Establishing a Corporate Image has become a challenging experience for many companies. There is a growing awareness among many employers concerning the importance of a professional image and the need to actively fashion that image. Generations of past and present collide as do the definitions of what Corporate Image really is. The end goal of an employer when dealing with personal image in the workplace should be to enhance the competitive edge and reflect the culture of the company. Our Dress Code article deals more thoroughly with that.

What is a business wardrobe, career apparel, corporate apparel?

Corporate apparel is designed and engineered for repeated wear at the workplace. It is fashionable, functional, and durable. Career apparel can be either traditional suits and separates or more stylish coordinated apparel.

How Do You Establish a Corporate Image or Dress Code?

A Corporate Image should project the standard and philosophy of the workplace; should meet expectations of public contacts; should contribute to the employee's sense of professional and personal competence; and should contribute to accomplishing corporate goals. In a high-tech environment, this could mean that tattoos, body piercing and navels are acceptable and considered appropriate. Conversely, in a financial institution, it could mean conservative, professional clothing that inspires confidence and trust in the company and its employees. Examples of this type of apparel can be found by looking at Ingenuity, Reflections of Dallas or Hardwick's Men's Suits & Separates.

Realistically, there simply is currently no one barometer of Corporate Image in the workplace. It evolves from management expectations, workforce age and culture, client awareness and employee preferences. The challenge for a company instituting a Corporate Image (or Dress Code) policy is to consider all these factors and arrive at a policy that is fair, can be implemented easily and accomplishes the goal of attaining and retaining clients who are comfortable with the image projected.

How Can Your Company Achieve a Professional Corporate Image?

There are two solutions:

1. Establish a budget for Corporate Apparel, select desired colors and styles as shown in Ingenuity, Reflections of Dallas or Hardwick's Men's Suit/Separates and provide the clothing to each employee. This can be costly but does eliminate the need for dress codes and supplies a benefit to the employees. Our article on Corporate Uniforms should be helpful here.

2. Establish a Dress Code to include assigning authority and responsibility to enforce it. Since you have now instituted a RULE, you owe your employees a TOOL that gives them the resources to meet your Corporate Image expectations. This can be accomplished by an interest-free loan with payroll deductions, which allows them to purchase garments that meet dress code expectations. They may choose washable, fully lined, full size range, easy care suiting from Ingenuity Women's Suiting. Hardwick's Men's Suits & Separates is available in a large assortment of fabrics, colors and styles including shorts, talls, and portly. Your employee may not choose to participate in this benefit; however, they should be made aware the dress code will still be enforced and they are responsible for locating the appropriate attire.

If you are an individual wishing to learn more about how to meet dress code expectations and insure your appropriate Corporate Image, you may want to read our articles on Building a Working Wardrobe, Shopping with a Mission, and Closet Organization.

Professional Image: The Company

Since 1972 Caravan Fashions has been helping companies Build a Corporate Image, and has worked with thousands of employees and employers to establish or enhance a corporate identity based on dress code or industry requirements. We work with direct manufacturers in the United States and Canada. We supply both in-stock apparel or custom-designed apparel programs.

Corporate apparel, also known as career apparel, business wardrobe, and last but least desired, uniforms, have been our stock in trade. As in all industries, there is a pecking order. Corporate apparel occupies the top of the uniform industry with scrubs and golf shirts probably being the bottom. The most prestigious users of corporate apparel include airlines, corporate outside sales staffs, corporations with high public contact and a discriminating clientele, such as banks, attorneys or stockbrokers.

Corporate apparel is geared most successfully toward working women since it is a fact of life that the large percentage of women who are required to meet a corporate dress code are also not in the higher-income bracket. We do male corporate apparel; but, as we all know, it is much easier for a male to dress appropriately on a budget than a female.

What career apparel does for the individual:

What career apparel does for the employer:

Our Reflections line for women offers versatile choices and is also washable. It takes longer to produce as it is cut to order. It includes free basic alterations and a size range of 0 to 34. Since this line is custom-made with multiple choices, it is best to call direct with questions.