I’m here to ask a simple question: are you wearing the right clothes to work?
Christina Binkley of The WSJ has an excellent post on the double-standards and complexities related to women & their attire in the workplace. Christina asks the right questions.
- Do women do their careers a disservice when they opt for fashion-forward clothing instead of more traditional choices in attire?
- What are the appropriate fashion choices?
- What mistakes are made when dressing for the corporate environment?
- Do younger women set themselves up for failure in the workforce when the emulate Carrie Bradshaw instead of Carly Fiorina?
Some excerpts from the post:
- Women’s gains in the workplace have been slipping for the past several years. In 2007, women earned median weekly wages of 80.2 cents for every dollar earned by men, down from 80.8 cents in 2006 and 81 cents in 2005, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Last year, 45% of women ages 25 to 34 had a college degree, compared with 36% of young men. But the median earnings of all women were 14% lower, according to an analysis of recent Census Bureau data by Timothy Casey, a senior staff attorney at Legal Momentum, a New York advocacy group
- The male wardrobe is an armor that disguises vulnerable body parts while sending subtle signals. A gray suit suggests hidden power, a blue Oxford button-down is hard-working, and French cuffs rule a Wall Street board. Women don’t have an easily deciphered fashion code, which just makes it easier to make a big mistake.
- Powerful real-world women like Erin Callan, chief financial officer of Lehman Brothers dress conservatively, with just a few bold accessories such as necklaces
- A review of the photos in several “50 most powerful women” surveys shows attractively detailed blazers, collared or modestly high-necked shirts, and striking scarves or necklaces that distract attention from what lies below. The bold necklace — powerful gold links or Barbara Bush pearls — often plays the role of a man’s necktie.
What are your thoughts on sexism, fashion, and compensation in the workforce? What do you wear to work?
More importantly: is anyone out there NOT excited about the new Sex and The City movie?
{ 1 trackback }
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve never watched more than 30 seconds of SATC, ever. Oh dear, did my estrogen levels just plummet?
1 – I saw an early premiere of SatC last night and it was very fun and predictable, I had a great time and got a pretty sweet swag bag from Dakine filled with Smart Water and Vitamin Water (sponsors of the premiere) Here’s the bag I got http://www.dakine.com/girls/bags/shoulder-bags/jessica/
2 – I work for a “hip” company in a super trendy stylish part of town. In my dark colored pants or skirts and solid tops I am the most conservatively dressed person by far most of the time. I’m horrible at accesorizing… I should get better at it it might make me look a little closer to as cool as my female counterparts.
3 – I think in the vast majority of careers dressing “stylish” at the sake of “professional” does your career a disservice. My friend who’s in Marketing and dresses very young and cute was actually told by her boss that she should go to Ann Taylor, which she thought was funny and I thought was a huge dig at her professionalism.
All I have to say is I wore a matronly outfit to an interview at my current position. Then I came in with a pierced nose and low cut shirts on my first day.
I dress pretty conservatively. Unfortunately, a 38DDD (yes, triple) has to be careful if she doesn’t want to attract a certain kind of attention. “My eyes are up here, yo!”
But really, my preference is to dress conservatively anyways. I grew up with parents that didn’t even wear tanktops or shorts. I saw my mom in a sleeveless shirt ONCE when we were in Minnesota (in August).
A friend and I used to use an acronym in public when we saw people showing way too much skin than was EVER necessary: CTSU. It stood for “cover that shit up!”
PS I’ve never seen Sex and the City. Am I going to hell?
@perrik I’ve never seen a full episode. I just wrote about it to drive traffic to my site.
That being said, I’m going to see the movie on Friday. I want to spend time with my awesome friend, Boss of One.
@Lexy That’s a cute bag — even cuter for free! I worked in midtown Manhattan and found that I could never get it right, so I just stopped caring very much. Once I stopped looking at how other people looked at me, I did just fine. Also, I’ve never owned anything from Ann Taylor that didn’t fall apart. Piece of shit store.
@Rachl You are adorable and could wear a paper bag and fishnets and make it look wholesome. It’s your smile.
@hrWench You are going to hell, but it’s not related to SATC. Also, I am a 32DDD. I had a fitting at Intimacy in Chicago and was amazed at the experience. It was awesome.
Now I feel like a geek for admitting my Sex and the City fandom *embarassed*
Laurie I’m not sure if you’ll like it if you’re not a fan. It’s really pretty much made for people who loved the show and would like to see an extra long episode, except with commercials (blatant product placement OMG). Although if you do like the movie you should give the show another chance.
Rachel reminded me, when I was first out of college I went to interviews with my tongue ring in. However a) My piercing was way far back because I have a freakishly long tongue b) I wore a clear ball on it so it was extra hard to see no one ever noticed it as far as I know… or maybe that’s why I got some of my offers, ew.
Mostly I’m a super boring professional now. I just have such an eclectic (weird) sense of style that I’m never sure if I’m crossing a line unless I keep myself to very strict in no conceivable way inappropriate rules.
Lexy, why are you embarrassed? YOU ARE AWESOME. I think the show is great — I just never watched it because my husband is too cheap to pay for the HBOs & Showtimes & stuff. I’m not a hater and I love television. All kinds. Even blatant product placement.
I love how so many women have piercing stories. I have one, too. I interviewed for a HR/staffing job out of college. It was in a GMP environment, which meant that it was a manufacturing environment and the federal government had rules on cleanliness & stuff. The first thing I was told was simple. “If you want the job, the eyebrow ring has to go.”
