Blouse • Romwe | Skirt, old • Options here, here and here |
Shoes • Christian Louboutin, also here, less expensive option here | Watch • Michael Kors | Bracelets • Kate Spade, Silpada | Sunglasses • Nordstrom | Nails • Gelish Hot Rod Red | Lip Liner • M·A·C Burgundy | Lip Gloss • Mark Glow Baby Glow “Blow Kisses“
Every once in a while I head back to a more traditional office look, like this pencil skirt and blouse. For a long time I thought I needed to dress seriously to be taken seriously. I’m not sure if that was about being younger or being female, but if people were going to trust me with their finances, I’d better look the part. Remember the whole “Dress for Success” look? It was basically a slightly feminine version of a man’s suit, and I was its poster child.
Over time my thoughts of office wear changed, maybe because I had a couple of stops and starts during my career for child-raising or education, maybe because I was older and more confident, and maybe because, thankfully, professional women in general started dressing more like women and less like men. Probably some combination of the three with a few more factors thrown in.
Regardless, I was less about tradition and more about what felt natural to me. Dresses replaced suits. Fitted pants replaced trousers. Fluidity replaced structure. And somewhere along the line I had enough confidence to realize I could could be taken seriously for my work ethic more than my work wardrobe.
Something interesting happened. More of my personality was expressed through my work as it was expressed through my wardrobe. I felt I could relate to my clients more easily. More importantly, I felt as though they could relate to me.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I still feel if you’re dealing with a person’s finances you need to look competent and professional. A graphic tee, jeans and tennis shoes are not going to make the appropriate first impression. And if your office is located in a larger metropolitan area your wardrobe will probably still be more formal and traditional. I’ve found in my situation I have the ability to relax those old standards a bit.
Yet, after all that, I’ll occasionally step into something a little more traditional, like today’s look. The difference is the attitude. I wear it because I want to and not because it’s expected of me. And that makes all the difference.
Happy Monday everyone. Thanks so much for stopping by.
