Workin' Girl: Dress for the Job You Want, NOT the Job You Have

Continuing on from earlier this week, we'll be adding another blogger to the series Workin' Girl.  If you're new to the series and want to know what it's all about, please refer to the tab at the top of Simply Sarah for more information, and how to get involved!

TODAY'S THEME:

While it's easier to go to your work setting in comfy clothes you also have to think about what it is that you're trying to achieve in your position.  Are you looking to climb the ladder at work, do you look to your immediate supervisor for modeling on how to look?  If you work at home, how do you adjust to the demands of your daily life?  If you're out in the workforce the perception often is that you have to be in a suit, heels, and properly primped in order to make a positive impression at work. But the reality is that we don't all have $$ for a closet full of tailored suits and we don't all work in environments that it's practical to be wearing 5-6 inch stilettos.  While some of us do and are able to pull this off, bravo for you!  For others though, don't get discouraged because there are still ways to look polished and put together with what you have hanging right in your closet.  

If you haven't seen the movie the Devil Wears Prada - you need to. This is a perfect example of a form of work environment expectations.  Take this example; Anne Hathaway's character starts her first day looking like this (and got a lot of ridicule and dirty looks from co-workers):

and a few days later all of a sudden, to conform to her work environment, she started dressing like this:

She started dressing in a way that was foreign to her at the time, in order to fit in with the environment that she worked at.  Now there's a whole bunch of issues here that I'm not going to get into, but I think you can take this as an example of the theme for today.  While Anne's character does not look inappropriate for an office setting in the first picture, she was considered frumpy and out of place next to those who supervised her.  Her character wanted to get ahead, so she decides to start dressing to match those of the individuals around her who were considered successful.  Yes some may say she lost herself in the process but again that's not the point of this segment - the point is that you should dress at work how you feel your styling  represents you, your goals, your confidence, and your desire to succeed.
 

I have often seen that the most successful individuals I've worked alongside (both men AND women) have always come to work in polished looks, regardless if it was a Friday or if it was a weekend conference (and polished does NOT mean that you need to wear something that looks straight out of Banana Republic or J Crew).  I started modeling my behavior after that and realized that if anything it made me feel better about myself and more confident at work - and with more confidence, I am showcasing the work that I am capable of doing, gaining responsibility, and am slowly but surely moving toward the job that I WANT.  Now again this is my experience - but hearing from other women has led me to believe that perhaps others feel the same thing.  

As Erin will describe below, she dresses for work in a way that makes her feel good about herself but still keeps her personal style.  She chooses looks that make her appear and feel confident and professional.  Have you ever had days where you don't feel good, so you don't put as much effort into your appearance? I hear this all the time!  We make excuses for how we look saying things like "oh I wasn't in the mood today", "I wasn't feeling great", "I'm too tired".  I don't know if it's just me but when I dress the way I feel, I continue to feel that way.  For me personally, when I put effort into my appearance I notice that I walk with my head held high and I feel more confident going into meetings or walking around the office.  Even outside of the office, I try to put together comfortable but yet still stylish outfits.  There are absolutely days I am in yoga pants, comfy shorts, etc. - and that is OK!  But there's something about the mentality that comes along with feeling hot, styled, chic, professional, polished, etc. in an outfit and how that can not only influence your days but the simple way that you may walk down an aisle or down the street.  The next time you're out, notice how you feel in the outfit you're wearing.  Do you feel good? Do you not wear certain outfits out in public because you feel uncomfortable?  Do you feel better when you're "Dressing the part"?

I always feel it's better to be over-dressed and prepared than under-dressed.  When I walk into the office in the morning, or when I head to meetings, I like to do so with my "Game face" on.  And for me, a lot of that comes from the mentality that I am Dressing the Part.  If I am dressed professional, I feel professional. Simple as that.  Professional, again, doesn't need to mean the generic look of a skirt, button up, and blazer.  Or a suit and a briefcase.  While I have nothing against this look (and often don it myself!) I also think it's A-OK to find ways that make YOU feel professional, appeal to YOUR interests, and doesn't mean you have to conform if it's not something YOU are comfortable with.  Yes you should follow the office etiquette with where you work, but you can still do so while remaining TRUE to yourself!

The sad truth is though, and we all have to be honest here, that many work places/supervisors/interviewers judge you based on your appearance.  It's true.  I've noticed, especially as a woman, I'm taken more seriously depending on what I'm wearing.  I have worn jeans and a t-shirt on Casual Fridays before, and because I look young and I work in an environment where everyone is a lot older I have noticed I'm not taken as seriously.  I also work with students, and I have even heard students say they didn't recognize me "dressed down" and thought I was another student.  For that reason alone I have to think about the environment I work in, and how to dress for it, in order to maintain my professional identity in the office.  I have heard everything that women are judged for, and while I don't have thousands of dollars worth of clothing hanging in my wardrobe I try to have staple pieces that I know are timeless and I know will allow me to be taken seriously.  While I have nothing opposed to either outfit below, you can obviously see that one look is more professional than the other for most offices. Skirt length, cleavage, too much skin - these all play into the societal ideal of how to be taken seriously or not at work, and unfortunately can leave people judging you and assuming what type of job you want.

