In hospitality, first impressions count for so much, a fact that student ambassador and alumni ambassador, Aashrit Maheish, feels very passionate about. A previous contributor to the Les Roches blog on the topic of what to pack for your first year on-campus, Aashrit now shares his top five uniform tips to help you look your best, whether on-campus or at work.
It’s 7am on a Monday, you’re getting ready for yet another day at the hotel, excited and energised to delight as many people as possible by leveraging your superpower of being a hotelier. You put on a crisp, ironed shirt or top, slide into your elegant trousers or a skirt and finally wear a gorgeous jacket. You take one final look in the mirror and you’re all set to leave.
You might be already and perfectly attired in the traditional definition of your grooming handbook, but in the hospitality industry, there are certain intangible aspects of dressing up that are often overlooked. The incorporation of these is essential and helps you go the extra mile and be noticed for all the right reasons. This article talks about a few of these intangible components and their importance in the contribution to your attire.
1. Cufflinks
Cufflinks are items of jewellery that are used to secure the cuffs of dress shirts. They are an alternative to buttons that are usually sewn onto shirts and come in many materials, shapes and sizes. Metal cufflinks are the most popular types of cufflinks and are something you cannot go wrong with.
When choosing a cufflink, it is important to consider the occasion as well as the suit you are wearing. A simple pair of cufflinks will compliment a suit with more texture and colours while a shinier, elaborate pair completes the visual appeal of a simple suit. It is also important to consider any other jewellery that you are wearing and make sure that the cufflinks pair well with the existing jewellery, especially for the ladies (yes, ladies may very well wear cufflinks too, contrary to popular belief).
2. Tie pins
Gentlemen, this one is exclusively for you. A tie bar or tie clip is a neat and stylish metal accessory that secures your tie to your shirt. Is it necessary to wear one? No! But there are so many great reasons to wear one and so few not to.
“A tie pin must be about 70% of the width of your tie, placed between the third and fourth button of your shirt and always positioned horizontally.”
A tie pin is one of the most functional accessories which keeps your tie in place all day long. It looks good and adds depth to your attire, especially when complimented with the right cufflinks.
A tie pin must be about 70% of the width of your tie, placed between the third and fourth button of your shirt and always positioned horizontally, while also including your shirt in the grasp. While there are many whacky styles available, you’d best keep it simple if you’re working in hospitality for the sake of professionalism. You wouldn’t want a general manager of a luxury 5-star hotel walking around with a tie pin shaped like a handlebar moustache, would you?
3. Perfumes
In this short list, perfume is the only accessory that is truly intangible, but it is probably one of the most important aspects of your daily routine. A perfume showcases who you are, your personality, your demeanour and has the ability to influence the atmosphere of every room you walk into.
“A softer, aqua or floral perfume works best for job interviews, while a stronger, woody perfume works in leadership roles.”
When choosing a perfume, it is important to consider the occasion as well as a perfume that would represent you, since it is an extension of your personality. A softer, aqua or floral perfume works best for job interviews where you don’t want to come off as a dominating person, while a stronger, woody perfume works in leadership roles, especially during meetings when you want to convince your team and put a foot forward.
4. Polished Shoes
While this may sound like a no-brainer, this is something that is often done wrong in the modern age. With the advent of instant shoe polish and other such claims, the art of polishing shoes has disappeared.
Instant shoe shines work well in emergencies but they do not last for more than a couple of hours. Do yourself a favour, invest in a quality shoe brush, shoe wax some shoe cream and learn to create a quality mirror shine, then see the heads turning as you walk into work with those shiny shoes.
5. Smile
Lastly, always wear a smile. It is the most important aspect of your attire. Even if none of the above are incorporated, learn to always have a smile on your face and you’ll see the world becoming a better place. What’s more, in this world of commercialism, a smile costs absolutely nothing.
To conclude, we’ve all heard the saying “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have”, and that means you can no longer get away with the same uniform you chose at the start of your career. It’s time to start considering the subtle details of your daily dress and the message they convey to those around you.
You can learn more about perfumes at Aashrit’s personal blog, and discover what happened when Les Roches students had the chance to work on a real-life project for Moncler, in another of his blog contributions.
