One Chinese proverb warns us about the importance of how we dress when living in a foreign land: “Away from home they look at your clothes. At home they look at what is under them.” So should expats be extra conscientious of their clobber?
Do you see what I see?
Even if we were told as children to never judge a book by its cover – for the clothes do not make the man – unfortunately we can’t really help it. “It is impossible to wear clothes without transmitting social signals,” said Desmond Morris, author of The Naked Ape. “Every costume tells a story, often a very subtle one, about its wearer.”
What’s the context?
But if clothing is a very visible form of non-verbal communication, our fashion choices (or lack thereof) can be interpreted in many different ways depending on the context and situation. Cross-cultural situations can complicate matters, but if an executive from Silicon Valley travels to Tokyo for a high-level meeting, the onus is on the visitor to carefully consider his or her attire and adjust.
Fashion faux pas
For anyone looking to make a splash, tread softly. In October 2018, the US First Lady Melania Trump, unaware of the colonial connotations, sported a spotless, white pith helmet while on Safari in Kenya. Moral of the story? Do a little research. Make sure you’re aware of the cultural meaning and history of ethnic garments or traditional headwear before wearing them (even if it’s a fancy dress party). This is even more important if the clothing or headwear has any religious significance.
More approachable
When you are dressing for work, expats can always play it safe, choosing neat, conservative, fuss-free attire. But, depending on the context, we can’t promise that is always ideal. For example, according to one cultural adaptation coach, a foreigner in India is not expected to follow local dress code at work but they will be more approachable if they do.
Fashion consultant
For social events, when in doubt, some say it’s better to dress up than down though turning up at a business casual event dressed in a tuxedo/ ball gown could make for a long night. Our advice is to always ask another guest, preferably a local or a very well-informed expat, about the dress code. To decide who might give the shrewdest sartorial guidance, feel free to judge a book by its cover.
This article was originally published for the thousands of expat partners that Global Connection supports around the globe. It is reproduced here in its original form.
