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Consulting and denim?

gardenchick

Veteran

I have been thinking about this lately and am curious to get some perspectives. A few years ago I left my full-time job (which was more corporate in culture) to start working as a consultant. I now work with non-profit organizations on strategy and facilitation.

I still haven't figured out what the appropriate attire is for "consultant wear." My clients wear blue jeans to the office and meetings, but somehow this feels too casual to me. I have worn my white and black jeans to meetings but haven't crossed the "blue jean" line yet. I do feel comfortable wearing my jean jacket at meetings and would probably wear a denim dress if I had one.

I facilitated a meeting for an outdoors organization recently that was designated as "casual"--in my sweater set and trousers, I was the most dressed-up person in the room! Any thoughts on "consultant wear" including denim?

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from gardenchick

jill58

Veteran

Personally, I would stay away from blue jeans. Better to be "the most dressed-up person in the room" than the opposite.

always trying

Veteran

IMO, it is wiser to be at least a bit better dressed than your clients. maybe I am old fashioned, but it is like a teacher should not be dressed like the students-unless of course one is a yoga instructor or something.

rachylou

Veteran

I don't wear denim as a contractor and do dress a little more formally oftentimes than my clients. I feel it's appropriate since I'm not an employee, respectful, and as a consultant I *am* bringing an authority of knowledge. It's a little like wearing a badge or uniform for me to signify function. It's not necessary, tho; I admit that in the semi casual environments I'm most often in. And my suits are thus not lawyer/banker austere.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Personally, I think it depends on the client. I'm a consultant and dress differently with different clients. I wear business casual - sometimes business formal - for some clients, and smart casual denim outfits with others. But I never dress casually when I'm on the job, although clients often do. My footwear and bag are always dressy.

gardenchick

Veteran

Thanks everyone for weighing in. Generally it seems that you agree with my current approach.

Also Angie you make a good point that even blue jeans can be more dressy when paired with the right footwear and accessories.

I do love jeans for the weekend and work-at-home days so will see if/when I feel confident enough as a consultant that I can bring my weekend style into my business without feeling sloppy.

Nebraskim

Veteran

I am actually in your exact shoes as I am now doing consulting work with nonprofits on fundraising and development after a long career in university PR. I often wear a more "business casual" look for a first meeting to set the tone and also size up the situation. Some non-profits are uber-casual, others aren't. Then in subsequent meetings, I adjust.

I have worn dark blue denim (both trouser and trimmer straight-legged), with a jacket, etc. to meetings and not felt out of place. One thing I often do is wear the bottom part of a business suit (like black wool or gray herringbone) type of trousers with a denim shirt and a jacket over it. Or the business suit jacket over very dark crisp jeans.

It also depends on whom I'm meeting with at the nonprofit. Sometimes, I am meeting with them with donors or board members who are more dressed up (or we are meeting at a sort of dressy place, like a country club or bank office), so I do ramp up then.

I also feel it's important for ME to always have my clothing look crisp, pressed and pristine. I know there's a lot of hate about ironing, but it's a must in my book. I press my jeans; I know many do not.

I have a pretty definite sporty/collegiate/preppy style though that has a lot of crossovers into various aspects of my life; and because I am working a lot with people I already know, there is some level of forgiveness on this. I would never wear torn, super-casual, baggie boyfriend-style denim in any sort of work situation, however. (Or actually, in real life.)

Anonymous

I wanted to second the opinions of Jill58, Always Trying, and Rachylou. I feel that as a consultant, you should be a bit more professionally dressed than your clients. It might seem appropriate to wear jeans since they are wearing them; it is not. There is an underlying belief that you are not on the same level playing field as them. That distinction is shown through dress. IF you have worked with the same team for a long time, then that distinction might relax and then jeans might be appropriate.

abc

Veteran

Agreeing with the others. I'm a consultant (but employee, not independent) and have been off and on through my entire career. I believe you need to be a smidge bit dressier than your client for all the reasons mentioned here. Many times I'm told I can wear jeans but never do, opting for the more casual side of biz casual, enough to show my position and experience I bring. I never regret being a slight bit dressier. That goes for real life outside of work too though and suits my personality.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sterling, I agree with your reasoning, and I DO think you need to look dressier than your clients. It imparts professionalism and authority. That said, there is something to be said for making your clients feel comfortable when you wear jeans with them. But it's HOW you wear jeans that counts. When I wear jeans, I look dressier than many who wear business casual.

