Workplace dress codes

Magda86 · Jul 6th, 2009, 09:51

I'm a young journalist and will be spending 2 months working as a reporter for a Indian daily. Dress code in the West is very relaxed in my line of work...does anyone know whether this is also the case in India? Is it more formal? I don't want to show up in jeans and feel hopelessly out of place....

Could people who've worked in India give me packing tips?

Thanks
Magda

Hal · Jul 6th, 2009, 10:05

The standard dress in most offices seems to be trousers and a collared shirt. No tie, no jacket, Rarely jeans - they're too hot anyway.

I have worked in an architectural/engineering office for a couple of weeks at a time and I usually pack 2-3 pairs of light cotton or linen trousers and 3-4 collared shirts. Laundry is cheap and available.

namaste_cat · Jul 6th, 2009, 10:49

It's not formal, as far as I know. You can't go wrong w/ salwar kameez, that is if you feel comfortable wearing it. Otherwise, kurta/tunic and linen/cotton trousers should be fine, I'd think.

Nick-H · Jul 6th, 2009, 13:59

Points to namaste cat for registering that magda is female!

theicarus · Jul 6th, 2009, 14:37

Magda - it's largely determined by where in India you are going to work. The dress 'norms' in India vary quite dramatically even among large cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, and certainly across smaller towns.
It's also a function of the kind of media organisation, but that's a finer distinction which I will leave you to navigate!
cheers

Hal · Jul 6th, 2009, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Points to namaste cat for registering that magda is female!

Oops. Sorry Magda. I'm familiar with the name, but it just didn't register late last night.
Most of the women wear a salwar kameez in the office I visit.

arunganpath · Jul 7th, 2009, 12:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hal

Oops. Sorry Magda. I'm familiar with the name, but it just didn't register late last night.
Most of the women wear a salwar kameez in the office I visit.

Hi Magda, formal trousers and shirts for women is common in Delhi and Mumbai. But in Kolkata and Chennai, they aren't.

mridula · Jul 7th, 2009, 12:59

Yes, I wear formal shirts and trousers quite frequently (Delhi region) and there are no issues. Long skirts are fine too. I mean keep it formal for a week and then decide.

theicarus · Jul 7th, 2009, 13:00

Just to add to that: in Mumbai smart casual for women is fine. So jeans are good as long as you mix it well....

new_traveller · Jul 7th, 2009, 13:05

I would suggest check it with the company you intend to work with. Different organizations have different dresscode policies.
So it might be casuals throughout the week or it might also be office formals throughout the week except on fridays.
Smaller companies (less workforce not revenues) might not have such policies but since an indian daily from the times group etc might have specifications.

Clothes are cheap in india- So you need not worry much.

Have a pleasent stay.

puchoo · Jul 7th, 2009, 13:15

Unless you are shopping at Primark or Tescos

Quote:

Originally Posted by new_traveller

Clothes are cheap in india- So you need not worry much.

Have a pleasent stay.

Schmile · Jul 8th, 2009, 22:58

I am going in August to work as a Journalist in Bangalore and the dress code is described as "casual non revealing clothes"

I plan to bring a combination of both long and short sleeves shirts and coloured jeans (white, black, blue) some 3/4 length and some full length and well as a couple of cotton skirts.

I hope this helps. I have bought some Indian clothes to wear already and will probably pick up more there.

new_traveller · Jul 9th, 2009, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmile

I am going in August to work as a Journalist in Bangalore and the dress code is described as "casual non revealing clothes"

I plan to bring a combination of both long and short sleeves shirts and coloured jeans (white, black, blue) some 3/4 length and some full length and well as a couple of cotton skirts.

I hope this helps. I have bought some Indian clothes to wear already and will probably pick up more there.

Sounds perfect, your dressign can evolve as you start working there.
All the best for the new assignment

Nick-H · Jul 9th, 2009, 14:11

Interesting new word there!

dressign --- the design of a dress.

dressign --- the sign, or signature, or identity projected by a persons's choice of dress.

Typos can be both funny and interesting! Thanks for the thoughts!

new_traveller · Jul 9th, 2009, 15:55

Nice way to look at it. So i will not correct the typo and leave it just the way it is.

Jul 6th, 2009, 09:51	#1
Magda86 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 2	Workplace dress codes I'm a young journalist and will be spending 2 months working as a reporter for a Indian daily. Dress code in the West is very relaxed in my line of work...does anyone know whether this is also the case in India? Is it more formal? I don't want to show up in jeans and feel hopelessly out of place.... Could people who've worked in India give me packing tips? Thanks Magda

Jul 7th, 2009, 12:59	#8
mridula Sair Kar Duniya Ki Galib , Jindagani Fir Kahan ... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 2,587	Yes, I wear formal shirts and trousers quite frequently (Delhi region) and there are no issues. Long skirts are fine too. I mean keep it formal for a week and then decide. __________________ Mridula Travel Tales from India

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Jul 6th, 2009, 10:05	#2
Hal . . . _ _ _ . . . Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,303	The standard dress in most offices seems to be trousers and a collared shirt. No tie, no jacket, Rarely jeans - they're too hot anyway. I have worked in an architectural/engineering office for a couple of weeks at a time and I usually pack 2-3 pairs of light cotton or linen trousers and 3-4 collared shirts. Laundry is cheap and available.

Jul 6th, 2009, 10:49	#3
namaste_cat Kashmiri-Punjabi Sherni Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Amreeka Posts: 941	It's not formal, as far as I know. You can't go wrong w/ salwar kameez, that is if you feel comfortable wearing it. Otherwise, kurta/tunic and linen/cotton trousers should be fine, I'd think.

Jul 6th, 2009, 13:59	#4
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	Points to namaste cat for registering that magda is female!

Jul 6th, 2009, 14:37	#5
theicarus Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bombay Posts: 63	Magda - it's largely determined by where in India you are going to work. The dress 'norms' in India vary quite dramatically even among large cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, and certainly across smaller towns. It's also a function of the kind of media organisation, but that's a finer distinction which I will leave you to navigate! cheers

Jul 7th, 2009, 13:00	#9
theicarus Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bombay Posts: 63	Just to add to that: in Mumbai smart casual for women is fine. So jeans are good as long as you mix it well....

Jul 7th, 2009, 13:05	#10
new_traveller Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: western india Posts: 132	I would suggest check it with the company you intend to work with. Different organizations have different dresscode policies. So it might be casuals throughout the week or it might also be office formals throughout the week except on fridays. Smaller companies (less workforce not revenues) might not have such policies but since an indian daily from the times group etc might have specifications. Clothes are cheap in india- So you need not worry much. Have a pleasent stay.

Jul 8th, 2009, 22:58	#12
Schmile Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 11	I am going in August to work as a Journalist in Bangalore and the dress code is described as "casual non revealing clothes" I plan to bring a combination of both long and short sleeves shirts and coloured jeans (white, black, blue) some 3/4 length and some full length and well as a couple of cotton skirts. I hope this helps. I have bought some Indian clothes to wear already and will probably pick up more there.

Jul 9th, 2009, 14:11	#14
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	Interesting new word there! dressign --- the design of a dress. dressign --- the sign, or signature, or identity projected by a persons's choice of dress. Typos can be both funny and interesting! Thanks for the thoughts!

Jul 9th, 2009, 15:55	#15
new_traveller Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: western india Posts: 132	Nice way to look at it. So i will not correct the typo and leave it just the way it is.