"Feeling unique is a habit you shouldn't give up."

- Alberto Fermani



"Anyone can get all dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their off days that is the most intriguing."

-Alexander Wang



6.23.2011

Work Appropriate

Summer Work Outfit

Elizabeth and James crinkle top
$245 - net-a-porter.com

Long jacket
$396 - aliceandolivia.com

Stripe skirt
$188 - reissonline.com

Castor Pollux monogrammed bracelet
$40 - castorandpolluxstore.com

Kenneth cole earrings
$26 - endless.com



I kind of have a "thing" about being dressed appropriately. Growing up, my mom and dad were pretty strict about what I could wear and where. For example, dresses for church, no shorts to school, nicer clothes for a trip on an airplane. To this day, you will not catch me in sweats (Juicy or otherwise) when I'm travelling.

It goes without saying that the industry I work in allows me quite a bit of flexibility with regards to what I wear. However, I really believe that, even in these times of business casual, there are rules that should be followed when working. Being allowed to wear jeans shouldn't mean your most faded weekend-bumming-around jeans. And, if your position involves meeting with clients or interviewing potential employees or managing a staff, your clothes should reflect this. If you are a receptionist for a business, you are the first face most customers will see. Why not make a great impression?

Then, there are the people who DO make the effort to dress up for work and yet still miss the mark. Case in point, today I saw a woman returning to her office from lunch in DC. She was wearing a very fitted black dress with leather details on the shoulders and a leather peplum at the waistline. The skirt hit about 3 inches above her knees. She started at the top with red lipstick and finished at the bottom with 4 inch black heels. It was the kind of outfit that makes you wiggle when you walk, almost involuntarily. It was a lot. Dressy, yes. Appropriate, no. It just goes to show that there is such as thing as overdressed.

No comments:

Post a Comment