https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:21:53 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-821795 Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:23:04 +0000 rachylou 821795@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Anne, my greatest folly in life (ok, one of 'em) was thinking that once I got out of high school, I'd be leaving all the stupidity behind. But alas, the difference between the office and school is:</p> <p>- Office: If you can't go with the flow, you get fired.</p> <p>- School: If you can't go with the flow, you get shoved into your own locker.</p> <p>Also, more terrifying to realize: You are who you're going to be already when in school.</p> <p>***<br /> Mander - I need to get to work on that! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-821675 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:12:55 +0000 Mander 821675@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@rachylou: What about one of those wrist corsages, whatever they are called, to clip your badge to? ;-)</p> <p>Some friends of ours organized a dinner party a few years ago, which we called "gout night" because it centered around a bunch of fancy, rich food. Just for fun we all wore fancy dresses and suits.</p> <p>I'm thinking we should do it again... I have a fabulous ball gown that has never been worn sitting in my closet! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-821659 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:51:22 +0000 Charmian 821659@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I participate in Formal Friday every quarter -- it's super fun. However, my cocktail/black-tie capsule is non-existant, so I just pull on a nice frock and wander down for the champagne. Others treat the day as an excuse to bust out "costumey" clothes (eg, a steampunk-inspired suit). Most folks just smile indulgently at us and turn back to their monitor.</p> <p>It's definitely easier to dress up when other people do it. So Formal Friday is easy; every Friday ... not so much.</p> <p>Lastly, participating in Formal Friday draws me closer to other participants (likely due to the fact that over half the office does not participate). In software, and in my company especially, your effectiveness is directly correlated to the quality and breadth of your professional network. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-821596 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:35:33 +0000 cciele 821596@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Charmian -- that's interesting how your "normal" clothes get noticed at work (and they don't seem that out of place to me) and that your coworkers do celebrate Formal Fridays! Have you joined in the festivities?</p> <p>Anne -- I think it totally depends on the company and person. I find that kind of stuff, if it doesn't seem forced, is a great way to get people together and reinforce company culture. I have friends who work at large corporations with none of the fun stuff and they report it is rather depressing environment to work in (basically, people mind their own business and there's not a lot of interpersonal interaction). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-821580 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:02:41 +0000 Anonymous 821580@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting. I find many things about corporate culture to be reminiscent of elementary school. Parties, dress-up or dress-down days, etc. Am I the only one who finds this kind of stuff just ... ridiculous? It would drive me crazy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-821561 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:31:18 +0000 rachylou 821561@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm. The Badge, aka "My Jewelry"... I wonder if it could be turned into a dance card or something?</p> <p>Hmm.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-821556 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:25:57 +0000 unfrumped 821556@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Haha, that could be a YLF challenge--what is the most formal outfit you can wear to work and not start a gossip wave or get booted out! Fallback fib is, oh, I've got an event after work..... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-821054 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:35:27 +0000 Charmian 821054@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's so funny that you should post about this at the same time I'm lamenting <a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-i-dress-casually-at-work-an-example">not dressing up at work (temporarily)</a>!</p> <p>Context: I work at the Seattle branch of a company headquartered in Silicon Valley. We definitely observe Formal Friday up here. However, we do it only once a quarter, so that the folks who want to <em>really</em> get into it aren't burned out by dressing up all the time. I'm talking white-tie, limos, champagne toasts, and games of croquet on the office lawn. It's not a policy thing, it's just driven by a few employees who love dressing up.</p> <p>Incidentally, there is no good place on a ballgown to hang your badge. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-820737 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:30:27 +0000 MsMary 820737@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Remember, Una and I thought of it first! We've always said when we open our joint law firm the first rule is going to be Sequin Friday!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-820735 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:27:56 +0000 Angie 820735@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Typing away in your ball gown and suits on Friday. Why not! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-820731 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:26:43 +0000 cciele 820731@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great idea Suz! Let's do it </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-820616 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 22:36:59 +0000 Suz 820616@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cathy, maybe all us work-at-homes can do a YLF Formal Friday! That would be a fun challenge! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-820602 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 22:28:03 +0000 cciele 820602@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Too bad I usually work from home on Fridays. Maybe I can just incorporate it into my normal Friday dress </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-819632 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 02:21:19 +0000 Sveta 819632@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Too bad they will never go for it in my high tech office </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-819630 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 02:20:47 +0000 Jaime 819630@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am going to try to slyly introduce it around here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-819626 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 02:18:08 +0000 rachylou 819626@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think that's hilarious. I too am for it, if I can wear a ball gown. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-819615 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 02:12:21 +0000 Amy 819615@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>lyn, if you wear a ballgown, I will too. Dare you </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-819601 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 02:02:46 +0000 Thistle 819601@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting idea! I wonder if it will go to black tie levels, let us get the CPW down on some of our fancy frocks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-819503 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:37:23 +0000 Anonymous 819503@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a fun idea! Some people seem to have no idea how to dress up. Days like this might help. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-819502 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:36:52 +0000 Deborah 819502@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love this idea, but I can see my colleagues eyes rolling already!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-819498 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:35:13 +0000 Kristin SF 819498@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I work in SV and most of the folks around here work at home on Fridays, lol. But I don't work for a start-up....sounds more fun! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-819494 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:32:44 +0000 lyn* 819494@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>LOL; if I can wear a ballgown on Formal Friday, I'm all for it! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-819491 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:29:22 +0000 MsMary 819491@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love it! </p> <p>BTW, the Marines are doing this, too! Instead of their camis, they are wearing their "service alphas," which are the super-nice outfits with neckties, on Fridays. Although the rank-and-file Marines are not digging it nearly as much as the Silicon Valley denizens seem to be... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-819407 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:06:48 +0000 Caro in Oz 819407@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It is fun - I would have really enjoyed this. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-819405 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:02:21 +0000 milehighstyle (Linda) 819405@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love the idea! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/formal-fridays-latest-silicon-valley-workplace-fad#post-819401 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:59:09 +0000 cciele 819401@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324677204578184022807118216.html" rel="nofollow">http://online.wsj.com/article/.....18216.html</a></p> <p>My apologies if someone has already posted this link.</p> <p>Wonder how long this trend will last. Nice to see people having fun with fashion in the workplace! </p>