What To Wear?
My college-age daughter called a couple of months ago to say she must go shopping for “interview” clothes. The college advisors had prepared a detailed list of what was appropriate for a career in business: a white, button-down blouse; solid jacket; knee-length skirt or pantsuit; and closed-toe, high-heeled pumps. Advice on jewelry and hairstyle also was included. The interviews would be video-taped and critiqued.
As a mother and business owner, I was happy the university not only cared about academic standing, but also was teaching “soft skills” and professional etiquette. Most offices in the real world don’t require such a conservative dress code, but to impress upon young adults—whose only exposure to the office environment might have been the television series Sex and the City—a conservative message is a good thing.
Changing clothing styles and casual dress days in the office can pose a dilemma for women and HR directors alike. My first office uniform was the silk bow tie, white shirt, dark polyester suit with shoulder pads, pantyhose, and pumps. It was as brutal to wear as a man’s suit must be on a hot summer day, but we professional women seldom took off our jackets. Through the years, offices that had relaxed—or no—dress codes have been challenged by trendy short skirts, bared midriffs, low-cut necklines, the exploitation of corporate casual days, and the current trend of “city shorts.”
Dress codes aren’t developed and enforced to stifle individuality, but to assist the organization in maintaining its image. I smile when I see local company Maui Jim employees in flowered shirts and sandals, but that style would seem a bit out of place in a law firm or bank. And while many fine dining restaurants allow women to wear slacks, they require the gentleman to wear a jacket and tie. My daughter and I were turned away from the dining room of a London hotel a couple of years ago because she was wearing denim. “Yes,” I said, “but they are designer jeans with rhinestones complete with a silk blouse, long-sleeved jacket, and high-heeled sandals!” Nevertheless, those were the rules for maintaining the image of the establishment. She changed.
I recently overheard a conversation between two men walking to the gate for departure at the airport. One was lamenting the fact that he had to pack more clothes these days because of all the casual days, golf afternoons, etc. He said he never knew for sure what the office culture was and needed to be prepared. I smiled, of course, as women always have had to pack dress and casual clothes with appropriate shoes.
Balancing personal style with career dress code shouldn’t be difficult, my daughter’s counselor explained. In the office, “nothing should distract,” was the advice. That applies to hair, jewelry, perfume, and clothes. Businesses should have standard policies that employees must adhere to in order to receive a paycheck. And at other public places, there’s always a choice of conforming to the code for admittance.
I rather like the “office uniform” approach as at least everyone knows what to expect. Dress for the position you want to hold some day, I tell my daughter, and you can’t go wrong with making a positive impression. So then why do we spend so much time staring at the clothes hanging in our closet, wondering, “What should I wear?”
As a mother and business owner, I was happy the university not only cared about academic standing, but also was teaching “soft skills” and professional etiquette. Most offices in the real world don’t require such a conservative dress code, but to impress upon young adults—whose only exposure to the office environment might have been the television series Sex and the City—a conservative message is a good thing.
Changing clothing styles and casual dress days in the office can pose a dilemma for women and HR directors alike. My first office uniform was the silk bow tie, white shirt, dark polyester suit with shoulder pads, pantyhose, and pumps. It was as brutal to wear as a man’s suit must be on a hot summer day, but we professional women seldom took off our jackets. Through the years, offices that had relaxed—or no—dress codes have been challenged by trendy short skirts, bared midriffs, low-cut necklines, the exploitation of corporate casual days, and the current trend of “city shorts.”
Dress codes aren’t developed and enforced to stifle individuality, but to assist the organization in maintaining its image. I smile when I see local company Maui Jim employees in flowered shirts and sandals, but that style would seem a bit out of place in a law firm or bank. And while many fine dining restaurants allow women to wear slacks, they require the gentleman to wear a jacket and tie. My daughter and I were turned away from the dining room of a London hotel a couple of years ago because she was wearing denim. “Yes,” I said, “but they are designer jeans with rhinestones complete with a silk blouse, long-sleeved jacket, and high-heeled sandals!” Nevertheless, those were the rules for maintaining the image of the establishment. She changed.
I recently overheard a conversation between two men walking to the gate for departure at the airport. One was lamenting the fact that he had to pack more clothes these days because of all the casual days, golf afternoons, etc. He said he never knew for sure what the office culture was and needed to be prepared. I smiled, of course, as women always have had to pack dress and casual clothes with appropriate shoes.
Balancing personal style with career dress code shouldn’t be difficult, my daughter’s counselor explained. In the office, “nothing should distract,” was the advice. That applies to hair, jewelry, perfume, and clothes. Businesses should have standard policies that employees must adhere to in order to receive a paycheck. And at other public places, there’s always a choice of conforming to the code for admittance.
I rather like the “office uniform” approach as at least everyone knows what to expect. Dress for the position you want to hold some day, I tell my daughter, and you can’t go wrong with making a positive impression. So then why do we spend so much time staring at the clothes hanging in our closet, wondering, “What should I wear?”