new job attire: faux pas and faux yas.

hodge · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 81 Location: toronto

i haven't posted in one billion years due largely to being a huge stress case re: writing thesis, graduating, job hunt failure, moving cities, and more job hunt freak out. but alas, someone finally hired me (the consulate general of japan) and of course, my first thoughts turn to: what will i wear to work? - must ask the ladies of get crafty.

i think i am partly excited at the prospect of living above the poverty line for the first time in years (and thus being able to afford to splash out a little in the fashion dept.) and also just a little confused about how to dress like a grown up. i am definitely not a conservative type and i would like to maintain some personal style, but i have never worked at an office job before so i don't know what i can get away with (like, do i need a briefcase or could i get away with a messenger bag-purse hybrid, do i need to wear the dreaded high heels or can a cute pair of flats do the job just as well, and can i wear (tasteful) vintage?).

any insight would be much appreciated. even tips on the upcoming hot office fashions would be great.

thanks,

jen

lizzymahoney · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 804

Do folks in Montreal wear boots or sneakers to walk to work like they do in Boston? I admit I only wore boots, and chose boots that almost worked with the outfit I wore that day. I carried my dress shoes in my briefcase, and actually kept a pair or two in my desk. Changed to shoes as soon as I arrived.

Some of my shoes were flats, some heeled. All had straps of some kind because I tend to take them off too often if they don't.

A very nice messenger bag could definitely work, unless you have folders and papers to take home. Then a harder briefcase might be better.

Separates and accessories are the easiest way to add versatility to your wardrobe. I also kept a blazer in the office in case I could use the additional professional look for a meeting or something.

My accessories of choice were almost always jewelry pieces that worked together. They didn't have to match, just look okay.

ada · Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 87 Location: London, UK

In my experience, it does vary a lot office-to-office. So usually I make an effort to be more office-formal and conservative than I would prefer, for the first few days, till I have an idea of what others wear. Though I have to admit my idea of office-formal is still pretty casual to many people: black skirt, buttoned shirt, some kind of jacket/blazer, flat shoes (as opposed to sneakers), some makeup.

Miss M · Joined: 12 May 2004 Posts: 168 Location: Plano, TX

I agree, separates are the way to go. Then you can mix & match and have a wide variety of outfits while only actually having a few articles of clothes. Accessories can add style and punch to any outfit and are a great way to incorporate trends without breaking the bank - you can find knockoffs and inexpensive stuff all over for less than you think and it looks good enough to wear for one season(which is about how long most trends last anyway!).
I totally think you can wear flats! I can't imagine wearing heels each and everyday - ouch! As long as they are tasteful, why not? Just check out what others are wearing and go from there. Although, I think it's cool to be the gal who dresses a teeny bit better then the rest - say wearing a skirt when most wear slacks for example. I think vintage is fine as long as it's in good condition. You can keep your personal style and still look professional!!!
Just remember, most people don't love their work clothes - it's just what they wear until they can put on their real clothes!
Congrats on the new job!
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CraftinFool · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 809 Location: New England

I have found that even in conservative offices, you don't have to use a briefcase. Esp for women. A nice big honkin purse or a messenger bag is fine, esp if in conservative colors like black. I even use a backpack or backpack purse, but then again my environment is pretty casual.

Also, I think you can get away with pumps or flats in most places. When I worked in more conservative places, like investment firms, I tended to wear separates - tops with either pants or skirts - and pumps or flats and I was fine. I just didn't wear crazy prints or really tight stuff or flurorescent jewelry. My rule was like, what kinds of things would I wear to like a nice dinner if I was trying to make a good impression on a partner's parent.

And I second the blazer idea. Really helps mix it up.

hodge · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 81 Location: toronto

oops,

i am actually in toronto now. forgot to change my profile.

no, you don't see that sneaker with nylons, tube socks, and skirt look in either montreal or toronto as much as you do in american movies about cities. but it does happen (<shudder> o.k. o.k. that's unfair...heels are a bitch).

thanks for the advice ladies, it is helpful.

i think that it would make sense to dress up a bit more the first week while i suss things out. it's just that i have pretty much nothing to wear except my job interview duds so i would need to go out and purchase stuff anyhow, which is why i feel that i need to be strategic. maybe i could get a couple of vintage/second hand blazers (cash is a bit of an issue) to match with the mix-and-matchable separates if need be?

xuli · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 11:05 am Post subject:

Is it an option to call your future workplace and ask about the office dress code before you go shopping? "Corporate casual" or "business casual" are signs you can get away with a bit more; "corporate attire" or "business attire" mean you should get comfortable with looking boring very quickly.

I've posted this before, I'm sure, but my best strategy for building a work-friendly wardrobe right after college was to get a lot of black clothing. Black clothes always look dressier, and black is versatile enough that depending on how you accessorize it it can either be totally conservative or really hip and fun.

If you only have cash on hand right now for a few pieces, I'd be sure to get a nice pair of black trousers and a good black skirt, then do the blazer thing but make sure it coordinates well with the pants and skirt.

