Happy Wednesday, Stylenation! No wardrobe do-overs today, but I did kind of phone in my pink for Blogging for Breast Cancer Awareness. It's been a bit of a challenge to wear pink all the time, and I really started missing other colors, like green. But there's my pink brooch (which has been getting a lot of wear lately) and there's pink in my necklace. See?
Something odd happened at work today that I wanted to share and get your much wiser opinions on. I think I've mentioned that my company has a casual dress code - meaning I could wear jeans everyday if I wanted to. I choose not to because I like dressing up for work, and jeans just aren't as comfortable to me as skirts and dress pants are. That said, I do still wear jeans on Fridays because I like the idea of Casual Friday. No one has ever really said anything to me about it, and the only comments I usually hear about my appearance are things like "I like that necklace" or "That color looks nice on you," and so forth (with the exception of my co-worker seeking advice). Today I was in a meeting where the topic of whether or not the new company that bought is us going to re-instate our dress code. Honestly, I think that there are more pressing matters right now - will we still have jobs, will our benefits change next year, etc. But the people in my meeting couldn't stop harping on how awful it would be if we had a dress code again, and then noted in a very snooty and resentful tone that I always dress up anyway so obviously I'd support it (honestly, I could care less). Now I'm not one to put too much stock in what other people think about me, but for some reason this bothers me. I wish I could describe exactly what they said and why it bugs me, but it's been a long day and a lot has happened since my meeting. They sounded like they have a problem with my choice to dress nicely, which, frankly, isn't their business. But I had never considered that people would react in a negative way to the way I dress. Or at all, really.
Have other people reacted to your clothing and/or sense of style in a way you didn't expect? Am I just thinking too much about this?
Fortunately, I came home to a playful Jude, who always knows how to make me feel better
Fella joined in the fun too, and then asked if he and Jude were ruining my pictures. Actually, they did a good job of not obstructing my outfit too much :)
Cardigan & Tee: Loft
Pants: New York & Company
Brooch: Etsy
Necklace: New York & Company
Shoes: Loft
Fella's entire ensemble: Likely Target
I definitely get comments about the effort I put in, although I don't think they are ill-meant or resentful. I've even gotten halfhearted requests for style advice from a couple of colleagues, although we're all too busy to follow through.
ReplyDeleteThe only time when my choice to dress up had any fallout was when I was at the end of grad school and my post-gradschool stint as a programmer at NCSA. My boss would ask me whether I had an interview that day, any time I looked nice, even though I hadn't really started seriously looking for jobs yet. He clearly perceived my readiness to be independent, though.
I wore a skirt to work on a casual Friday, since I had a meeting, and got negative remarks from a co-worker.
ReplyDeleteI like the green cardigan on you.
My current company has a business casual dress code and does Casual Fridays. The company I'm hoping to work for is all casual - and I intend to dress the same as I do now if I get the job (fingers crossed).
ReplyDeleteI do get some odd reactions at work - I am easily the most dressed-up person at my work now. I wonder what kind of impact it would make at my hypothetical new job?
People are too wrapped up in what other people are doing. Who cares what you're wearing as long as the work is getting done!
I used to get several snide comments about it in my old department, mainly because people were afraid if management liked that I was put together they would require it of the rest of them and they were too lazy for that. My new department has to and wants to dress nicer.
ReplyDeleteI think it is linked to ambition: dressing up for work is considered the domain of the up-and-comers, whereas not having to worry about is usually the same people who don't want to work hard and are satisfied with the status quo. Dressing nicely an outward sign that you want more from your job, and that ticks people off if they just want to phone it in. At least in my company.
Wow, this is pretty crazy. I mean, I get that a lot of folks like being in a liberal dressing environment, where they can be casual, but that should mean if you want to be less casual, this should be OK, too. I also think that you don't dress like someone aiming for super corner office big time, you just dress like someone who likes style, which is different. That's too bad that they assumed you wanted to impose something policy on them without even asking you how you felt. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteOn the bright side, you look lovely. Even if the day was icky. I like the green and the pink together, which I've never considered as a color combo, but it definitely works.
I would say ignore that comment. It has to stem from some kind of jealousy - or reflect on their own laziness/lack of desire to dress well. You look nice and you care about what you wear - why should they care how you dress?
