Workin' Girl

What Is a Workin' Girl?

A Workin' Girl is someone who, well, works!  But the catch is that when we think of work we think of business settings, offices, schools, buildings - and not all of these generally categorize the work that Workin' Girls are doing.  It doesn't have to be in any specific profession - Workin' Girls are women who work from home, work in a corporate setting, in education, in retail, and the list goes on and on.  Even women who stay at home, whether as mom's or as at-home entrepeneurs, are Workin' Girls too!  This series isn't about defining or defending any particular type or way of working, but about how we adjust our personal reflections and styling to the settings that we are accustomed to given the limitations that can, at times, be placed upon us.

So What's This Series All About?

Workin' Girl is ABOUT those women!  This series isn't about defining or defending any particular type or way of working, but about how we adjust our personal reflections and styling to the settings that we are accustomed to given the limitations that can, at times, be placed upon us. A lot of Simply Sarah has focused around my professional setting and the outfits I am able to wear in them.  You've seen me in casual Friday wear, casual casual wear, but mostly in office wear that is appropriate to my setting and expectations.  What I'm eager to do though is to hear from women all over the world and the expectations that are placed upon them for their type of work, yet how they add their own individual "flair" and execution to their styling!   I'm also interested to hear from women who don't work out of the home, and how they go about using their environment and setting to display their own style.  The series is open to anyone who considers themselves a Workin' Girl.

I'm very inspired by the various types of work that we, as Workin' Girls, do.  In my office environment alone there are women who are in VP and President levels of power who only wear suits every day, women at mid-level who stick to business casual attire, and then our supportive staff that are able to come to work in jeans and sneakers every day.  Each Workin' Girl has a very different position and responsibility at the establishment, but we all find ways to mix in our style.  What I'm interested in finding out is if you as my readers think it is appropriate for a VP in a suit to wear the trends (neon, bright colors, etc.) or anyone for that matter! What SHOULD and SHOULD NOT be seen in the work place?  While all opinions I give are solely reflective of my viewpoint and my own experience, I am by no means the be all and end all opinion on this topic.  That's why I'm looking to have Workin' Girls unite and hopefully learn a thing or two from the other!

Topics Included in Workin' Girl

As the series is just beginning on June 18, 2012 I will be showcasing women in their everyday wear and how it reflects the environment they work in.  Whether it means wearing a chambray at work and making that office appropriate, or the discussion over open toed vs. closed toes shoes, I'm hoping the series will bring each of us to think about the ways in which we can work WITH our environments rather than AGAINST them! Topics therefore will include (But at this point are not limited to):

- Color in the Office

- Office Do's and Don'ts

- Real Workin' Girls

- Workin' Girls OUTSIDE the office

- Workin' Girls Who DON'T Work In An Office

- Professional vs. Casual Wear

- Shoes: To Toe or Not to Toe

- Bringing Your Style Influence to your Daily Outfits

- How to Dress for the Job You WANT, NOT the Job You Have 

- What NOT To Wear

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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.