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Are you what you wear?

Written by Molilo from the blog Mofire on 21 Oct 2008
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Morning bloggers

I have noticed in my work environment people do not make an effort to look good when they come to work.

One will come wearing what I will normally wear when I do my laundry on a Monday. I regard Mondays as the day that one must dress to kill. For heaven’s sake this is the day that starts the week and one must start the week with the right spirit and mindset. If one starts the week looking like that, the question I ask myself is whether that person is going to be productive? My thoughts maybe they are productive with what they are wear………………….

Bloggers I would like to hear from you
• Do you make an effort to look good/ decent when you go to work or you are just like most of my colleagues?
• Is it important to look professional? One blogger might ask what is looking professional.

Please educate me

85 Comments

Molilo
21 Oct 2008 04:59

Finally I managed to break my silence..........

Toxic
21 Oct 2008 05:04

Nna i think it depends on the environment/culture of the org you work for and the kind of impression you want to make i suppose.

We're a fairly casual department and the only person that has to look formal is the registrar as she has countless meetings, presentations etc to attend.

The rest of us, only need to make sure we don't show too much skin and not wear caps to the office otherwise i could wear slip-ons/flip-flops/crocs for all anyone cares.

monchooza
21 Oct 2008 05:09

You would swear i am the boss or the onwer of the compnany i work for....

carino
21 Oct 2008 05:13

It really depends on the culture of the business.

Simmone
21 Oct 2008 05:14

The thing at my work place is if you look you best you will be asked questions like, are you going for an interview, are you having a hot date, or is it a special date for you? Those are the kind of questions that I think majority of my colleagues decided not to look the part as they do not want to answer them on a regular base.

Thought that occured only at my workplace.

I agree with Toxic, take for instance the Engineering industry, depending if you work onsite or in an office, you must dress accordingly. You must be presentable. You cannot waltz to a site on a Monday morning on heels and a pencil skirt. Same thing you cannot rock up at the office in shorts and safety boots if you are office bound.

For me as long as you look clean, presentable and decent, you can wear anything you want.

Molilo
21 Oct 2008 05:16

@Toxic, the problem is when you start at the new job, you want to impress, you go there and find people relaxed you follow suit.
No one told you the dress code. It is things like this that make people not to look the part.
If the people you found there were dressing up your department will be formal or maybe not wearing the flops to work.

Sobza
21 Oct 2008 05:16

I am always in jeans mina and feel comfortable. Yes I wear formal wear when it is Sunday (time for church) or when I am going to an interview.

Molilo
21 Oct 2008 05:20

@Simmone for every profession there is a standard as you have mentioned but the bottom line is others do not make an effort according to their professions standard.
If you are an office person and come to work with pink tracksuits-pyjama looklike on Monday does it really make sense? This are some of the things my colleague will wear.

Joe
21 Oct 2008 05:21

Simmone::<<You cannot waltz to a site on a Monday morning on heels and a pencil skirt. Same thing you cannot rock up at the office in shorts and safety boots if you are office bound.>> LOL, I second u!

Toxic r u still mad @ me?

sexyd
21 Oct 2008 05:26

i normal dress to kill from monday till wednesday, come thursday i wear anything from flip flops to Sneakers.

I titaly i agree monday is the start of a new week, so if u dress well on monday u'll feel good for the Entire week.

youngtodie
21 Oct 2008 05:26

i always try to look my best . i wear formally from monday until thursday On friday i wear casually but i don't wear tekkies, even if i wear a jean it must go with a t-shirt that hasa collar on it or a shirt. i just love to look professionally.

Joe
21 Oct 2008 05:29

Molilo
People have different priorities and problems, maybe ur colleagues cannot afford to buy presentable clothes due to their problems or priorities! To them it does not matter what they looklike as long as they sent their children to school, bought groceries for them, sent money to gogo @ home, etc.....what matters is that they get the job done and get paid at the end of the mnth! I feel u, u would like to see people handsome and gorgeous...but its their choice, if I am comfortable in my pyjama look-a-like tracksuits, let me wear them! If u wanna look fab, I will let u look fab!

faraimagic
21 Oct 2008 05:29

well someone once told me that for you to feel good....you must always look good,dress good and must always be clean!

