths or inappropriate footwear. We learned, however, the difference between fashion and style. We learned that our appearance tells our story before we say the first word.
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According to Kim Zoller at Image Dynamics, 55% of another person’s perception of you is based on how you look.
55%!
So, what does your work wardrobe say about you?
When asked, my ECP friends were horrified at the prospect of wearing anything approaching a uniform. “Judy,” said one, “I have a wardrobe from Ann Taylor. Why would I want to come to work in pajamas?” Her new boss was asking her to wear scrubs, like the other staff members. The other staff members are not helping patients design fashionable and functional eyewear. She is.
I am of the mind that it is nearly impossible to sell fashionable eyewear while wearing pajamas. Don’t believe that scrubs and pajamas are very nearly the same thing? Go to your nearest fabric store, open a pattern book and find the patterns for scrubs. Yup, they’re right next to the patterns for pajamas.
Pose the question of workplace attire online, and you get a number of different answers.
Some like scrubs, because it makes the daily “what to wear” question easy. Scrubs. For variety, scrubs in different colors for every work day. But, still scrubs.
Scrubs are not flattering to anyone…ever. Now, throw on a lab coat, drop a couple of pounds of optical junk in the pockets and it’s “Captain Kangaroo” time. You thought your hips were a little wide before? Back up to a mirror in scrubs AND a lab coat with pockets full of stuff.
The first time I was required to wear a lab coat, I was confused. I wasn’t working in the lab. I was one of three licensed opticians working with clients. What was I protecting my clothing from? Lens cleaner? Lunch? It was, I suspect, an attempt to have us all in a uniform of some kind.
Going from the fat to the fire, my next company required wearing a navy blue blazer. A step up from the lab coat, I thought, until I got the blazer. I will swear the fabric was made from recycled grocery bags. Hot, heavy and it repelled water. Did I mention that it needed to be dry cleaned? An expense not covered by my employer. However, the blazer did differentiate the retail staff from the lab staff. The lab staff wore…lab coats. Imagine that. They needed the pockets and the protection from water, polish, slurry, alloy and tint dyes.
Scrubs are great in hospitals and in medical offices where any manner of fluids may launch in your direction, but they do not belong in a professional retail dispensary. I feel the same way about visible tattoos. Tattoos that show through your lightweight summer shirt are visible. Wear a sweater or an undershirt. But I digress.
So, what is proper attire for a professional optical dispensary? The majority opinion, both online and in conversation, is this:
For men:
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A collared shirt, either a dress shirt or a polo shirt, clean and pressed.
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Trousers and a belt or braces, clean and pressed. Sorry beach guys, shorts just don’t cut it professionally speaking.
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A tie, also clean. Don’t like ties? Tough. Women like ties on men and women spend more money on eyewear than men. Not being an unreasonable person, a tie and a polo shirt are not a good look.
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Nice shoes, clean and polished. Athletic shoes? Only if you go the polo shirt route. Athletic shoes and dress clothes are too “high school prom” rebellion.
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Hair should be neat and clean. The “Rob Ryan” look is fine for football sidelines, but not in a professional office setting. Believe me, Tom Landry must be spinning in his grave.
For women:
Ok, I’ll be honest here. Women’s clothing is much more difficult to work with. There are about eight different collar styles, 5 different sleeve lengths and I can count 5 different cuff treatments. That’s just for shirts and blouses. There are at least that many variations on skirts, trousers, dresses and jackets.
There are, however, a few points to make.
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When choosing a top, be it a shirt, blouse or shell, sit down in front of a mirror and make the kinds of movements that you would make while fitting and adjusting eyewear. If you’re looking at too much cleavage, change. Women spend more money on eyewear than men and women don’t want to see that and the first time they think that their significant other is enjoying the view, everybody will leave.
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If you can’t walk comfortably or sit down without displaying your “Day of the Week” undies, whatever you’re wearing is either too short or too tight or both. Remember, you’re an eyecare professional, fitting and dispensing fashionable eyewear. Make sure that first 55% of your story is the right one.
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I love to sew. I made a beautiful silk top with an asymmetrical hemline that came to long points at both side seams. I got so many compliments on the top that I decided to wear it to work. When I sat at my dispensing table, those lovely long points got caught in the wheels of my chair and we became one. I could not get up without tearing the hem in my beautiful, but not work appropriate silk top. It was relegated to stand up parties and places without wheels on the chairs. We all have wardrobe malfunctions. Some of us learn from them, some don’t.
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Women’s shoes are another minefield. Before you invest in those 3-inch stilettos, make sure you can walk in them all day. It is almost impossible to make a favorable impression, let alone be friendly if you can barely take a step without searing pain. There was a time where I could spend the day in a pair of high heels, but no more. When that day comes, acknowledge it and find cute shoes that don’t hurt. Stockings? Some wear them, some don’t. Keep in mind that Kate Middleton wears them and she looks comfortable and polished.
For everyone in the office:
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Wear great eyeglasses, even if you don’t need them. And for heaven’s sake have more than one pair. Your eyeglasses are the most important part of that 55% perception. It’s what you do. I haven’t been in a dental practice yet where everyone didn’t have the whitest, straightest teeth possible. However, I have been in many practices where the staff had some of the most unflattering, poorly fitted eyewear ever made. Every patient should want to ask about the eyewear that is being worn in the office. Every staff member should be able to tell a patient what they are wearing and why, from designer and material to lenses and lens treatments. It’s part of your office “uniform.”
I realize that office attire is a touchy subject and that I’ve probably stepped on a few toes here. I don’t want to “diss” those of you who prefer a more casual look at work or are required to wear something less than fashionable for the sake of uniformity and office harmony. I simply feel very strongly that our appearance as eyecare professionals is crucial to our acceptance as eyecare professionals by the patients we assist. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject and you can email me at
editor@ecpmag.com.
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