Work Dress Codes - WWYD and Poll just for S's & G's.

wawajeanne · May 2011

I started a new job about a month ago. My old boss pretty much expected me to be dressed well enough to go to a meeting at the drop of a hat, and her standards for "meeting clothes" were pretty high. (she's a big shopper - nordstroms calls her when they have a sale) So my work wardrobe consists of nice dress pants and skirts in suiting material, button down shirts or blouses and sweaters/cardigans. On days when i actually knew I was going to a meeting I'd wear a jacket - not neccessarily a full suit, sometimes a coordinating blazer (like tweedy gray with a black skirt, etc), but always dress pants/skirt and a jacket.

My new office is a lot more casual. Official company-wide dress code is just business casual - nice jeans are fine. Most of the guys wear the khaki pants/tan dress pants and a patterened button down shirt every single day, and jeans on fridays, but the women are sorta all over the place. I see a lot of trouser jeans, casual skirts, cotton khaki pants, and occasionally just plain jeans and "nice" t-shirts. So in general, I'm kinda overdressed compared to most of my coworkers if I wear my usual work clothes.

I could dress down a little more, but I honestly don't have that many casual clothes and I'd hate for my 5 years worth of dressy work clothes to go to waste. I only own 2 pairs of jeans that aren't stained or falling apart. So I'm inclined to just keep on being the "dressed up girl." Is this a bad idea for any reason?

And just for fun - for the ladies working outside the home - what is your official dress code and what do you usually wear?

Any good stories of coworkers in completely innapropriate clothes?

lsgarver · May 2011

I'd keep being the dressed-up girl because it does make a favorable impression. If you were wearing suits, I'd say to tone it down a bit but I see nothing wrong with a suiting skirt and a blouse as everyday work wear.

In my "office" the official dress code is no shorts, no open toed shoes and lab coats

Seriously, I'm the dressed up girl even though I dress down considerably from where I was before. When I was at Hopkins, I was the dressed up girl in skirts, blouses and heels. Now, I'm the dressed up girl in dress pants, a regular cami and 3/4 sleeve cardigan. Most people wear t-shirts and jeans which drives me nuts. I know you can wear anything and do what I do but showing a little professionalism is a huge asset. Honestly, I'd happily wear suits if they asked me to.

I know I'm biased--I also think people should be dressing up more to go to dinner or to travel and I wish women still wore fancy hats, stoles and brooches. That's just me.

SarahKate31 · May 2011

When I was hired, I was told that the dress code was "business casual" but it's not. I think we're at half a step below casual. We can pretty much wear whatever we want. Jeans are the norm. I wear sneakers or flip flops depending on the season. I occasionally even wear yoga pants. (But that's mostly because I'm pregnant and running out of comfy clothes that fit and I know no one will bat an eye.) My boss wears gym clothes sometimes.

If we know there will be a client in the office (rare) we are supposed to wear business casual which is usually khakis and button-downs for men and nice pants and top for ladies. I'm not even sure if that qualifies for official business casual.

ETA: To answer your question, I think it's fine to continue to wear what you're wearing. I agree with L that it would be different if you were wearing full blown suits to work, but you're not.

wawajeanne · May 2011

lsgarver:

I'd keep being the dressed-up girl because it does make a favorable impression. If you were wearing suits, I'd say to tone it down a bit but I see nothing wrong with a suiting skirt and a blouse as everyday work wear.

In my "office" the official dress code is no shorts, no open toed shoes and lab coats

Seriously, I'm the dressed up girl even though I dress down considerably from where I was before. When I was at Hopkins, I was the dressed up girl in skirts, blouses and heels. Now, I'm the dressed up girl in dress pants, a regular cami and 3/4 sleeve cardigan. Most people wear t-shirts and jeans which drives me nuts. I know you can wear anything and do what I do but showing a little professionalism is a huge asset. Honestly, I'd happily wear suits if they asked me to.

I know I'm biased--I also think people should be dressing up more to go to dinner or to travel and I wish women still wore fancy hats, stoles and brooches. That's just me.

You are preaching to the choir here. But I think you know that.

jcsntms06 · May 2011

Normally I wear dress pants and a nice top. On Friday I usually dress down and wear khaki pants with a nice top. If I have a business meeting to attend then I'll dress up my pants and top, but I can't remember the last time I wore a business suit.

Recently we had a building fire drill and I saw this girl wearing the most in appropriate outfit ever. She was wearing this long skirt with slits up the side, all the way to her @$$ cheeks.

lsgarver · May 2011

wawajeanne:
lsgarver:

I'd keep being the dressed-up girl because it does make a favorable impression. If you were wearing suits, I'd say to tone it down a bit but I see nothing wrong with a suiting skirt and a blouse as everyday work wear.