Simmone
21 Oct 2008 05:30

@Molilo, Is there a dress code at your office? Our standard at my office is jeans, t-shirt *spefically: should be non-political or infringing on the rights of your co-workers* and sneakers. Then Friday is casual day, excluding sleep wear or any item of clothing that maybe viewed as indecent.

Maybe your coworker needs someone to tell her that his/her work clothes are not suitable for the workplace.

Best-Achiever
21 Oct 2008 05:30

i wear smart casual monday to Thursday (NO suits i dont like them at all) even if im going for an interview or presentation, i just cant bring myself to wear a suit.
On friday it's tekkies, jeans and t-shirt, unless if im going or working on a client site. While i was working in CT i used to wear Jeans and T's the whole week and i miss those days so much. I wish i could bring back those days ..eish.\, then Sunday im Smart casula again until after Church

I dont think productivity and the king and clothes you wear has any influence to each other ....that only depends on what you kow or can do even if yo were naked you'd still be productive if you know how to do what you are supposed to do.

Earth
21 Oct 2008 05:32

I can't say I dress to kill,I dress comfortably and presentable.I prefer flats to high heels cos I do a lot of running around.I was running around barefoot maabane cos ne ke phapha ka tla in heels to work.some people just take casual to another level,you can't really make out gore did this person go to a tavern 1st then come to work?Or are they going to a drinking joint afterwork.My point is a lot of people who dress up for an occasion after work,tend to forget about dressing for work and titivate themselves so much for the do,and sometimes it looks inappropriate for work,I mean if its possible,can't people just dress for work,then go back home and change into something else for the do??

Best-Achiever
21 Oct 2008 05:34

the king and clothes MEANt kind of clothes

LM
21 Oct 2008 05:37

Eish Molilo,like Toxic and Simmone have mentioned, it all depend on the environment and industry you are working at.

My office is in a plant (manufacturing), so I'm required to wear safety boots atleast. I can wear a skirt, blouse and sandals (which will definitely not be comfy to work in) but as soon as I get into my office I must change into safety boots so that I can be able to move around in other parts of the plant to execute my duties. Sharp sharp I'm not even allowed to wear open shoes when entering the area where my office is, so ke thatha machance. 80% of the time I'm in jeans n T-Shirts....no pressure to be indebted to aboTruworths and the rest...

People in admin wear formal/semi formal....

TEBZA_R
21 Oct 2008 05:39

Bathong I think it really depends on where or what kind of job you're doing.... There are some environment that really does not require someone to be dressed up....Like myself I work shift and sometimes on mondays I have to work three to 23:00 and I really don't have to dress as if I am working 08:00 to 16:00 I think I only dress nicely when I work morning shift only.....

Bathong ke shaetsa ke yalo......

Dimago
21 Oct 2008 05:39

My job does not require me to wear suits - yet...so i wear smart casual - comfort is very important for me.

Molilo
21 Oct 2008 05:40

I work at an academic institution, we do not have a dress code per se, but the kind of clothes people wear here will scare you.
I do not want people to wear suits and all that but they must look presentable.
I love suits but since everytime when I was wearing one I would get endless questions I decided not to wear them anymore.
I dress smart casual.
There is nothing wrong with jeans coz I have witnessed people looking extremely good in them.
And people here will not mind coming to work with these freebie t-shirts, some of them in horrible shape.

tha - bang
21 Oct 2008 05:41

im in shorts and an orlando pirates top and a spotty. we dont have a dress code .my boss tries to do the shirt and tie thing but we all dress like we are on permament holiday.one of the reasons i love the industry i work in,those who want to dres sup can do that.those who dont can just rock up in tshirt, shorts and sandals like me .sweet

Toxic
21 Oct 2008 05:43

@Toxic, the problem is when you start at the new job, you want to impress, you go there and find people relaxed you follow suit.
No one told you the dress code. It is things like this that make people not to look the part.
If the people you found there were dressing up your department will be formal or maybe not wearing the flops to work.

Molilo: that's what i meant by culture love. If i joined a 'formal-cocktail wearing' department, like hell i'll follow suit (excuse the pun). If there is no dress code in your department you can't fault people that rock up looking like they are ready to do laundry. If there is one, it should just be enforced and people will get the message.

Joe, no man, i'm not mad at you!

