Do you express your style at work?

Lauren

*A continuation of another thread

I wanted to get everyone's opinion on how they dress in their work places. I work in technology and my office is very corporate and stuffy, and also male dominated. I can't wear tight clothing, anything even remotely revealing, and heels are often frowned upon.

The other day I wore a patterned pencil skirt to the office (outfit here: http://bit.ly/13zkKQZ) and got some interesting reactions.

Do you guys express your style at work? Do you conform to the norm? I have been told that in my male dominated work place I stand out as a female anyway, so I might as well dress how I want. But as a young new professional, I still want to make a good impression.

I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts!

13 years ago

Dressing

26 replies

Latest reply was from

rute

Veteran

of course!
One can always add a personal touch, with acessories, a color blouse, gorgeous shoes, a scarf.
Work outfits don't need to be boring!

13 years ago

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Yes, to a degree...

13 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Yes, but I work in academia, in a lab, so I have very few attire rules that I have to follow. I do stick out - most people around here don't seem to care how they dress, or else wear some version of "nice but safe" (i.e. one girl always wears dark trousers w/ solid colored sweaters). As I mentioned in another thread, I don't know anyone at all IRL who dresses like me anyway, so my clothing sticks out out no matter what.

In science I think there is still a bias toward the idea that being stylish or interested in fashion means that you are not serious about Big Important Things like Science. Most of the time, I feel that the only way to make people get over this stupid assumption is to be both fashionable AND a good scientist. I do admit to toning it down a bit (so, I'll dress nicely but more conservatively than normal) for things like big talks or interviews.

13 years ago

Beth

Veteran

Most definitely. I work for a school system and spend much of my time in the elementary schools. I wear what I like:)

13 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

Sort of. I am conservative, and I am an Accountant, so those go hand in hand. However, I find where I work to be a limiting factor. No matter how much i like those Cole Haan metallic oxfords I will never buy them. The teasing and looks I would get would take away too much of the fun factor.

13 years ago

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

Yes, I do. I work in an office with a "business casual" dress code. Denver is overall a very casual city on top of that. My style is dressy, colorful and feminine. I am one of the very few women who wear skirts, dresses, high heels and a lot of patterns and colors. I get very positive comments about my style. Nothing is tight or revealing, just fun and interesting.

13 years ago

Anonymous

Yes! I am the Academic Sci-Fi Knight!

I work in academia at a pretty relaxed and easygoing school so there is a pretty big range of style going on here at any one time. I don't think anyone bats an eye at what I wear because I still try to be professional, i.e. not overly revealing, offensive etc.

I certainly don't wear bare feet, birkenstocks and ratty jeans and a Che Guevara tee shirt (one of the profs here wears that a lot).

13 years ago

Tricia

Veteran

Mostly, yes. I work at a defense contractor outside DC, which is already a very conservative-dressing town. So it's stuffy, but not dressy-stuffy. Most of the engineers have absolutely zero fashion sense. I'll go more conservative if I'm meeting with a corporate officer, but everyone else has gotten used to my vintage dresses, patterned tights, etc. And I get a lot of compliments on my shoes - in fact, I picked up the nickname "Shoes" for a while. Hasn't held my career back at all.

That said, I am looking forward to being in Austin for a more free-spirited vibe when it comes to clothes!

13 years ago

kkards

Veteran

lauren, what were the interseting reactions? i ask because i work in a business casual office (emphasis on business), that is converative, and we have a definate male bias. one morning last week i got on the elevator, and a 20 something women got on after me, and one of the men on the elevator started to laugh. he could barely contain himself, and when he finally got off, he just let it go. Yup, he was laughing at the 20 somethings leather leggings, and top that barely covered her.
so, i agree that you should be able to be your self and show some style, but there are limits.

my rule of thumb, would you wear it to dinner with your dad?

13 years ago

T-Rex

Veteran

Yes, I do, but within company guidelines. I never wear anything that *isn't* my style, but there are plenty of things that are my style that just wouldn't be appropriate here. Sometimes, items that are on the border of being acceptable can be worked in if I wear them with different pieces than I would outside of work. Like putting a jacket or cardigan over a spaghetti strap top, or wearing a camisole under a semi-sheer item that I would ordinarily just wear with a bra if I were going to a party. Jeans, sneakers, and leggings stay home. I have worn funky knee socks with a skirt and mid heeled shoes without comment, but that is probably as far as I've ever pushed it.