It went — because I was twenty-two years old and desperate to earn a whopping $35K/year.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the ladies. I mean they rev my engines, but they don’t belong in the newsroom.
Well, that’s just great. You hear that, Laurie? Bears. Now you’re putting the whole station in jeopardy.
Mr. Burgundy, you have broken my heart. Why don’t you go f*ck yourself, San Diego?
Hello!
Long Time reader, first time “commenter” (if that’s even a word)
I work at the head office of one of the big 5 banks in Canada and I showed up to my original interview (6 years ago at the ripe old age of 22) in a blue shirt and conservative tie, left my doc martens at home and wore conservative dress shoes. I got the job!
After I was hired I figured I could get away with button down shirts, dickies pants and my docs. I noticed all my peers getting promoted and always wondered why I kept being passed up. No one ever told me that I didn’t fit the corporate image of the bank (although I should have been smart enough to figure it out).
Since then I’ve invested in a new work wardrobe and a more conservative mohawk, cover up my tattoos and I’m now the most senior person in my department.
I agree that as a man my suit is armour. And if wearing got me to where I am now, I’ll keep doing it.
I think the rule of thumb (for my workplace anyways) is dress appropriately for the business you work in, because perception is everything, and dress to match your career aspirations. This applies (for my employer) to both men and women.
Those are just my two cents… but then again I’m not an HR professional what do I know?
I dress like Stacey and Clinton of “What Not To Wear” say young professional women should
At least, that’s the best way to describe my wardrobe that I can think of: cute, but professional, also works though, I guess.
Plus, I never liked Sex and the City, mostly because I can’t stand Sara Jessica Parker or her acting. I couldn’t care less that they’re getting a movie – except now I have to hear about that show again.
Wow…. sorry for the million typos and word immissions in my comment…
*omissions
@Sickboy Typos are approved. No worries! Thanks for being a long-time reader. That’s awesome.
@May I’m not a big SJP fan & her acting abilities — except that I hate it when guys pick on her for her appearance. It’s similar to how I feel about Hillary Clinton. I didn’t vote her her in the primary, but I like her well enough to be offended when people attack her for stupid shit. So I’m with you on SJP’s acting skills (although I heard she was good in Smart People) but I’m not with those douchebag haters who think she’s ugly.
SATC is so ridiculous, but it just amplifies two major lies our culture tells us every day – that women should hold out for a Mr. Big because Romance is Everything, and that they should spend enormous amounts of their income on clothing, because that’s what their friends, dates, and coworkers value.
Leaving the first big lie alone for now, let’s talk about HR, clothes, and work – I’ve had my punk rock Must Express Myself years, and my Tan Panty Hose and Heels Every Day years. Now I dress – well, plain. I dress in a way that doesn’t distract my coworkers and bosses from what I’m saying/accomplishing. I generally dress comfortably, but I always end up working in business casual environments. HR people – let’s face it- HR ladies – who overdress are just as likely to be seen as not fitting in as those who underdress, either by throwing too much cleavage or by wearing jeans every day. We already have so many strikes against us because of other people’s perceptions of our jobs, why get taken less seriously due to extreme fashion addiction?
@Frannyo Agreed on dressing conservatively enough not to overshadow our accomplishments. (My boobs didn’t transform your organization, yo.)
I’m still thinking about SATC. I know so many awesome women who love the show. I’d like to think that SATC isn’t as superficial as you make it sound, but I don’t know enough about the show to offer a feminist critique. I just know that I don’t care for vitamin water and I’m not drinking it — no matter how fucking trendy it gets after this movie!
I think the best representation of a woman in the workforce is Tina Fey on 30 Rock. She’s complex, realistic, and competent. She eats Chinese food on a treadmill but runs a complex organization (of writers, but whatev, it’s still an organization). Also, she dresses pretty well for the office (lesbian chic, per Jack Donaghy) — so I’m going to say that Liz Lemon is my office role model.
I have high hopes for Holly, the new HR chick on The Office. I love Amy Adams and I hope she adds more to the show than just a romantic interest for Michael Scott.
(Wait, this whole comment makes me think that I watch too much goddamn television.)
i like to dress as i damn please. sometimes i raise eyebrows because i am more casual that other executives. yeah i wear vans in the boardroom and whatnot. for me it’s less about sexism and conformity to a feminine ideal and more about general conformity to the corporate environment. i look at my ex boss dressed in his tight, neat suit every day and find it repellent. he looks like a grown up howdy doody regaled in brooks brother’s finest. BARF!
Ok, so here are my thoughts ( a little late, sorry). We should not have to dress like men to work. Just keep the junk in the trunk, if you know what I mean. If you decide you do want to go the butch route, that’s cool, but only do it because you are butchy, not because you think that’s what it will take to get ahead.
hey, i found this post because i was searching for “professional clothes for a punk rock girl” – i’m hopelessly individually fashioned, which has never been a problem before as i worked in social services with homeless youth – it was a professional advantage to have pink hair and tattoos. but i’ve just landed a new job with a more serious social service agency that insists on “professional appearance” at all times, even for the youth workers. (good thing i dyed my blue hair brown before the interview). and i don’t have the slightest idea how to dress myself. any ideas? i mean where to start shopping, i guess, with a meager budget? any fashion icon i ought to look at, or anything?