Molilo
21 Oct 2008 05:45

Thabang u r too relaxed man.......shorts LOL

WhiteSockGirl
21 Oct 2008 05:46

I am with Tox,... it depends on the environment. In our organization, we work with kids, and we are hanging around police cells and prison all the time. So, we call jeans our uniform. And we go to court on several occassion. Which make it difficult, cause they won't allow you sommer into court dressed in jeans.

But I also have to attend a lot of meetings ,... and I always to put a reminder on my cellphone so that I can actually dress more formally.

Because we run around alot, we prefer flats but I am very girly,... and shoes are my thing so I would rather die to be caught dead in something like tekkies.

And no, I am not what I wear. I am very superficial when it comes to the clothes that I am wearing,... that is only one of my personas. I have more layers... that is why I am trying very hard not to judge people on their outer appearances. Because at first glance I am sure people would say that I am an airhead... (ok, some little part of me is a little airhead)

LM
21 Oct 2008 05:51

And people here will not mind coming to work with these freebie t-shirts, some of them in horrible shape. I rock this most of the time, thanks to JP MOrgan and other fun walk organizers..LOL

carino
21 Oct 2008 05:51

Then you get some of us that work in Arts.. so the freakier you look the better.

faraimagic
21 Oct 2008 05:53

ha ha ha ha Carino true that!

LM
21 Oct 2008 05:57

Do you make an effort to look good/ decent when you go to work or you are just like most of my colleagues? I make every effort to look clean and smell fresh...and decent (my twins well hidden under a t-shirt or shirt)

mabhebheza
21 Oct 2008 05:57

I hate corpoorate firms

mabhebheza
21 Oct 2008 06:01

eish becoz u have 2rock suits most of the the time

Simmone
21 Oct 2008 06:02

@LM, Gaaaawd the issue of uncontrollable twins. I can get used to seeing jiggles at social spots but at work people, the twins must be hidden unless you work in a brothel.

catwoman
21 Oct 2008 06:03

Im an Actress ,meaning you have to look good all the time.Paparazzi is watching.

faraimagic
21 Oct 2008 06:04

emagine wearing a uniform everyday that doesnt even look good on you!

suzzy82
21 Oct 2008 06:10

he he he ,the other day i saw one woman with teared panty hose i asked my self and then this one is going to work like that ,i mean she noticed from home that irunnile why did she go on and wear it like that

mabhebheza
21 Oct 2008 06:19

Kati welcum back .....pity most actress & actors .baqoka inyama offscreen..!

catwoman
21 Oct 2008 06:23

Tjo Im outa here!Someone just put my mood off,Why maar?

Toxic
21 Oct 2008 06:24

hehehehehehe..freebie t-shirts rock ya'll!!!!!

catwoman
21 Oct 2008 06:24

i said that i was Sorry!

GoldenSta
21 Oct 2008 06:24

Guys I used to work in a company that encouraged a "be yourself" culture and there was no dress code and you could wear ANYTHING.
And ANYTHING we did wear; transparent, very revealing, micro mini you name it. And some people took it to a whole new level and would come to work nje looking "dirty" if you saw them approaching you'd think they were professional tsotsi's and some guy was in the same pair of jeans from Monday to Friday.

thinLine
21 Oct 2008 06:26

I wear wat ever i feel comfortable on, as long as it's clean (well except my sneakers) n not revealing body parts that should be hidden... I don even comb my hair. I only dress to impress on weekends QHA.

kgau ngwana
21 Oct 2008 06:36

catwoman wa farai magic

faraimagic
21 Oct 2008 06:45

Geees! kgau ngwana do you have to rub it in?anyway that problem has been taken care of! we wont be bothered again............

sanas
21 Oct 2008 06:51

I make an effort to look gud everyday,rockin pencil skirts, heels, knee length dress with blazer, suits etc. yes it is important to look professional @work ( depending on ur workin environment) , ungasure uba ndiyi CEO Ye Mvelaphanda:-)

tha - bang
21 Oct 2008 06:51

although i sometime feel jealous of the corporate suit and tie outfit but for now im loving my shorts, freebie tshirts and sandals look.it just says i get paid to be me which is cool lol

kgau ngwana
21 Oct 2008 06:52

nice to know that farai magic is still available

Toxic
21 Oct 2008 06:58

I don even comb my hair

Hhe thinLine?? I could never ever not comb my hair-even if i didn't ahve to.