I switch off tailored pants, tops, and proper dress shoes with flowy knits and boho style skirts and boots or sandals. I almost always have a shawl handy for fluctuations in tempurature both inside and out, plus they add some interest to my outfits. I wear whatever jewelry I feel like. In many ways, I'm lucky.

My very small, very discrete nose stud is in place every day. It may end up on some "forbidden" list eventually, but I'm not going to worry about it until it happens. There was a rumor that our dress code was going to tighten down severely, which had me all upset. But that was over a year or two ago, and nothing ever happened.

In short, it's my style, but edited down for corporate consumption.

13 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

Hmm, my response is yes and no. I'd like to think that I express my style at work and at play, but just in different ways, if that makes any sense. Function and image are my two priorities for work, but, within those boundaries, I still try to wear outfits that fit my personality and style aspirations.

As you pointed out, you already stand out as a young female in your environment, so I'd be a bit cautious before I put even more emphasis on how I didn't fit the norm--the added attention could be good for your career, or it could end up being detrimental, depending on how it was interpreted by upper management. In my mind, I've always thought that making smart career decisions was more important than following the dictates of fashion.

I also think men in a predominately male work environment do not react the same way to a fashionable outfit as do women colleagues. To be really blunt, I think men are much more likely to see an outfit as the basis for categorizing a female colleague as a potential sexual partner, as "one of the guys", or, in my case as an older women, as a "surrogate mother". Of the three categories, I've usually found that adopting a style that allows me to be slotted into the middle category has been the best for my career.

13 years ago

T-Rex

Veteran

I thought of a couple of things to add. When I was on the techie, more male side of my department, I had a male coworker practically drooling on my knee high boots. But that was his problem, not mine. Luckily, the rest of the department saw it as his problem as well. My coworkers joked with me about it a bit, but no one got in trouble. In his defense, he has been through surgery recently and was taking quite a few pain meds.

I'm on the the analyst side now which is more balanced between men and women. And we work closely with several other departments, some of which have a few style mavens. I've noticed which of the ladies rock their wardrobes, and I'm always quick to compliment them. I've received a few compliments myself, and I appreciate them greatly. If someone takes the time to at least try to put together an interesting outfit, it should be noted and encouraged as far as I'm concerned. Life is too short to wear boring clothing all the time.

The admin folks are a few floors up. I see a lot less creativity there, which isn't a surprise.

13 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

Absolutely. My work style is Business Bombshell and also Queen Bee (quite literally, when wearing my beloved bee blouse with the bees and crowns print!). I feel like my level of seniority lets me get away with more daring wardrobe choices than the younger lawyers (e.g. black leather skirt or tank, daytime sparkles, animal prints), and I like to take advantage of that.

However, one fails to take me seriously at one's peril, leopard pencil skirt or no leopard pencil skirt.

13 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

MaryK has an excellent point. Unfair thought it might seem, once you are older and have a more senior position, I think a woman has much more latitude with what she can wear to work. As a matter of fact, wearing a fashionable outfit can help an older woman avoid being slotted into the "surrogate mother" category. A leopard pencil skirt can be viewed as a sign of confidence instead of having a sexual connotation (maybe also inspiring a little fear and respect from younger males that you might have to supervise?)

I also think that working in an environment with a mix of males and females, or even having a female boss or supervisor, can alter the atmosphere in the work place, making it more fashion friendly. But, as a newby, I'd be a bit cautious before I put my love of fashion ahead of fitting in to my environment. But that's just my two cents.

13 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I agree, Gaylene.

I also think it's not only women. For example, the bow tie or a seersucker suit that says "confidence" on a 50-something male lawyer is likely to say "eccentric in a bad way" on a fresh-out-of-school male lawyer.

13 years ago

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

I come from the other end of the spectrum in that my professional environmental norm is uber casual bordering on sloppy, IMO.

