Q. "Can I provide feedback on an employee's or potential employee's clothing?"
Answer:
Yes, if it does not conform to your dress code policy, you can certainly let the employee know, ask them to change, and discipline them for violating the policy.
If you don’t have a personal appearance or dress code policy, we recommend creating one. It should reflect your work environment and focus on a few points:
Employee Safety. Hazards in the workplace may necessitate personal protective equipment or avoiding attire that could pose a hazard.
Discrimination. A policy may seem neutral when in reality, it negatively affects a certain group of people. For example, requiring women wear makeup or hair is not "frizzy" might sound reasonable but burden a particular gender, race, or other protected class and could be considered discriminatory.
Culture. Is your culture formal or casual? The more formal your environment, the more specific your dress code may need to be. Don't assume employees know what "business casual" looks like.
Regarding potential employees, we recommend not commenting on appearance during the interview process. If your organization does require more formal, expensive attire, or has a policy about piercings or tattoos, we do recommend communicating that in the job posting and during the interview. Applicants should understand expectations ahead of time.
Whatever your policy, remember to include it in your Staff Handbook and enforce it consistently.