WTW - Back to Work - YouLookFab Forum

Ok. Well, looks like my next contract is stirring and folks are starting to get moving. Kick-off meeting is tomorrow. This will be in the energy industry - electricity, distribution specifically. So, the question is what to wear? And this when I was having so much fun doing my country punk. *Sigh.*

Ok. So the electric industry. That's on the *heavy industry* side of things, but this is an office job. I don't have to wear rubber-soled boots, but folks like it plain. Fashionable is ok, but drained of flash. I really do not want to iron, but I could wear my interview suit (which they all saw the first time I met them, 7 years ago, but I'm sure they don't remember it).

To give you an idea of how things roll, the suit is navy cotton with white contrast stitching. But it involves the dreaded stiff button down. I'm being billed this time as tech writer and "creative artist." The suit is more farm wife, circa 1970. A skirt might be OK, even preferable (because the project is in the East). On the other hand, a skirt is still a little precious. Skinnies and harems - eh, not for the kick-off.

Also, all my other office trousers really fit badly now. Maybe I should wear my favorite pants - the pregnancy pants from Walmart, navy ponte-weight flares - and iron my lab coat trench. The lab coat is a greenish tan, also with white contrast stitching. It's very tailored, which is why I'm thinking about it. A blazer at the kick-off would probably scare people.

Omg, I'm going to be a hot mess! I have an interview outfit. I have a first day outfit. I do NOT have a *first day when there was no interview* outfit.

12 years ago

Diana

Veteran

How about today's formula from Angie's blog? Suit trousers and a fluid knit on top. Bring a jacket (mismatched) just in case you want to feel a bit more dressed up. (Just like my WIW today in fact...)

Suz

(website)

Hmm. This is sounding a bit like IK's job. As in, it's corporate....but then, not really.

Tech writer and creative artist. Is this an oxymoron? Maybe not. I'm billed as a "feature writer and storyteller." As in, maybe I make it all up? Not sure.

Will you make it all up? What is the creative element?

I say forget the suit. Forget any of that. What about one of those great pine green pieces you picked up at the NAS? Green. It is soothing and organic.

rachylou

I think it just may be an oxymoron. Tech writers are the *arty* peeps in the engineering department... but it's the engineering department. That means we wear colour and bead necklaces. When the creatives from marketing come down the hall, everyone gets under their desk and hides.

I do love my pine sweater. It's fluid fit. But I'm wondering if fluid fit is too casual for the first day. It's the first day thing. After that, anything goes. Although, likely I'll stay in my jacket, which will give me the tailoring... but the also a lot of colour. Maybe too much colour.

Maybe if I wore the gold button earrings I wore last Friday. That would make it more conservative and finished. Now is the time for non-shiny, low-heeled pumps. Dang. So blah, but should probably always, always keep a pair in the closet.

Och. And a bag. My laptop tote is brown. Bleah. It's fine, but it's just this first day thing.

Caro in Oz

This would be perfect They have coats too if you run cold

http://enlighted.com/pages/fuzzy.shtml#polka1

Jaime

I have no actual suggestions born of experience or knowledge but my instincts say wear what you want in neutral colors. They will always see you as a different form of beast anyhow right?

deb

Caro, you are too funny!!! Rachy, Lug soles may be out but what about your more chunky boots? I like the lab coat idea. Do you have a skirt you cant wear with the lab coat?

Omg, Caro, that is too awesome. The most hilarious thing is, the bakery's electrician has this "assistant"... or "mistress"... and she comes to work dressed just like that. Yeah, that's what I wear to pull wire too.

Ok. I am so bad. And unprepared. I was thinking about the chunky boots, but have x-nayed them because of the first day, kick-off meeting thing + I'm working with management. The sad thing is, it's a one day issue only, but it matters. My last contract, my recruiter called me to talk about first day dress specifically.

So, in a hissy fit, I have gone to Ross and Target and Payless shoes in the last hour and a half. I got a Harry Levine suit that is magically PPL (I notice I'm scarred permanently by my banker boss and cling for dear life to the idea of suits). It's not perfect in the posterior area (the teensiest bit butt flattening), but it's not a bad fit actually (unlike my existing trousers). $39. It's brown, which gives me that all important dull factor, but at the same time has a leather collar and sleeves sewn scrunched, which takes away some of the suit factor (don't want to scare the natives).

I also got a black tote big enough for my laptop (and my winter boots while I was there), and some dull, round-toe, medium heel black pumps at Payless - which gives me an important unfancy factor.

Have I convinced you all? Can I file this away under first day / no interview emergency outfit situations?

Bad-light pics below.

Hard to tell from the photos but it looks good - very appropriate but with some rachylou touches. What top would you be wearing? Something nice on its own so if you felt OTT when you got there you could take the jacket off. Good luck - ugh to first days.

More thoughts: I am still thinking fluid fit for top. I love my green sweater. If the batwings kill things, I'm thinking blousey fluid top... in which case, I might do boots after all. And carrying the jacket in.

Also, I've probably done an overkill on the mixed media this year, but I love it.

Also, I think I'm having a fashion attack and probably need the fashion version of an epi pin right now... The energy industry is crazy-making. I won't mention my liaison always calls me and then calls me again right after from a blocked number, trying to get me to think it's my mother so I'll pick up.

I knew calling said liasion back would ruin my life. That's why I waited until the very last minute. True.

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