 So instead of continuing to go on and on, take a second to sit back and evaluate these questions:

1. How do you think you are perceived by others?

2. How do you perceive yourself?

3. Are you comfortable with where you're at with work, or are you looking for more?

4. Do you feel confident in your environment - does your dress have anything to do with this?

Think about how what you wear makes you feel, and how it might make you perceived by others.  And not even necessarily what you wear, but how you wear it!  Do you bother to put any time into your appearance before you leave in the morning, and if not - what are the reasons? I'll be honest in saying I do my makeup on the way to work! It's true!  I'm so rushed in the morning (my own fault) that I generally do it on the way there, or I keep a little mirror in my office so that I quick add a few swipes of mascara once I get in before starting my day. I don't wear a lot during the day, and save the heavier makeup and looks for weekends/date night, so I can get away with a quick makeup trick. This can work for me, but what works for you? What tips do you have?

The point of this is to NOT, repeat NOT, make anyone feel that they are inadequate in how they dress or that they are not good enough.  NOT.  The point is to get everyone thinking about what your dress says about you, and how it makes YOU feel. If you feel great about yourself both in and out of your office FANTASTIC!!!  You've got it goin on! If you feel that perhaps you could take a few of these points to apply to your daily life, GREAT.  Yes there are some hard and fast rules on what is generally office appropriate for most offices, but a lot of the time you are able to have flexibility as well so use these moments to capitalize on what makes YOU feel good, confident, sexy, and proud.  Even if you're happy with the job that you have, at one point the job you have now WAS the job that you WANTED back then - so continue to dress FOR it and treat it the way it deserves to be treated!  Little things even as accessories can really help you dress for the job you want, and not the job you have. 

Stay true to yourself and don't give in to trends if you don't want to, but also keep in mind how dressing a certain way makes YOU feel and therefore how it can affect your performance and how your performance is viewed by those above you.  I also know that not every woman has the luxury of being able to change outfits at work, and have a traditional uniform they must wear.  I'll be getting into this topic within the next few weeks, but if you have any input or ARE a woman who has a traditional uniform please email me to be involved!  Regardless though, you can still find ways to personalize a work polo or uniform and looking polished IN that uniform still HELPS you feel confident to succeed in your employment.

Meet our second Workin' Girl this week (who also restyled this outfit two different ways!)
 Erin from http://looplooks.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/inspiration/!  

Where do you work? Can you describe your work setting/environment?

I work at the largest private Catholic university in the U.S. as the University Director of Records Management.  Many people think “university” and “casual” and for some departments here that is very much the case.  However, I work on the administration side and actually work out of an office that interacts with VIPs across the university on a regular basis.  In addition, I lead staff and faculty trainings and meet with other employees quite often.  Because of these circumstances my office’s dress code trends toward the more business-y side of business casual.  We don’t have a formal dress code but it’s pretty well known that if you work in my area you only get to wear jeans on Fridays and you’d better own at least one suit!

 What are the restrictions on your dress code?

Thankfully we can wear open-toed shoes (I’ve worked places where we couldn’t though, so my collection of ballet flats was unparalleled)!  Much of my dress code, though, is modeled on my boss who is a classy, classy woman.   I believe that supervisors should model what they want to see from their employees in attitude, work ethic, and dress code.  My boss does a great job of inspiring me to look my best every day.  I still try to work in some fun pieces and some trendy items, but stay away from anything that I would consider more appropriate for a picnic or a dance club. 

What Type of Shoes Do You Wear to Work?

Then there’s the whole commuting aspect.  Working and living in an urban environment means walking miles per day.  Although I LOVE heels I have to keep them reasonable otherwise I’d be hobbled by blisters.  Sometimes my job takes me via train from our downtown Chicago campus to our other campus 4 miles away.  When that happens I want to make sure I’ve got the appropriate clothing for walking in any kind of weather.  Rain and snow boots aren’t always the most fashionable but they are practical. 

Overall I’d say much of my dress code is informed by how I want to feel at work.  I want to feel confident and professional so I choose outfits that fit my image of a confident, professional woman.

_______________________________________________________________________________
I think the parts highlighted really showcase that women feel professional when they dress as such, which helps your mindset and your confidence at work.  Even if you have a standard uniform you must wear every day you can still make sure to look polished in that uniform and find ways to incorporate your own style!  Stay tuned for a theme of dressing up your every-day work polo!

Pin It