Not conforming to the typical office dress code can infer elevated status and competence among coworkers. With women taking up only 35% of the senior US management positions, could dressing in an intentional way help to curate a distinctive personal brand that gives you the power to step up the corporate ladder?
The perfect closet—one you love—is this possible? Yes! All it takes is three simple concepts: basics, timelessness, and silhouette.I know it's a struggle...every blessed morning. Staring into the closet, staring, staring. Hoping something will look different to you or that you'll have a clothing epiphany. However, just like yesterday and the day before that, you have the same stagnant, two-dimensional wardrobe, with a lackluster assortment of tops, trousers, and shoes. Your frustration level is climbing.So, how do you pull together outfits that you love to wear that can coordinate easily with other pieces of clothing? Two words: closet essentials.
A few months after I left my corporate job as the Head of Merchandising for Old Navy Online, I walked into the Everlane concept store in preparation for an upcoming meeting at their corporate office. As I looked around trying to find an outfit, a feeling of alienation came over me. From the perky twenty-something sales associate that looked at me askance when I walked in, to the array of androgynous, box-llooking, nondescript apparel, it was clear that I didn't belong. I finally landed on a streamlined navy dress that was seemingly appropriate for my meeting — a nothing special, medium quality, basic dress that felt like a millennial uniform. I never wore that dress again.
She walks into a room ready for her presentation. She wants to land this new client and has worked weeks on it. She heads to the 35th floor of the tallest building on the block knowing she has documentation that is sure to impress. The conference room has a 20-foot long table surrounded by executives in blue suits, button-down shirts, pencil skirts, and blazers.At this point, she realizes she didn't take into consideration the other important component of her presentation... she is not dressed appropriately.
Amanda Curtis shifted the focus of her on-demand manufacturing platform, N.A.bld, from fashion to face masks when federal health officials advised healthcare workers to bring scarves and bandanas to work when caring for COVID-19 patients.
The lines of office appropriate and after-work chic are now being blurred as there is a heavy influence of tailored suiting in fashion today. Companies from Gucci to Zara are showing complete suit looks and we are seeing a ton of women off the clock sporting these tailored looks. The trick here learning how to blend both the day look with the after-work power look.