"Gaining Respect" Tip: Dress Appropriately!

If you're going to a basketball game, what do you wear?  A jersey.  If you're going to the gym, what do you have on?  Workout gear.  If you tried to workout in casual clothes, not only would it be uncomfortable, but it would also be functionally difficult!  Can you imagine running on the treadmill in jeans??!

The clothes that we wear mirror our environment, culture, roles, and responsibilities.  With that  in mind, it makes sense that what you wear to work should be appropriate in regards to the company's culture and your role in it.  If you happened to not dress in a way that fellow co-workers, managers, or even clients expect, they might not have as much respect, esteem, or trust in you.  Conversely, by dressing to match your role and company's value's you will be treated with high regard and will be taken more seriously.  

Here are a few tips for ladies working in a professional setting: *

1) Dress Sharp- dark suits (tan or brown suits can occasionally work, in the right season), and white or light blue blouses are classic.

2) Be Classy- stay away from silky blouses (you're not going to the club), things that are low cut and slits that are too high.

3) Dress Age Appropriate- don't be tempted by ultra-modern/young styles, nor do you need to look like a 70 year old librarian!

4) Still Be Yourself- being confident and happy translates that you know who you are and what you're doing!

*Note: if you are working in an industry that is art, fashion, or tech related, these rules will differ.  In those settings, it is more expected to match the culture and/or your personal sense of style.

As a parting piece of advice: as a teenager, I worked as a Hostess in an upscale restaurant.  My first piece of training was from the Restaurant Manager: "You are the first thing people see and interact with when they enter the restaurant.  Whatever their interaction is like with you is how they will perceive us all.  Represent us well!"

To that I say: Ladies- Represent us well.  And as always- Be classy and kind, and you'll earn the respect you deserve.

The Skirt Suit...

So let me paint a picture for you:  If you crack open Eureka Middle School's 95-96' yearbook, you'll quickly spot a cute little girl on the front row (so placed because she's notably short).  She's wearing an all-light pink outfit to match a colossal pink bow which is almost hidden by impressively fluffed bangs.  She's even sporting fold-over white socks with lace trimming, and the lace skims right along the top of her white Keds. So precious.  Fast forward a few years (ok, about 15 years), and that little girl is nearing the end of her first year of a prestigious MBA program.

What happened to that adorable "girly-girl" who, even in the 5th grade, still loved Barbies and experimenting with makeup?  Wasn't she supposed to be a Marine Biologist or Horse Caretaker?  Or even a Wedding Dress Designer?? Oh, don't worry- she's still there... only she, or rather, I.... have traded light pink overalls for a skirt suit.

So why the blog?  Partly because it's an experiment for my Social Media Strategy class.  But mostly because I want to tell all business women- you don't need to become something you're not to have an influence in the business world.  Just because there are a lot of men doesn't mean you need to change your behavior or adopt certain characteristics to fit in or be acknowledged.  It is possible to be feminine and a business woman. This blog will be dedicated to observations, advice, and thoughts of how men and women can work better together in a business setting.

Of note: There are many with strong opinions about women and gender roles in the work place.  In these posts, it is never my wish to offend.  I believe if you are working to be your best self, and you embrace who you are, the world will do the same.  Lastly, self-respect, and respect for others, can make all the difference in the world.

My sign off signature from now on: Be classy and kind, and you'll earn the respect you deserve.