Do you dress for your job or does it dress you?
Typical looks for a freelance worker, left, and an employee at a foreign firm. [JoongAng Ilbo]
New York, Milan and Paris may be the world’s fashion capitals, but for Koreans, Gangnam in southern Seoul is the place to spot fashionistas parading their latest looks. In particular, the Teheran Street business cluster is a great place to see the latest in office fashions.
As you stroll down the road, it’s possible not only to tell what people do for a living, but even which company they work for simply by how they dress.
Go Pyeong-suk, 37, an employee at a mobile game company, agrees. “In the mornings during coffee breaks, I often like to look out the window and guess where people work by what they are wearing.”
So we asked a fashion expert to analyze today’s business styles and tell us who is wearing what.
Employees at foreign companies tend to become early adopters of international fashion. When they shop for suits, they favor the latest designs, colors and fabrics.
Korean business people generally prefer loose-fitting suits for comfort, but employees of international companies go for a more fitted cut. Revealing a sliver of cuff under the jacket sleeve is common, and a matching tie plays an essential role in making one look chic.
In terms of men’s accessories, these employees prefer luxury watches with fine leather straps that don’t look too flashy. Although tote bags are the latest “it” fashion item, foreign company employees don’t like to match them with suits.
Employees at public corporations and major domestic enterprises have stereotypical “Korean businessman” looks. As they are surrounded by Koreans and Koreans only, the conservative atmosphere dictates that it’s best not to stick out too much.
Following the latest trends is not encouraged - a clean and smart image is the goal here. Domestic brands are preferred. Jackets are two-buttoned and generously measured. Almost every type of shirt goes well with them. The younger generation enjoys experimenting with styles such as stripes, but the bigger the company is, the plainer and darker the suit will be.
Researchers or freelancers spend most of their time at their desks, so they like to wear comfy clothes to the office. These employees believe that comfort allows them to be more flexible and efficient.
However, a free soul doesn’t mean a free dress code. If comfort is the goal, stick to the basics. Dark colors make the wearer look depressed but gaudy patterns are no better. Bright colors enliven the surroundings and perk the wearer up. Researchers and freelancers also favor thin, lightweight watches that suit their activities throughout the day.
Believing that fashion is a business strategy, salesmen are always thinking about making a good first impression. Wherever they go and whoever they meet, they try to form better social networks.
Their clothing philosophy is that wearing only tidy clothes is not always the best look. Considering that many salesmen sell the newest technology, falling behind in trends does not inspire confidence in a potential customer. People like these tend to prefer mixing and matching their fabrics and colors.
Since salesmen exchange name cards and fill in documents frequently, taking a case and pen from the inside of the jacket implies reliability. Nice hair also plays an important part in sales success.
Regardless of where you work, wearing the wrong thing can seriously damage your career prospects.
By Kang Seung-min JoongAng Ilbo [estyle@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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