In my "office" the official dress code is no shorts, no open toed shoes and lab coats

Seriously, I'm the dressed up girl even though I dress down considerably from where I was before. When I was at Hopkins, I was the dressed up girl in skirts, blouses and heels. Now, I'm the dressed up girl in dress pants, a regular cami and 3/4 sleeve cardigan. Most people wear t-shirts and jeans which drives me nuts. I know you can wear anything and do what I do but showing a little professionalism is a huge asset. Honestly, I'd happily wear suits if they asked me to.

I know I'm biased--I also think people should be dressing up more to go to dinner or to travel and I wish women still wore fancy hats, stoles and brooches. That's just me.

You are preaching to the choir here. But I think you know that.

I think at one point Viley and I vowed to bring back brooches--yeah, that never happened.

Mella&T · May 2011

I'd continue being the dressed up girl if I were you. Honestly, I want to be the dressed up girl at work but being that I've been at my job since I graduated college and jeans are acceptable daily, I never built a dressy wardrobe. I can't rationalize buying expensive dressy clothes when I can wear jeans, but I'd honestly prefer it. I love the look and think I am more productive when I am dressed up.

As for inappropriate dress, there is a girl at my work who takes our casual dress code to the extreme. She wears yoga pants and work out clothes all the time and one day wore a flannel shirt "dress" that I am pretty sure was really just a shirt....way too short.

tiff0803 · May 2011

I was always taught "dress for the job you want, not the one you have." So keeping that in mind, I would continue to wear your current wardrobe if I were you. I probably wouldn't wear the suit jackets or blazers but the skirts and dressy pants sound fine to me. Maybe dress down a bit on Fridays if you want.

Our office is business casual. We can't wear sneakers or flip flops. Jeans only on Fridays. Most people wear skirts/dressy pants/dresses.

wawajeanne · May 2011

lsgarver:

I think at one point Viley and I vowed to bring back brooches--yeah, that never happened.

I totally check the brooch area in any goodwill/salvation army/consignment store I go in. I've never bought one, but one of these days it's going to happen.

Cooper81 · May 2011

I don't think I was ever told what our official dress code is, but I wore suits the first 2 days and then scaled back a little bit when I saw what all the other women were wearing. Our female directors and Assistant Commisioners wear suits everyday, but they are much more public and go to really high level meetings pretty much every day. I wear dress/suit pants, dresses, or skirts with a nice blouse or something like a silk cami with a nice cardigan. On days I know I'm having a meeting a suit or a nice blazer, I do have a neutral blazer at my desk just in case I have an unexpected high level meeting.

mrs. remy · May 2011

Just keep wearing what you are wearing, and maybe gradually pick up a few more nice-casual pieces here and there to fill it in.

My workplace is like SK's....no one dresses up here unless clients are coming in. My boss regularly wears swim trunks and t-shirts in the summer. All of that is great because I can throw on whatever I want, but sometimes I find myself wishing I had a reason to wear and buy nicer stuff. I tend to be one of the nicer dressed ones here (not saying much) and I will get comments like "oh, are you going to a job interview?" Confused

ETA: as for inappropriateness, a former cw used to take the casual dress code a little too far and would wear spaghetti strap tank tops w/no bra underneath Ick!

lsgarver · May 2011

I should have responded about the inappropriateness--

I am forever biased against a girl who wore low-rise jeans, a belly shirt and lots of chain necklaces to an INTERVIEW for a special research program I'm in. Granted, she's not from the US, so I think there's a cultural divide but this outfit was so ridiculous for an interview (with a formal, hour-long slide-show presentation and all) it can't be fully explained by culture alone. She was accepted because she's smart but I just don't take her seriously.

wawajeanne · May 2011

lsgarver:

I should have responded about the inappropriateness--

I am forever biased against a girl who wore low-rise jeans, a belly shirt and lots of chain necklaces to an INTERVIEW for a special research program I'm in. Granted, she's not from the US, so I think there's a cultural divide but this outfit was so ridiculous for an interview (with a formal, hour-long slide-show presentation and all) it can't be fully explained by culture alone. She was accepted because she's smart but I just don't take her seriously.

That is insane. In the days of the internet I just can't understand people who miss the mark so badly. Just google "what to wear to an interview" and you get an instant (generally correct) answer. And there are people for whom that's not possible, but anybody applying to a special resarch program at your level has access to the damn internet and the smarts to google.

I'm curious now where she's from that might explain having no clue about appropriate work attire.

KathrynMD · May 2011

mrs. remy:

My boss regularly wears swim trunks and t-shirts in the summer.

omg

wawajeanne · May 2011

mrs. remy:

Just keep wearing what you are wearing, and maybe gradually pick up a few more nice-casual pieces here and there to fill it in.

