Suit yourself
December 23rd, 2006
In yesterday’s Washington Post, fashion reporter Robin Givhan wrote that although office attire for women has become more casual and dresses are selling like hotcakes, nothing screams “take me seriously” like a good old-fashioned power suit.
I quote:
Mostly, though, even if the dress is tweed, gray flannel or glen plaid, it doesn’t resonate like a suit, which makes an unequivocal statement of authority. It designates who’s in charge. It says listen to me and obey. It says give me your money and your votes.
A suit can be sexy and feminine, but both characteristics are inexorably linked to its power. A dress can exude confidence. But fundamentally, it’s an expression of femininity.
Givhan is quick to point out that this unspoken dress code doesn’t suit all careers. So if you’re not a senator, lawyer, or the secretary of state you may be off the hook. Since I have always shied away from industries that require I fold any sort of drycleaning or ironing into my weekly routine, it’s hard for me to comment objectively on whether I prefer a power suit to a one-piece frock. (Truth be told, I prefer jeans and pretty T-shirt.)
How about you? In high-power career settings, do you prefer a sexy pantsuit or a sharp skirt-and-jacket ensemble or a smart ‘n sassy dress? What do you prefer to see on your CEO? Your state senator? And do you think “sexy” has any business in the workplace at all?
Discuss amongst yourselves. And happy holidays.
Entry Filed under: Coffee break
3 Comments Add your own
1. Laura | December 26th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
Actually I find a dress in the workplace is a really versatile piece because it can stand alone as a dress in the summer, and you can change the outfit by wearing it with different shoes and a cardigan over it, and it can also masquerade as a suit if you throw a complementary suit jacket over it. Of course it doesn’t fake well as a suit skirt if it’s a floral print or something, but if it’s a fairly simple pattern or design, it can look like you’re wearing a skirt suit.
At work I love the look of power suits (pants or skirts) and also less formal attire like a skirt or pants with a cardigan, or a dress. I hate wearing skirts or dresses in the winter myself though because I DESPISE pantyhose!
I don’t think overtly sexy has any place in the workplace, such as too-short skirts or tops showing a bit too much cleavage. Some people get away with wearing them but besides being inappropriate, I think it undermines their credibility and hurts them in the long run. But a nice suit that provides suitable coverage can be sexy in an understated way, and that’s perfectly fine with me.
2. Anne | December 27th, 2006 at 12:32 am
My girlfriends and I just chatted about this at lunch a few weeks ago. The consensus was that a suit- pants or skirt is the way to go for any important interview, presentation, or meeting. There are positive psychological effects on your sefl-confidence.
Advice I received just out of college: Conform to the industry standard as much as possible when you are trying to get your foot in the door. Then, as you gain experience and a good reputation in your field, its OK to express yourself through your clothes.
Coming from the East Coast, I was a bit shocked at just how casual office dress could be here in the Seattle area. I once made the mistake of wearing a pantsuit to the office on a normal workday(something not unheard of back in PA). After being quizzed by the 3rd person as to WHY I was wearing the suit, I answered in a mysterious whisper, “My hearing is scheduled for this afternoon.”
It was fun yet awkward to let down my formal dress code a bit. I also agree that the workplace is not the venue to be sexy.
3. Michelle Goodman | December 27th, 2006 at 4:51 am
hilarious about telling coworkers you had a hearing, anne. in the ultra-casual offices i’ve temped in, if you wore something the slightest bit professional to work — say a skirt and button-up shirt, or (gasp!) a suit — your boss and coworkers would assume you had a job interview and make awkward jokes like, “you’re not leaving us, are you?” (perhaps i should have seized the opportunity to ask for a raise.)
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