Appropriate clothes for working in CH

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
21
I'm not an expert, but I am a woman who's been working here for five years and sometimes meets Swiss clients. I have noticed that Swiss working women are often very practically dressed for everyday compared with my experience of the UK and US - no dry-clean-only tighty-tighty dresses and perilous heels in the office.

I would bring one suit (ie a matched skirt or trouser and jacket combo) and closed-toe black or brown shoes, with a heel if you normally wear heels or without if you don't. This will be a safe bet for the first day and any external meetings and if you find everyone else in your office is dressed in a suit, you can wear it all week.

For most days, I usually wear dark non-jean trousers or a skirt below the thigh, a light top which isn't very tight or cleavage-showing, and a cardigan or jacket or jumper over that. Bare legs and sandals are fine in summer but I think you might get cold this time of year and currently wear skirts with tights.

As others have noted, the problem is that it's chilly on the way to work and very warm in the office, so think layers that you can remove. I wouldn't bother with boots in luggage though (they take up a lot of space), I just wear trainers to the office and have a pair of low heels under the desk.

22
If you have big feet, forget it. I have size 42 feet (Swiss) and only the most orthopedic shops here stock shoes (I buy shoes when I visit England). Also, not sure shoes are cheaper here than *anywhere*, expect to pay about 200 francs for middling quality.

23
Not in the places I've worked in Basel. We've even had champagne breakfasts on occasion.

To be on the safe side though, observe your office culture first.

Basel is more casual about this. In my office we share a coffee room with the executive suite. Except for one or two old fogies, it's all du and first names. Interestingly, the old fogies are happy to use first names when conversing in English.

Again, to be on the safe side, start off formal. You never know - that young person might be an old fogie inside.

24
Now thats simply a total lie..... all the womens shoe shops have 42. Maybe not in every style but its possible.

25
Oh well, obviously I was imagining it when staff in Ochsner, Dosenbach, Bata Schuhe, Clarks and a couple of independent shops in Zurich in the last three months when I was looking for sandals, then.

Coop has a few fairly frumpy and desperately overpriced options.

26
My OH doesn't have any problems getting that size

27
I wear a 41 and never have any problem. 42s are indeed a bit harder to find but I have seen plenty in Ochsner and Dosenbach in Neuchâtel. Maybe Swiss French have bigger feet?

28
Perhaps you'd like to share where she shops instead of calling me a liar?

29
As 2 of us have seen and i have bought for OH its obviously not a problem.

She goes to the normal shops plus italian shoe outlets btw - never online

30
As you are female I would not go without thongs, or shorts (if I remember Australian slang correctly)

31
Hop a train to Germany; all sizes and at least half those prices

32
Go into any branch of Vögele Shoes , find a style you like and carefully look at the sticky label. There will be two numbers, eg. 35 - 43 This means the shoe is available from sizes 35 through to 43. You take the shoe to the counter and order 2 pairs, maybe the 42 and the 43, (As with some styles it can become critical due to the shape of your feet) and you give the assistant your phone number.

About 5 working days later they will call you, your shoes are in the shop. You go back and try the shoes on, and then buy the pair which suits you best.

I often write about this trick on here, it really is simple, and you get modern styled shoes at normal prices.

33
@ Eva Sidney, one thing you could do which will ingratiate you into the Aussie community in Basel, is to offer to bring over small amounts of sweets or luxuries, like Vegemite.

34
Vegemite is available here

35
Or just go online.

36
Architect offices vary for 8 to 80.

There are offices that have dress codes, some have no dress codes.

Some offices will be populated by hipsters. Some offices will be populated by the old muffled adagio of architects all dressed in black. Some offices will allow t-shirts and sandals. I worked with them all.

Check the documentation of the company that hired you. Is there a dress code included?

People who deal with clients - mostly secretarial and architects themselves - wear casual business styled clothes (no ties).

You can check a general "what do Swiss consider business like" here:

Example for Business

Construction managers wear casual clothes: mostly jeans with a collared shirt.

Draughtsmen and Trainees usually wear casual clothes - jeans and a nice blouse/collared shirt. Unless the office is very "young", t-shirts are usually not allowed unless you are one of the 15 year old trainees.

Women's very high heels are usually frowned upon. Needle heels are a big no. Mostly comfortable pumps or flat shoes are required because you never know when you could be called to the construction site. (Please be aware in some offices people actually change into house shoes. This was a cultural shock to me. My current office has a ban on this practice.)

There is nothing wrong with bright colours, but you will stand out because Central Europeans have a taste for the darker or pastel/grey colours. I am easily identified in the construction site because I'm the only one to use bright red. If you are shy and don't like to stand out, avoid them. But you will not be thought less of for using colour.

About jewelry: it's a very individual thing. A big ethnic necklace will work if the clothes are simple enough and the earrings are relatively small. Too busy will be slightly frowned upon.

In the end, depending on the office you will be working, you will notice the dress codes, even the ones that are simply implied, are actually rather lax. Avoid too short skirts, too deep cuts, wear comfortable clothes and you will be fine.

37
Your future boss probably has an assistant. Ask the boss for the assistant's email, for some organizational questions, and ask the assistant to help you. Offices in Switzerland can be very different - even inside the same company. Our company has several Swiss facilities and one is strict business, the other one not even business casual, but casual casual, so it's better to get this info direct from source.

38
Myself I never buy clothes or shoes online.