ReplyDeleteBut the workplace is always a tricky place when it comes to personal style.
I think I get away with dressing a little less corporate-ish at my work because I'm the youngest one in the office. Though I often get comments from one co-worker about how I'm a hipster etc. etc. And, a couple of items I've received a few 'what a weird shirt' comments.
Again, I wouldn't worry about it - and keep on dressing as you like : )
Wow, thank you all for weighing in! It's been really interesting to read your thoughts/experiences on this.
ReplyDeleteCynthia: Funny you should mention that, because anytime some members of my team dress up, someone always inevitably asks if they have an interview. No one has ever asked me that, which of course makes it easier for me to look for a new job.
Rebecca: Someone was negative about you wearing a skirt on casual Friday? That's so odd.
Sheila: Ultimately I agree that as long as work is getting done, who cares what I'm wearing. But it still bugs me. Have you been to the new company yet? Does everyone actually observe the casual dress code? It's about 50/50 at my office on any given day (which makes said remarks even more strange).
Kristen: I think you've hit the nail on the head here! I've been in my job for 3 years now, and I'm totally bored with it and feel mostly unchallenged by the work I do. I've told management this and am actively seeking out a new position. The women who made the remarks have been in the same job even longer, and are content to do the same thing day after day, year after year, because it's easier than finding a new job. Why is ambition such a bad thing though?
Rad: That's exactly it - a casual dress code doesn't mean we HAVE to wear jeans all the time. And a majority of the people in my office don't wear jeans every single day. But right, I would describe my style more as "pretty" than "professional" or "climbing the corporate ladder." Oh, and pink and green are a great combo! Think watermelon - if it looks good in nature, it works :)
La Fille: You're probably right about jealousy. It's funny how many things in life go back to what my mom taught me as a kid - if people make fun of you, they're jealous of something. I'm the youngest too, so maybe that has something to do with it. It's so strange that people at work feel comfortable calling stuff you're wearing weird though. I can't imagine saying that to anyone in my office.
Wow, thank you all for weighing in! It's been really interesting to read your thoughts/experiences on this.
ReplyDeleteCynthia: Funny you should mention that, because anytime some members of my team dress up, someone always inevitably asks if they have an interview. No one has ever asked me that, which of course makes it easier for me to look for a new job.
Rebecca: Someone was negative about you wearing a skirt on casual Friday? That's so odd.
Sheila: Ultimately I agree that as long as work is getting done, who cares what I'm wearing. But it still bugs me. Have you been to the new company yet? Does everyone actually observe the casual dress code? It's about 50/50 at my office on any given day (which makes said remarks even more strange).
Kristen: I think you've hit the nail on the head here! I've been in my job for 3 years now, and I'm totally bored with it and feel mostly unchallenged by the work I do. I've told management this and am actively seeking out a new position. The women who made the remarks have been in the same job even longer, and are content to do the same thing day after day, year after year, because it's easier than finding a new job. Why is ambition such a bad thing though?
Rad: That's exactly it - a casual dress code doesn't mean we HAVE to wear jeans all the time. And a majority of the people in my office don't wear jeans every single day. But right, I would describe my style more as "pretty" than "professional" or "climbing the corporate ladder." Oh, and pink and green are a great combo! Think watermelon - if it looks good in nature, it works :)
La Fille: You're probably right about jealousy. It's funny how many things in life go back to what my mom taught me as a kid - if people make fun of you, they're jealous of something. I'm the youngest too, so maybe that has something to do with it. It's so strange that people at work feel comfortable calling stuff you're wearing weird though. I can't imagine saying that to anyone in my office.
I would say ignore that comment. It has to stem from some kind of jealousy - or reflect on their own laziness/lack of desire to dress well. You look nice and you care about what you wear - why should they care how you dress?
ReplyDeleteBut the workplace is always a tricky place when it comes to personal style.
I think I get away with dressing a little less corporate-ish at my work because I'm the youngest one in the office. Though I often get comments from one co-worker about how I'm a hipster etc. etc. And, a couple of items I've received a few 'what a weird shirt' comments.
Again, I wouldn't worry about it - and keep on dressing as you like : )