My workplace is like SK's....no one dresses up here unless clients are coming in. My boss regularly wears swim trunks and t-shirts in the summer. All of that is great because I can throw on whatever I want, but sometimes I find myself wishing I had a reason to wear and buy nicer stuff. I tend to be one of the nicer dressed ones here (not saying much) and I will get comments like "oh, are you going to a job interview?"

ETA: as for inappropriateness, a former cw used to take the casual dress code a little too far and would wear spaghetti strap tank tops w/no bra underneath

Oh jeez...swim trunks? And for the strappy tank I'm assuming we're talking without a built-in bra? or with and she had a headlights/sagging issue? 10 lbs ago I could get away with a shelf bra and not look innapropriate, but I feel like half of the weight I've gained over the past two years has gone straight to my boobs so I have to wear a bra now. But either way strappy cami's are an bottom layer only for me - I always have a cardi, blouse or jacket on top.

SarahKate31 · May 2011

mrs. remy:
My workplace is like SK's....no one dresses up here unless clients are coming in. My boss regularly wears swim trunks and t-shirts in the summer. All of that is great because I can throw on whatever I want, but sometimes I find myself wishing I had a reason to wear and buy nicer stuff.

ETA: Forgot this part! Yeah swim trunks beats my boss's gym shorts, lol.

I sometimes wish I had a reason to buy nicer clothes also. Even on days when we have to wear "business casual" I struggle because I honestly don't own anything like that. I have no real need to for my work or lifestyle so I don't. But then I feel like a college kid half the time. I feel like I should really dress my age.

madladybride · May 2011

I'd keep wearing what you are wearing, but ditch the blazers. Our office is business casual and not very casual. No jeans, tank tops, spaghetti straps, sleeveless shirts, tennis shoes EVER.

I wear a nice top/blouse and black or gray pants or even a skirt.

I'm this {} close to fitting into my pre-pg wardrobe, so I am really limited on what I have to wear.

wawajeanne · May 2011

madladybride:

I'd keep wearing what you are wearing, but ditch the blazers. Our office is business casual and not very casual. No jeans, tank tops, spaghetti straps, sleeveless shirts, tennis shoes EVER.

I wear a nice top/blouse and black or gray pants or even a skirt.

I'm this {} close to fitting into my pre-pg wardrobe, so I am really limited on what I have to wear.

yeah, i was just looking at the "jacket" section of my closet the other day and thinking about how I'm never going to get a chance to wear any of those things. It's really frustrating.

mrs. remy · May 2011

wawajeanne:
Oh jeez...swim trunks? And for the strappy tank I'm assuming we're talking without a built-in bra? or with and she had a headlights/sagging issue? 10 lbs ago I could get away with a shelf bra and not look innapropriate, but I feel like half of the weight I've gained over the past two years has gone straight to my boobs so I have to wear a bra now. But either way strappy cami's are an bottom layer only for me - I always have a cardi, blouse or jacket on top.

No built in bra, nothing but a thin layer of cotton between some sagging boobs and major headlight action.

xmaryrickx · May 2011

I think you have to be careful about over dressing on the office. Sort of like under dressing. People label the under dresser as skanky, inappropriate, unprofessional. But the over dresser can easily be labeled as snotty, pretentious, thinking they are above others, etc. I know someone who was in a very similar situation, a little exaggerated and he was told by the higher ups that if he was seen in a suit again he would be fired. No joke. While he happened to be a VP for a division of one of the nations largest banks, and therefore was in fact rather important(at least in title) they felt that everyone would be intimidated by his suits and that he should strive to fit in better with their corporate culture. Sad bc he has some nice asss suits. So I would say yo try to dress down some of your outfits. Pair blazers/dress shirts with jeans and heals. Pair a skirt with a cute tee and a scarf or statement necklace and flats.

wawajeanne · May 2011

xmaryrickx:
I think you have to be careful about over dressing on the office. Sort of like under dressing. People label the under dresser as skanky, inappropriate, unprofessional. But the over dresser can easily be labeled as snotty, pretentious, thinking they are above others, etc. I know someone who was in a very similar situation, a little exaggerated and he was told by the higher ups that if he was seen in a suit again he would be fired. No joke. While he happened to be a VP for a division of one of the nations largest banks, and therefore was in fact rather important(at least in title) they felt that everyone would be intimidated by his suits and that he should strive to fit in better with their corporate culture. Sad bc he has some nice asss suits. So I would say yo try to dress down some of your outfits. Pair blazers/dress shirts with jeans and heals. Pair a skirt with a cute tee and a scarf or statement necklace and flats.

