OK, so you're sitting in the waiting area of a nicely decorated office building, waiting to meet with a tax attorney for the first time to go over investment options now that you're earning a paycheck. You haven't actually met the guy yet, but you spoke to him over the phone after finding his ad in the phonebook. The door opens and out walks a guy in clean jeans, a white button down, a short Mohawk, and an eyebrow ring. No, wait. OK. We'll put him in a suit…Armani, even, but we're not ditching the hairdo or the eyebrow ring.
One of his partners walks by, also dressed in an Armani suit. However, this guy looks more like the classic lawyer of yore…short, well-groomed hair, manicured nails, horn-rimmed glasses. As your lawyer starts to go over the intricacies of investment strategy and tax shelters, can you overcome the urge to watch his eyebrow ring bob up and down as he talks? Are you wondering more about whether or not he can feel that than where to invest your hard-earned money?
Alright, so the lawyer scenario? Not likely, but it brings up a good point. As much as we might want to say we've expanded our minds, the reality is that the workplace is still a place where first impressions count. Corporate America still likes to see itself neatly packaged, with its employees focused on clients and profits, not on self-expression. There's a little more leeway than there used to be, but the same rules still apply most of the time: keep it neat, tuck it in, stick with the classics, and business casual only on Fridays. Call it old-fashioned, but in the career workplace, it's what works.
Depending on where you work, you might be able to get away with a little more than you used to. The wonderful thing about popular culture is that if it sticks around long enough, it does become acceptable - to a point. In an age where approximately one in every four people has a tattoo, there are a lot of employers who might appreciate their artistic beauty, but still don't want to see them displayed out in the open. Obviously, some employers might be a little more flexible, but it probably depends on what type of work you do and the overall culture of the workplace. For example, a graphic designer may have a bit more stylistic leeway than the aforementioned lawyer.
No matter how enlightened we may have become, dressing for work comes down to the fact that employers still care about what you wear and what you wear still reflects on you. If you want to be taken seriously, dress the part. You can still be fashionable without dressing for the weekend. That's why there are styles referred to as "classics" - you can wear them no matter what's in style. Tattoos can be covered (or removed, if you have the inkling to do so) and piercings removed for the day.
Making the effort to look more professional in the workplace will reflect well on you. Don't feel as if you're giving up part of yourself (if need be, think of it as gaining an alter ego). After all, you can always let your hair down and put your rings back in when work is done for the day - just wait until you've left the building.