The First Republic era, when every well-built man left the house only in a suit with a vest, bow tie, and hat, is long gone. Half a century of socialism left a very significant mark on Czechs and their style of dress—and unfortunately, not exactly for the better. The post-revolutionary “boom” in denim fashion left us with the impression that jeans are appropriate attire for any occasion. The opposite is true.
What is a dress code, and when should you follow it?
A dress code is a general term for the rules that tell us how to dress for a specific social event. Some rules are second nature to us and we know them well—for example, a bride should wear white or cream on her wedding day, and her dress should be the most beautiful. Or that we wear black, formal attire to funerals.
Multinational corporations, especially various financial institutions, have their own dress codes written into company policy. For example, at a bank, staff will always greet you in a suit or a women’s business suit, except on Fridays, when they may dress more casually, such as in a skirt and blouse or pants and a shirt. The dress code must always be respected, as it demonstrates our professionalism—both toward colleagues and the company, as well as toward customers.
What should you wear if you’re a salesperson?
Don’t rely on a friend’s advice that jeans, a T-shirt, and a company sweatshirt are the right outfit for every salesperson. Even if you sell products to farmers and visit farms, or offer metallurgical products and walk through engineering production halls, your clothing is your calling card.
The basics of every salesperson’s wardrobe:
· wrinkle-resistant pants made of a cotton-polyester blend in black, blue, or gray·
solid-color shirts, or shirts with a subtle stripe, in short- and
long-sleeve styles· a jacket that matches the
pants· a tie in a muted color without a bold or extravagant pattern·
a plain polo shirt for informal meetings with long-standing customers·
closed-toe shoes·
women should opt for pantsuits, skirt suits, and dresses with a skirt length reaching the knees.
Jeans, shorts, T-shirts with bold lettering or images, and sleeveless T-shirts do not belong in the wardrobe. Also excluded are very short skirts and dresses, as well as flip-flops, and for men, sandals, Converse sneakers, or Crocs-style slip-ons.