faraimagic
21 Oct 2008 06:59

I aint going Anywhere!and you can RUN-TEL-DAT!(in Martin Lawrence's voice!)

carino
21 Oct 2008 07:01

.it just says i get paid to be me which is cool lol

Exactly...especially when i see some "ladies" struggling in their heels...i always think i'm so cool.. getting paid to rock torn jeans, a vest, and floral halterneck dress on top of that....

faraimagic
21 Oct 2008 07:01

Haibo....is it me who has a slow mind or doesn't Toxic's name look wierd?

mabhebheza
21 Oct 2008 07:02

Pls dont spoil a god blog u2...anyway moving right along---------->
4now i have trouble finding clothes that can fit me especially corporate clothing so i look like aunty nyana & i was once a hot chick maar ngiyabuya ayeye~

PY
21 Oct 2008 07:03

I'm a takkie jean kinda girl...our dress code is smart casual....from Monday till Wednesday i dress smart casual...but on thursday & Friday...i usually wear my black boot All Star...with jean...and a t-shirt or a light jezzy...
Today i am wearing "iimbadada", jean and a light jezy (weather is very confusing)....coz my Boss is in Seychelles (next to Mauritius)...
On Mondayz I make dammn sure that i look very smart coz this is not my favourate day @ work so i dont want to show it through my outfit

carino
21 Oct 2008 07:06

Toxic... did you go to the Xolani is back article??

faraimagic
21 Oct 2008 07:08

Bwaaaaaah mabhebheza! scorned woman!he he he he ...kuzolunga mufondiness! Just a few months!

thinLine
21 Oct 2008 07:10

Hhe thinLine?? I could never ever not comb my hair-even if i didn't ahve to.

Yes Toxic i don comb my hair, i have long natural hair (Afro enkulu kakhulu)... i do all sorts of hairstyles bt not Comb, just use my fingers.

Sana Lwam
21 Oct 2008 07:10

In my work we dress smart casual to formal and then on fridays its jeans. But some people take it to the extremes, there is this white woman who will put on tights and a tshirt that does not even cover her whole butt and she is big and old.

Then another one last week wore the same pants and shirt for 3 days in a row - I'm not exaggerating people 3 days and I was like " ja neh abanye abelungu abazithandi"

tha - bang
21 Oct 2008 07:12

Exactly...especially when i see some "ladies" struggling in their heels..
true that carino lol
i look like aunty nyana & i was once a hot chick maar ngiyabuya ayeye~
Ive seen alot of "aunties" around our office block,whenu see them over the weekend they look half their age lol

JadaPinkett
21 Oct 2008 07:16

at my work we wearing pyjamasa and on friday we wearing night dress

Toxic
21 Oct 2008 07:16

tjo thinLine.....i know this is not the article mara i have to ask. How do u manage an Afro? the reason i have dreads is cause i never knew what to do with natural hair...is yours twisted or do you jsut wake up, shake the cobwebs outta it and leave for the office?

Cariri....i've just come from the article and failed to make the link. You're a special kind of PI..i'm the RGB type, u're the E! type....

Toxic
21 Oct 2008 07:18

Ive seen alot of "aunties" around our office block,whenu see them over the weekend they look half their age lol

LOL

sanas
21 Oct 2008 07:21

Lol @Mabhebheza---------pity most actress & actors .baqoka inyama offscreen..!

tha - bang
21 Oct 2008 07:24

at my work we wearing pyjamasa and on friday we wearing night dress
is this an attempt of making it easier for female employees to sue for sexual harrasment.
so if you guys wear pj's and nighties on friday ,what happens on the weekend... on second thought im too young for this.leave me in my ignorant state lol

Tox used to have a fro until it got all tangled like a gentleman who lives on the street, uve probably seen my facebook pics.i dont know whats the secret to managing it,hence its gone after three years

mabhebheza
21 Oct 2008 07:27

Eish Farai a few more months & il be back...slender sama catologue ..!

Pooky
21 Oct 2008 07:32

at my work we wearing pyjamasa and on friday we wearing night dress

hai suxoka tyini

witty lady
21 Oct 2008 07:40

YES AUNTY MABHEBHEZA..... Le gud life will be back soon hehehe

Cody
21 Oct 2008 07:41

at my work we wearing pyjamasa and on friday we wearing night dress

Maaka feela moo!