Nice (black) shoes are also important -- a good pair of shoes (I don't think pumps are necessary either) will help an outfit look pulled-together even if you just slapped it together on the fly.
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peanut · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 82 Location: i'm a chi girl

also, it goes without saying, but excellent grooming is essential. The things I learned the hard way when working in an especially picky environment (which you may or may not end up in, but watch out)
1) reapply anti-perspirant during lunch. scented hand lotion is also a good way to make sure you do not have any human smell.
2) mints or gum after coffee or, god forbit, smoking. also, make sure to wash your hands very carefully after smoking or eating.
3) keep your shoes very well polished, no scuffs.
4) extra pantyhose in the desk drawer.
5) lint remover in desk drawer.

on a more clothing oriented point, again, my experiences as a former punk/arty recent college grad in a conservative office.

1) buy simple clothing at marshalls or filene's basement (or your local equivilent)

2) vintage can be ok, but it is MUCH safer to wear it in "accent pieces," the areas of your wardrobe/outfit that are made for others' comments/to be noticed. Don't let your workhorse pieces be vintage--they need to be unnoticable and very simple. Vintage is good in the classic accent areas: earrings, shoes, scarf, blouse, maybe a sweater or jacket. for all of these, of course, the condition must be excellent, and it's better if you aren't wearing anything else 'flashy.'

3) on a similar note, cute earrings or shoes are always a good bet for getting compliments and still being professional.

4) no opaque tights.

good luck on new job!

peanut, who is now back in grad school and once again has lint on her clothes.

brdgt · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 2:09 pm Post subject:

While there are certainly some rules to go by if the office is business attire (no open toed shoes, hose if wearing a skirt, button up shirts with collars, etc.) I think that in most other cases you can get away with a lot of creativity as long as its tasteful - ie: no tank tops or spagetti straps, no flip flops, no slogans on clothing, etc.

When I worked at the Harvard Business School I generally wore slacks with a button up shirt or skirts with knit tops. In the summer the dress code was relaxed so I wore tasteful (wide shoulders) tanks and no hose.

Becky65301 · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 80

I teach at a college, and have only recently started to need "work clothes", it was an odd concept to me too.

If you're just starting out, seperates are a good bet. Going with a base of neutrals (khaki or black or navy, whatever your preference is) with brighter color accents is always a safe bet. You *can* get away with some more fashionable choices- suit jackets that are more casual or trendy, or trendy skirts as long as they aren't too short.

You just really have to steer clear of stuff like underwear showing (in any form), stuff that intentionally draws attention to your butt, or too much cleavage.

I'm older than you are, but I buy alot of stuff from Chadwick's catalog. They're cheap (online store has alot of clearance) and the quality is fine. Some of their stuff is kinda scary, but they do have plenty of things I've found trendy enough for my taste while still being professional.

jean · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:28 pm Post subject:

I think you can be funky and professional as long as you look pulled-together, but then again, I haven't worked in an office in a few years and when I did I worked in public radio or for dotcoms, so what the hell do I know?

However...I'm so excited for you that you got a J-O-B and I want to hear more about the work you will be doing...(although all the advice is really good.) also, if you get a chance, upload a photo of yourself in your first day of work outfit. after all this discussion, i'm dying to see what you actually choose.

jean
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brightcorner · Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 65 Location: SF bay area

deborahthecraft · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 364 Location: California

For vintage touches that would probably be acceptable:
Menswear tweed slacks
Pencil skirts
Velvet blazers
Vintage jewlry paired with simple pieces
Boots always look good-with or without a heel,in any style besides 'stripper'.
Vintage-ish heeled or wedge mary janes...
Lucky Magazine has a FABULOUS dressing guide with vintage + new pieces for October issue.Not sure if you get it in Toronto.
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hodge · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 81 Location: toronto

wow guys,

this is really helpful - thanks so much. i am taking notes to take shopping this weekend to this huge clothing show - local designers (at a major discount) and vintage mixed in.

peanut - your former job sounds scary! they sniffed you for offending odors? and i had no idea that opaque tights were a faux pas...even in winter?

i think i will give them a call and ask about dress standards. because pre-pay cheque i can't really afford to get the really formal stuff if i don't absolutely need it. thanks for the tip- xuli.

and yes, most of the employees are japanese, so that is something to keep in mind. funny thing is, at my workplace in japan, everyone dressed like crap. like sweat suits and stuff. i know that it was a school enviroment, but i was suprised because i thought it would be way more formal that a canadian school environment. though i can't see the consuls working the tearaways.

thanks also for the new job props. it is a general affairs assistant position, which means i do lots of different stuff like research, drafting correspondence, giving the occasional speech, some hiring, and a bit of event coordinating.

i will definitely try to post a picture of the first day duds. that's sweet of you to ask, jean!

karikazo · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 64 Location: N.C.

congrats on the job!

I'm a terrible dresser, so I won't add to everyone else's great advice except to say watch out for scented lotions/deoderants/etc. If you have someone in your workplace who's allergic to scents, even a small amount may set them off (to say nothing of drenching yourself in perfume/cologne like some co-workers I've had). I've worked with some allergic people and it's a big favor to them if you're really careful to avoid scents for their sake.