I'm a professional dog trainer for those that I don't know me. My style has to be balanced with practicality. I also have to be approachable but have a professional, credible appearance. Men sometimes have trouble taking instruction from women (esp younger than they), plus my method is rewards-based, sometimes not taken as seriously seen as too permissive or soft especially by older men.

So I get to be "me" but leave the nice shoes, blazer, good tops, skirts and dresses at home. I'm stuck with jeans or other durable, replaceable, pants, no sweaters that might snag and nothing that would be a tragedy if drooled or shed upon or potentially ripped by sharp puppy teeth. I can't wear heels, nor anything revealing (not that I am apt to anyway).

I don't have to worry about dress codes, co-workers and such as I am the boss, biz co-owner. What is most salient is staying practical and utilitarian and balancing that with looking like I am professional, reliable and that I know what I'm talking about. I'm not concerned about being conservative (or not). I have piercings and tattoos about which I am not shy, however this is Seattle and very accepted as normal especially in my profession.

I have never had anyone make comments about my appearance in that setting.

13 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I express my fashion sense at work, which is pretty darn quirky. I do not give it free reign tho. Don't want to disturb anyone.

***
I'd be interested to hear what sort of comments your paisley skirt got. I work in tech and am curious as to what sort of technology we're talking when it comes to your company and where your offices are located. 'Cuz on the one hand it's hard for me to imagine anyone in technology getting that excited about a paisley skirt. On the other hand, I do know tons of people who find paisley distinctly *too much*, including my b.f. the engineer.

***
As a young professional, my strategy was smart and plain. Neat and trim preppy (as opposed to slouchy preppy), button down. Low, square-heeled court shoes.

Others who caught my attention and did quite well: One was a girl who wore sleeveless sheaths, cardigans, and kitten heel mules. Now while her exact formula is something that could only be done in California, her overall impression was also neat and trim preppy. Except she was "sporty" (where I was more "tweedy"). Another was a university teacher who also wore kitten heels (pumps), shirt waists, and full skirts. She had this whole Princess Diana thing going. So, again, preppy - "sloaney" preppy.

One girl I remember who was NOT preppy - She was Eastern European and had a fantastic formula of peplum jackets and pointed-toe pumps. Fashionable, more feminine than us preppies, but powerful.

I will mention one other girl who's style I liked: An engineering intern. She wore flares, fitted through the knee, and button downs and high heeled black sandals. Long straight hair. She looked super cute every day. She was doomed. With those shoes, she'd never get on to the manufacturing floor. And an engineer who can't do that is no engineer. Actually, anybody who is going to be anybody is going to have to be where the action is... i.e. on the production floor. Secondly, the material of all her clothing was very spandex-y. She was a hoop-earring short of hoochie, despite the button-down shirts. The heeled shoes and exposed toes did not help in that regard. You can dress like this to be the phone girl for U-STOR-IT-URSELF-CHEAP. I don't know where else you can go dressed like this. But I did like it.

***
OK. Last word: Please allow me to take this opportunity and say - At work women MUST, esp. in a male-dominated office, wear underwear. Underwear that doesn't show and that prevents things from showing. Please, in general, no cleavage - back, front, or foot. I hate it when my boss makes me go talk to someone about this. That's a big foofy-head. Do not be the train-wreck that everyone rubber necks at in morbid fascination!

13 years ago

Beth

Veteran

Mary, you expressed my thoughts perfectly. I spent the first 10-12 years in my chosen field carefully dressed in order to look more experienced and "grown up" as I looked very young at the time. By now, I'm comfortable in my skin and feel that my black laceup boots don't take away from what I'm saying or doing:)

I do take issue with bowties and seersucker, though. Men in this part of the country wear them from toddlerhood to elder years with no sense of irony at all.

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I have a uniform, but can express a little style here and there. I think next week I am going to try a cotton blazer over the logo tee instead of the logo hoodie. Baby steps

13 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

Love this thread, thanks for starting it. I work in human services. When I was starting (note: I was starting, but not young--around 40) I dressed very professionally, like in a black Ann Taylor pantsuit with a fine gauged sweater top. Then two things happened, or maybe three. I got more established and got a couple of promotions. I got feedback that I tended to come across as *too* high-authority. And I discovered youlookfab. So I started loosening up. Nothing radical. A new outfit might be slim black pants, a sweater tunic, and brown Frye Harness boots. I was trying to send a message that I was approachable and not wound too tight! It felt great. I'll always remember when one of my supervisees said to me, "Some of your clothing choices lately have been... surprising." I decided not to interpret this as a bad thing!