One of my clients who manages the heath insurance of large companies changes her dress code according to her clients. She would never wear a suit to see REI, for example. She'll dress up jeans.

Anonymous

I agree with Sterling who agreed with preceding opinions. It's not just about being dressed up, or dressy, or even looking nice for the client. It's about presenting an appearance that supports the client's confidence that you are high functioning in the business you're advising them on.

gardenchick

Veteran

Thanks to everyone for weighing in. Really helpful.

I think my next frontier would be finding that "dressy in (nice) jeans" look. I've been working with outdoors and arts organizations recently, so I'm looking to appear stylish, authoritative AND not tremendously far from the culture of the organization.

rachylou

Veteran

On a multi-year project, I *have* worn dark, dressier trouser jeans. Just thought I'd add that

harmonica

Veteran

Thanks for this topic! I agree with the above mentioned reasons to dress up a bit. I'll keep this in mind when I'll be on the lookout for a new job, probably sometime before x-mas.

Staysfit

Veteran

Angie's statement "It's how you wear your jeans that counts. When I wear jeans, I look dressier than many who wear business casual." Is an epiphany for me. I am a consultant, and I wear jeans almost every day. I think part of the reason I get away with it is the way I wear them. I'm definitely dressier than most people in jeans. I also think that in most places I work, jeans end up being dressier than the athleisure worn by most of the other people. I am a physician, and not many doctors wear jeans, but I do and I always have. They suit my personality, my style, and my professional role. My entire personal style revolves around my looking polished while wearing jeans.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Agreed with Angie's comments on "how you wear jeans that counts." In my last job for an interior design firm, I would usually go for initial client consultations in trousers, as it was a situation almost akin to a job interview. But for many meetings with clients, we wore neat, dark wash jeans and were still more dressed up than our clients. I used to dress up jeans with blazers, blouses and pumps. As we say so often, the devil is in the details!

Joy

Veteran

This sounds like a situation that calls for crisp pressed dark jeans and a Chanel-esque tweed jacket with dressy footwear and bag.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Another point. Greg is a consultant and an extremely respected one. He consults to startups about business strategy, product and engineering. He always wears jeans. Wearing anything else in the start-up community would be inappropriate.

High five, Staysfit and Janet. You are both dressy up jeans to perfection.

Gardenchic, from what I can remember about your style, you have fussy feet which is why you wear very casual shoes. There is the detail to change. You need dressier shoes as a consultant. Greg wears dressy shoes most of the time. Also outfit polish goes a long way.

Toban

Veteran

I think geography plays a part, too. I give talks around the world, usually business casual settings like scientific conferences. On the west coast of the US and Canada, I would absolutely wear dressy jeans, with pumps or booties and a blazer, and still feel and appear authoritative (I lived in Vancouver for 20 years). I would not do that any where else and usually wear a suit with colorful tops and shoes for talks that I give in the DC area.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I think the right jeans styling is the key. If you *look* professional and stylish, I think that's what counts. I think a blazer/jacket is great with jeans and with dressy shoes/handbag and accessories it can be even better than an average outfit of non-jeans.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

I had the thought that a consultant is technically not "working for" the client, as an employee. The consultant is providing the product of expert information, analysis and advice, but the consultant is actually working for the consulting company which could even be him/herself. So there is that to consider when deciding what image or style the consultant wishes to project.

If the consultant is invited to an event or social opportunity, that would be perhaps the time to "fit in" with the client's culture. Otherwise, the consultant should not feel bad to define his/her own approach to the professional business wardrobe, taking into account any regional, customary, and personal comfort zones as well as image aspirations he/she may have.

gardenchick

Veteran

This is so great, thank you!

Joy, I very much like that idea of the tweed blazer with jeans. (I have these AT wool suit jackets that don't work with jeans, and then I feel confused.) I've been contemplating at a few but haven't figured out whether they work with my coloring. Will have to experiment in that direction.

Angie, you're right about my fussy feet and wearing casual shoes (and you have a good memory!). I have fallen arches, wide feet and bunions. I also like to walk a lot. So I only feel comfortable in my Naot Sea Mary Janes that are not particularly stylish or dressy. I need to make a goal of finding one pair of "dressier" shoes that also feel okay on my feet.

And yes, that outfit polish is always a struggle. I admire those of you who do a lot of ironing but I haven't found myself in that camp yet!