What even is an office wardrobe? The definition itself is a challenge in the Malaysian context. Our workplace dress codes thrive in the grey area. Dress codes are often seen as rules to be bent, more vibes and less standards. But how can we stick to a code when the environment isn’t the kindest to us?
Casual Fridays and Batik Thursdays. How casual are casual Fridays when your colleague comes dressed in a T-shirt every day? And suits in this weather? How can you make something as playful as batik work on a Thursday without looking like you’re delegates on a diplomatic visit, while still being taken seriously by your Gen-Z subordinates?
Humidity versus hair. The amount of time and effort you put into styling your hair is painfully disregarded by the humidity. It doesn’t matter what level of hold your wax, gel, or pomade is rated at. The moisture in the air is fair to all hair. Bound by the laws of physics, what goes up will always land, flat on your head.
The invisible battlefield of commuting. You put on your daily scent, something refreshing and unoffensive, something not too heady for the office. You hop into the back of the Grab you ordered, and you’re ambushed by the most pungent car freshener that clings onto your clothes and the back of your throat. You decide to take the LRT the next day. Unfortunately, the coach you’re sitting in has an air-conditioning malfunction. You arrive smelling like a special blend of perspiration(s) and musk.
And then there's the climate. You’ve decided to drive to work the next day, but the outdoor parking lot is a 15-minute walk to your desk. You dress light, prepared to trek through the Sahara, only to arrive at an office with air conditioning permanently set to zero degrees Celsius by the building management. And with the recent monsoon downpours, holding onto an umbrella might not be enough for your outfit to survive the puddles and floods.
Lunch breaks, your crisp white shirt can’t. From squid ink pasta to prawn noodles, with Malaysia’s colourful cuisines at your fingertips, your shirt rarely makes it safely to your 2 p.m. meeting, regardless of how careful you are.
Lord of the Cling. You stumble upon a jacket constructed with ‘sweat-wicking’ technology, and the next thing you know, you’re giving athleisure a go. That is until your jacket sleeves constantly cling to your skin and ride up your arm from static electricity. It promises comfort and mobility, but omits the part where you look like you mistakenly grabbed your wife’s jacket on the way out.
When your everyday watch starts giving you the i(t)c(h)k. While trying to peel your static-charged jacket sleeve from your arm, your wrist starts to tingle. The itch sets in slowly and persists throughout the meeting; you’re constantly distracted from the pitch. The only time your watch is keeping at that point is the number of scratches, and that it’s time to schedule your monthly bracelet deep-clean appointment.
Surprise extra-curricular events. After a long week of battling the elements, you decide to participate in casual Fridays to the fullest. As you step into your office, comfortable and relaxed, your boss ambushes you with a Friday night outing request. This catches you off-guard, and you end up attending a client event in your casual Friday best.
Work burnt out, wardrobe worn out. One morning, you will wake up and realise the wrinkles around your eyes look a little more defined, mirroring the creases that have set into your jacket sleeves permanently. Deep eye bags mimic your jacket’s shoulder pads that have lost their firmness. Just like how there’s a limit to your resilience, your wardrobe has its shelf life too. Which is why mental resets and retail therapy tend to go hand-in-hand. But maybe you wouldn't go shopping for new office clothes just yet.