Toxic, i was surprised when you said you dont comb your hair, jo! because you sound so "togetherish"

With me, im a smart casual kinda person, i wear jeans with shirts. youngtodie, you are my kind of person. but now, since the stomach and all, i just dont know what to wear, when im wearing flat shoes, it feels like im walking leaning backwards. I am in a dilema!!

mabhebheza
21 Oct 2008 07:47

Afro makes umuntu ebemdaka ...especially if u cant control it ...ufana ne street kid nje...

i had an afro when i was going thru a certain phase in my life...im glad i was far away 4rm the public eye coz it was unlookable ispoki sase mini!!

mabhebheza
21 Oct 2008 07:50

Unyanzelwa intoni ukuba uxoka kodwa ....pjs & nighties haai man!

suzzy82
21 Oct 2008 07:50

at my work we wearing pyjamasa and on friday we wearing night dress
he he he kwamalume sana
@mabhebheza> a few more months & il be back...slender sama catologue ,please gal share ur serect with usistas here i m buisy skipping meals so that i can be islender somhlaba

witty lady
21 Oct 2008 07:50

@MABHEBHEZA.... but u told me u loved the afro and that natural look thing u had going.... I agree, u were going thru a phase, thank God u snapped out of it.

Toxic
21 Oct 2008 08:02

Tox used to have a fro until it got all tangled like a gentleman who lives on the street, uve probably seen my facebook pics.i dont know whats the secret to managing it,hence its gone after three years

Eish thabang, i'm so glad you admitted this cause i didn't know how to ask what was happening to your head LOL! Mara i love how good those people that can manage an afro look.

Toxic, i was surprised when you said you dont comb your hair, jo! because you sound so "togetherish"

Cody love, it's not me that doesn't comb their hair...it's thinLine...check the thread!

mabhebheza
21 Oct 2008 08:02

Suzzy82...I have a special imbiza .LoL im joking i have an automatic body amafutha awahlali!!

Cody
21 Oct 2008 08:07

Tox: Yah eish i managed to skip the "not" in the sentece.....: Hhe thinLine?? I could never ever not comb my hair-even if i didn't ahve to

what aka mathata
21 Oct 2008 08:51

is true ,you are what you wear,Ok if i have meeting with someone for business connection n he come with T shirt n short like his doing laundry,

i drop a deal,why im here you dont take me seriously so let me go.finish n klaar.

you go to the shop n complain,later you decide let me talk to the right person,that person say .... this is a right person mam,are you serious????

this person when you look down to look for shoes ,you find di klap klap,what the hek is this.

ppl must take their jobs serious.

Cody
21 Oct 2008 09:27

i drop a deal,why im here you dont take me seriously so let me go.finish n klaar.

You go mathata!!

carino
21 Oct 2008 09:41

kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa yazi wena mathata...

andi01
21 Oct 2008 09:43

Hay Cody, wassup my nigga

tha - bang
21 Oct 2008 09:47

it shouldntb that way but alas such s he world that people aree judged on apperances

Firstdvd
21 Oct 2008 23:38

Holla mathata lol!

makgotso
22 Oct 2008 02:05

I think you are what you wear, eishh ngithanda ukugqoka casual but due to my working environment no client will take me serious if I pop up in da office wearing sneaker, really at times I miss engineering industries ngoba there you wear what you feel like wearing iyooooo, la if you are an auditor you must look the part.

Nonny
22 Oct 2008 02:11

Nice blog Molilo. Gosh I missed out izolo.

superwoman
22 Oct 2008 02:20

i think 1 shud always make an effort to look presentable,dress for the occasion.at my workplace every1 wears a suit,can't imagine any1 rocking up in a pair of jeans.....they wud really feel out of place.

Toxic
22 Oct 2008 02:25

this person when you look down to look for shoes ,you find di klap klap,what the hek is this.

how long have you been living in CAnada Mathata? I love how you haven't forgotten our terms.....

carino
22 Oct 2008 05:18

hehehehehehehh

Floh
26 Oct 2008 19:19

He, he,he, thina banye sinxiba isChina sana, xa sizikhulula ziyabuya. What's up with these plastic shoes esezifazwe izwe lonke. hhayi man, unyawo ungathi sizohlukana phakathi.

I do not need any effort on dress code because I find myself in dark dirty places, jeans and snickers are cool. But on a interview date I need to carry something to change to avoid those Qs at work.

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