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Ask the Image Expert Sherry Maysonave is the founder and president of Empowerment Enterprises, one of America's leading communication-image firms. Sherry conducts corporate seminars and coaches executives, professionals, and politicians in achieving excellence in communication and image. She is also the author of Casual Power: How to Power Up your Nonverbal Communication and Dress Down for Success
Nailpolish colorsQuestion: What colors are off-limit for fingernail polish in the workplace? And how acceptable is it to not wear any at all? Our office is business casual.Keri
Answer: Dear Keri, Let's start with the off-limit colors. In today's workplace, shades of green, blue, silver, gold, yellow, or purple are not acceptable even in a business casual environment. Perhaps they will be acceptable in another ten years, but today they sabotage a woman when worn in the workplace. That is, unless she works in the beauty, fashion, or nail industries. Even then, I have observed unusual nail colors working against someone's career goals. If you want to get ahead, also avoid all nail art in the business arena. The off-limit colors named above are acceptable in your social time. They can look great, especially on toenails if you're vacationing in a beach resort. The colors that remain acceptable in today's workplace are shades of red, pink, and coral. Neutral beige shades, clear polishes, and the French manicures are also all acceptable. Whether or not to wear any polish, or particularly a color, is a personal choice. Our hands are powerful communicators. Therefore, clean well-manicured nails are essential to a polished professional image. Others observe our hands much more than we know. With that in mind, I advise everyone to keep his or her nails well groomed. Colored-polish haters can wear clear polish or they can opt for the French manicure look, which is a natural look. Good luck in finding what works for you.
Best Regards,
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