This is what I was worried about really. I think I'm going to take this as a chance to go a little more trendy with my wardrobe, which isn't exactly dressing down, but it is less like I'm trying to dress like the VP. More fun jewelry, fun shoes, etc.

xmaryrickx · May 2011

wawajeanne:

xmaryrickx:
I think you have to be careful about over dressing on the office. Sort of like under dressing. People label the under dresser as skanky, inappropriate, unprofessional. But the over dresser can easily be labeled as snotty, pretentious, thinking they are above others, etc. I know someone who was in a very similar situation, a little exaggerated and he was told by the higher ups that if he was seen in a suit again he would be fired. No joke. While he happened to be a VP for a division of one of the nations largest banks, and therefore was in fact rather important(at least in title) they felt that everyone would be intimidated by his suits and that he should strive to fit in better with their corporate culture. Sad bc he has some nice asss suits. So I would say yo try to dress down some of your outfits. Pair blazers/dress shirts with jeans and heals. Pair a skirt with a cute tee and a scarf or statement necklace and flats.

This is what I was worried about really. I think I'm going to take this as a chance to go a little more trendy with my wardrobe, which isn't exactly dressing down, but it is less like I'm trying to dress like the VP. More fun jewelry, fun shoes, etc.

I was hoping that is how you would read my long rambly post. It sounds like you have a great foundation wardrobe, so I would work on adding some fun trendy things, and a fee classic casual pieces.

wawajeanne · May 2011

xmaryrickx:

I was hoping that is how you would read my long rambly post. It sounds like you have a great foundation wardrobe, so I would work on adding some fun trendy things, and a fee classic casual pieces.

Yep, the hunt is on for a good pair of trouser jeans that actually fit me. (I have a hard time with jeans...which is part of the reason I'm so reluctant to part with my dress pants. They fit me better than jeans)

xmaryrickx · May 2011

wawajeanne:
xmaryrickx:

I was hoping that is how you would read my long rambly post. It sounds like you have a great foundation wardrobe, so I would work on adding some fun trendy things, and a fee classic casual pieces.

Yep, the hunt is on for a good pair of trouser jeans that actually fit me. (I have a hard time with jeans...which is part of the reason I'm so reluctant to part with my dress pants. They fit me better than jeans)

Ugh. Me too. What is the problem for you?

I LOVE a pair of trouser jeans I got at the Polo outlet for $14 (SCORE!). They fit amazing. My biggest problem is my freakishly long inseam and that I carry all of my weight in my stomach. Sooo, I am ridiculously out of proportion.
I have had no luck with AT's trouser jeans, though their dress pants work for me.

wawajeanne · May 2011

xmaryrickx:
wawajeanne:
xmaryrickx:

I was hoping that is how you would read my long rambly post. It sounds like you have a great foundation wardrobe, so I would work on adding some fun trendy things, and a fee classic casual pieces.

Yep, the hunt is on for a good pair of trouser jeans that actually fit me. (I have a hard time with jeans...which is part of the reason I'm so reluctant to part with my dress pants. They fit me better than jeans)

Ugh. Me too. What is the problem for you?

I LOVE a pair of trouser jeans I got at the Polo outlet for $14 (SCORE!). They fit amazing. My biggest problem is my freakishly long inseam and that I carry all of my weight in my stomach. Sooo, I am ridiculously out of proportion.
I have had no luck with AT's trouser jeans, though their dress pants work for me.

Ha, I'm the exact opposite. All my weight is in my thighs and i have a really long torso and freakishly short legs. I have a couple of pairs of jeans that fit me as well as any jeans ever have - and I could store a freakin' cantelope behind the small of my back. If I don't wear a belt I spend all day pulling them up and flashing my undies every time I bend over since they gap like crazy. I can't get a smaller size because then my thighs look like overcooked sausages and I get muffin top. It's really very frustrating, and for some reason I don'tt have the same problem with dress pants. I've tried higher rises, lower rises, all kinds of cuts - they all do it.

Joanis018 · May 2011

Our office is very casual- anything goes: flip flops, shorts, tshirts. That being said I work for a clothing company and (almost) everyone always look extremely polished.

If I were you I would continue wearing what you are, just no suit jacket. Maybe buy a couple pairs of slightly less casual pants or a pair of nice straight leg dark denim to mix it up?

mrsbecky07 · May 2011

LOL people here wear anything and everything. last summer one of the attorneys wore cargo shorts, sandals and a sleeveless tshirt. I was appalled.

I tend to dress fairly business-casual to office-appropriate, I guess, is a way to put it. I dress very ATL and BR and JCrew to give you an idea. So I dont wear suits or anything but I wear dress pants, shirts, sweaters, dresses, etc. We clearly dont have an official dress code.

I agree that a little professionalism goes a long way, even in a more casual environment. If you do feel out of place, could you wear some fun jewelry or something to kind of dress your clothes down and make them a bit trendier? that's what I would do.

and ditto LSG - I wish people dressed up more for dinner or whatever. I hate going to a nice restaurant and seeing people in shorts.

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