Making good first impressions can have lasting effects on future dealings with clients. What they see and think of you could be the decisive factor of whether you make or break a deal. You do not want to offend your clients when making sales calls to government officials nor being denied entry into office complexes due to inappropriate dressing. So, knowing what you should or should not do with respect to office attire can be very comforting.
In Malaysia, many years ago when there were very few local consultants in the country, foreign consultants were hired as advisors to our IT projects. I remember there was this female Caucasian consultant on her first day at the office came dressed in summer outfit fit for a warm and sunny weather to attend a project kick-off meeting. She wore a short skirt with sleeveless and sexy top with the blouse wrapped tightly around her body. What was probably normal and acceptable dressing in her country was not quite acceptable in ours. She created quite a stir when she walked into the office, as both male and female colleagues were uncomfortable being around her and felt rather offended. What was worse, people were not taking her words seriously throughout the meeting that we had.
Obviously, this was a case of culture shock for her and for all of us. Coming from a western culture and probably on her first visit to a foreign land like Malaysia she was probably unaware of the culture of the new environment, in an asian country predominantly Muslims and in a formal setting like the government. Soon after being politely reprimanded by one of the senior officials, she apologized for her ignorance and since then made great efforts to correct her mistakes.
Actually, the government has a dress code as guideline for all government employees to follow. It spells out the dos and don’ts for office attire. It has been part of the work culture and the norm for all government offices. The principle behind the dress code is dressing decently and formally for the office.
If you are dealing with government clients and you wish to blend in with the formal surroundings then you have to respect the same rules. So what do you wear? You can be safe by dressing conservatively for business formal. This type of attire calls for any formal office clothes. For men it means collared shirt, pants and tie. For women it means a modest dressy skirt or long pants with long sleeved blouse. Do not wear casual clothes such as shorts, jeans or T-Shirts.
Men should wear long sleeved shirts and dark coloured pants with a tie. But if you want clients to take you seriously such as in a meeting, then put on a dark suit. Avoid wearing a Batik shirt as it gives a casual or holiday look.
Examples of formal business attire for men:
- · Light coloured long sleeved plain coloured shirt
- · Dark coloured pants
- · Plain striped tie or bow
- · Dark leather shoes
- · Dark coloured suit or blazer
- · Bush jacket (If you prefer)
For ladies, the rule of thumb is to stick to conservative dressing. Avoid being too conspicuous with brightly coloured fabrics or wearing flimsy or tight clothings. Dress decently and wear a traditional Baju Kurung, a loosely clad Kebaya or a long dress. If you wish to wear a skirt, please make sure the skirt is long enough to cover the knees and wear a long sleeved blouse or jacket to go with it. If you prefer, you may also wear pants and a long sleeved blouse. Knee length pants are not appropriate. Stay away from dresses that are too sexy or slinky.
Examples of conservative attire for women:
- · Baju Kurung
- · Loose Baju Kebaya
- · Dress pants
- · Long skirts
- · Knee-length skirts
- · Blouse with sleeves
- · Shoes instead of sandals
However, there are exceptions to the rules on Thursdays and Fridays. Government employees are required to wear Batik attire on Thursdays and men are allowed to wear Baju Melayu, a traditional Malay attire, on Fridays. However, if you have to make sales calls or attend meetings with clients on these days, it is safe to stick to the formal business attire.
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