https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:01:34 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-410165 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:57:56 +0000 Mellllls 410165@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree that smart casual should be the way to go. But I would caution to dress it up a notch for your first day. As a 21 year old fresh out of college, on my first day of law school I dressed how I normally dressed for college classes...(i think a denim skirt and top). ALOT of people wore suits and I felt out of place. This was just for the first day, and actually, it was the first day of orientation. Being so young and inexperienced it hadn't occurred to me to dress up for the first day. But if I was going back to school now I certainly would. I would guess that an e-MBA would be similar to law school in terms of the professionalism of the students, and that the e-MBA students would actually be more professional esp. since it is geared and mid-career executives.<br /> good luck! sounds like a great program. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-410162 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:52:34 +0000 MsMaven 410162@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow--congratulations Michelle. I've been taking classes in Continuing Studies at Stanford for about five years now, so I should be able to give you some help since I'm on campus at least once a week.</p> <p>Dress overall is what the above posters have said, very casual, but not even that--I have seen adults come to class in appalling rags. This might not be true for the business school, but then, you will be in Silicon Valley where the level of dress in certain industries is um--low. There are, however, a few who do dress quite well and I appreciate them. I had one woman professor last year who was a joy--I looked forward to class to see what she would wear. Her full-time teaching position was in another school at SF, however, so that may explain her chic wardrobe.</p> <p>Overall I think it's fair to say that the dress is quite conservative in the sense that people stick to the casual basics. A few do dress better though, and I think you can find your niche in smart casual. </p> <p>I do see women wearing heels occasionally, but the norm is flat shoes or low heels. If your classes are confined to the business building you won't have to do as much walking and will have more leeway, but there are a lot of uneven areas and people cut across open areas a lot. There are many cyclists on campus--you've got to be ready to jump out of the way if you are on a bike path. </p> <p>I see a big variation on campus. I'm sure you will be able to find your niche and be comfortable and stylish. Not to mention you will be next door to Stanford Shopping Center--temptation! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-410155 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:46:26 +0000 bella 410155@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I second Kate's suggestion. MBA students dress a notch better than the other students on campus, so I am sure executive MBAs put in even more effort. I would plan a week worth of business casual outfits to start with and take if from there depending on the vibe I get from other students. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-410141 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:32:57 +0000 Kate 410141@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would opt for somewhere between smart casual and business casual. The MBA students at my school tend to wear business casual outfits (some bordering on business formal, some more smart casual) around campus. You can usually tell the MBA and law students from the other grad students around campus based on what they're wearing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-410131 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:11:41 +0000 cciele 410131@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another vote for smart casual, maybe more leaning toward business casual as you scope out how others dress.</p> <p>Even though you'll be with high-level execs, it is Bay Area, California. People dress down a lot here.</p> <p>Check out Angie's blog post on smart casual, if you haven't already:<br /> <a href="http://youlookfab.com/2011/06/13/smart-casual-for-women/" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/2011/06/.....for-women/</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-410047 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:28:47 +0000 Michelle 410047@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is fantastic ~ thanks for the advice. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-410030 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:08:19 +0000 chewyspaghetti 410030@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd also go smart casual, and use it as your weekend wardrobe when you're back to work. What a great reason to go shopping! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-409991 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:54:51 +0000 rachylou 409991@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Best look: your cycling gear</p> <p>Second best:</p> <p>Bootcut jeans + polo shirt + V-neck sweater + heel (consider a stacked heel; no sandals - mules and sling-backs OK; pants hemmed long) OR tennies </p> <p>Jewelry: one piece only</p> <p>Make-up: The no make-up look</p> <p>Hair: Pony tail</p> <p>Gear: iPhone, ruled pad of paper, pen, no iPad (you can start bringing a PC tablet later, if you must)</p> <p>Don't wear all new clothes on the first day</p> <p>;&gt; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-409945 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:21:54 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 409945@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Congrats! IME Stanford has a campus-meets-preppy-meets-West Coast vibe, but I bet the b-school skews more businessy. I like the idea of business casual to start, with the option of smart casual as you see how people go on. I personally wouldn't start with jeans, but I am sure that a dark jean styled correctly would be fine for the more casual days. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-409933 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:37:13 +0000 MsMary 409933@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, my! What a fun and exciting opportunity!</p> <p>I would go Smart Casual all the way: Fab jeans or other slim pants, fab top, fab jacket or cardi, fab shoes/boots, fab bag, fab scarf/necklace/earrings/watch/bracelet(s). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-409931 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:34:03 +0000 modgrl 409931@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Michelle, Congratulations on starting your graduate program! What an exciting time for you! I am not in the business field, but it seems like a program for mid career exec's would be a great place for networking. I would not wear normal campus attire. This is not going to be appropriate for b-school. I would follow something between the business casual and smart casual formulas. I love the smart casual formula Sylvie posted above... I would definitely keep the jeans and shoes on the very smart side. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-409930 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:30:39 +0000 Kristine 409930@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd go business or smart casual. I'm sure CEOs won't be in sweatshirts. You could make some important connections so it's a chance to make a good impression. I'd try things like:</p> <p>Dress pants, blouse and cardigan<br /> Dark jeans, dressy top or blazer<br /> Sheath dress and woven scarf </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-409925 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:21:45 +0000 Sylvie 409925@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think you can wear business casual if you want, but otherwise, I suppose you're looking at smart casual</p> <p>In your place, my goto outfit would be</p> <p>jeans + top + tailored jacket + fun shoes </p> <p>This keeps things casual but maintains enough structure to be professional. Any of the MOTG outfits would also work I think. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-for-graduate-school-executive-mba#post-409923 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:15:10 +0000 Michelle 409923@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm about to start a full time masters program for mid-career execs at Stanford. Most of the students have ~20 years experience and range in rank from Director to CEO. There are 60 in the cohort, 10 women.</p> <p>What to wear? I've been told "campus attire" is the norm, but eesh, I'd like to have a bit more fun with my clothes than jeans and sweatshirts!</p> <p>Business casual will be too much, any other suggestions? Hoping the wardrobe I build can serve as a killer weekend wardrobe once I'm back to work next year.</p> <p>FWIW, I'm especially interested in shoes and at 5'4" don't want to give up on heels. </p>