There is huge latitude where I work in how to dress, as long as some minimal guidelines are followed (no flip flops, no athletic wear...). So the issue for me has not been what I'm allowed to wear, but what impression I want to choose to create. And that for me has definitely changed in the 12 years I've worked there.

13 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

One word, scrubs.

13 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

I'm basically a mom and housewife who does the occasional bit of freelance illustration, so what I currently wear for work is irrelevant. But I used to be a high school science teacher, and yes, absolutely, I used to express my style at work. Mind you, for most of my six year tenure as a schoolteacher, I was going though a surfer dude phase and wore clothing that could not generally be construed as "sexy", ha. We're talking baggy pants with lots of pockets, form-fitting but not skin-revealing tee shirts, and skater shoes (those stubby trainers that look like little tugboats). Once in a while I'd wear a denim pencil skirt with high-heeled knee boots, if I was feeling particularly feminine. But I mostly preferred to copy the boys.

The nice thing about teaching is that you can pretty much wear what you want, provided it meets some minimal professional requirements. Now, for you -- when you say you work in tech and it's very "corporate and stuffy" -- what exactly do you mean? Is it a suit-and-tie type environment? All the tech workers I know actually dress down quite a lot, it being a young man's profession and all that. If a techie out here showed up for work in a tie, it would look like he was out of touch with the industry. I say "he" because most of them are.

So since I don't know the details, I'm guessing here, but I think in general one does not want to wear anything too tight or revealing to work. You don't want to encourage speculation that you're using your physical assets to gain traction. However, I can't imagine many office workplaces where a properly-fitting pencil skirt would be inappropriate -- although if you're going to wear a hectically patterned one, then you have to own it. Go ahead and be your stylish self, but be respectful and appropriate, and be awesome at your job, too.

13 years ago

Hil

(website)

Veteran

I work in a very small office, rarely see customers and only work in the mornings - I pretty much wear what I wish, because, as I explained to my boss once, when I leave here at 1pm, I become Mom-on-the-go - I really would not be comfortable doing that in formal office attire.

Once in a while, I do dress up, either because I feel like it, or I have a rare client meeting etc. But mostly, I do a a fairly casual look. I wear jeans often but draw the line at sneakers and trackpants though

13 years ago

ManidipaM

Veteran

Yes, but restrained by issues of:
(1) practicality (let's just say I traipse through some really messy territory, from wet market to construction site, with occasional 'high stepping')
(2) the nexus of gender and authority and class (unfortunately, what Gaylene and MaryK have mentioned goes doubly for me, because I not only have to fight the gender battle, but sometimes the class battle as well, both of which impinge on authority and credibility issues even in a notoriously 'dress: casual' industry)

I'd like to get to the point in my style journey where I can say 'modified' instead of 'restrained' in that first sentence. (At least I've come beyond 'constrained'.)

13 years ago

T-Rex

Veteran

The fact that the dress code here where I work is very lenient compared to jobs I've held in the past is one of the reasons I like working here. I've noticed that when I've been forced to dress up ("proper" hoisery, wear makeup, etc.), or when I've been forced to dress down (jeans with a company approved polo or denim shirt only), it has affected my mood in a very negative way. A few years ago I wouldn't have thought a dress code would make that much difference in my choice of jobs. But after growing up a bit and knowing myself better, I realize that it has to be on my checklist of things that matter, along with more typical concerns such as pay level, commute time, etc.

12 years ago

Anonymous

I am taking a bit more risk but I do stay within the dress code of my company and the clients I visit, on a regular basis. I am allowed to wear jeans, when I work from my home office and I would wear skinnies. For clients with casual Fridays, I only wear bootcuts. Skinny jeans a a bit more risque.

In all fairness, I was pretty conservative ( even more so) when I was new at my job. I only have about 5 people over me, in terms of job classification, so I am pretty senior right now. My issue now is that I am one of the youngest people on my position, so I don't like to come across as too cutesy.

12 years ago

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