STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

ILoveChoo · Hermes

need help! (way long)

Lilykind · Hermes

breathe deeply. it's ok. they still like you, right?

I too struggle with this problem on a daily basis. My co-workers look like htey're doing yardwork too, but in their case I think it's justified. Who wants to lift heavy props and stuff waring dress clothes? My formula (when it's not 204 degress...) is to wear one item from my business life (i.e. a dressy sweater) with something casual (nice jeans) and flatter shoes (though I do plan on pulling out kitten heels).

Just because they dress up to do yardwork doesn't mean you need to.

HeatherLynn · Gucci

These are from ST:

(wear with jeans instead of the green capris)

work friday

From Old Navy:

ILoveChoo · Hermes

i love the outfits Heather posted, but I feel like they'd still be onsidered 'dressy'.

I was literally the only one in an 80 person office weaing any sort of heel!

I think tomorrow ;'ll wear my green striped ON skirt with a fitted brown T and gold strappy flats. But like 99% of my closet is too dressy for this job!

kenzie · Chanel

I deal with this all the time. I'm the only person in my office who wears heels. No one else really dresses up at all. I'm talking flannel shirts, ratty t-shirts, sneakers, team jerseys, etc. And the shoes! I've never seen so many chunky, early 90's rejects in my life! And that's what the women wear. Nevermind the men (although, I suppose if they were wearing heels, it would be a different kind of office).

After a while, everyone just got used to me 'dressing up' (in my opinion, I'm still casual, but there's casual and then there's sloppy...). I don't care what everyone else is wearing. I'm going to wear my nicer clothes. Although, I have to say that it's nice to be able to wear my weekend gear if I'm really feeling gross. But 99% of the time, I wear heels and avoid jeans, cargos, etc.

-- Edited by kenzie at 19:38, 2006-07-20

HeatherLynn · Gucci

I agree with Kenzie, eventually everyone will get use to it. People comments about my clothing all the time. Now it is just "Heather's style" and not a big deal. When I first started I would just laugh and say "I like dressing up" or when you wear heels say "I prefer heels because the make me taller" or something like that. You could pair a lot of things with some flats. One thing I wear a lot on casual fridays is polos, jeans, and my pumas. Thats an option too for feeling more dressed down, but still cute.

kmd · Kate Spade

I'm going to post two outfits I posted before because I really feel they are casual. They could be dressed down even more with flats or boots.

anthropologie $68 sleeveless, but you could wear a cardigan over it. The shirt is ultra cool and worth every cent.

anthro again

Very nice pump, would fornarina, $86 at zappos.

ooh, versatile cardigan, cozy and casual cool

anthro $88

anthropologie $78

$228

Hype, $86 at zappos. steven, zappos, $96

Now, a couple of new ideas:

anthro $68

joe's jeans, nordstrom, $174

$78 anthro

7's nordstrom $154

steve madden, zappos, $74

$58 at anthro

nordstrom $186

fornarina, zappos, $101

I personally don't think any of these are dressy. If I saw someone wearing any of them, I'd see it as the person was dressed nicely in a bad ass outfit. :)

eta: Ok, the last one- a little dressy, but those shoes could be swapped for the grey wedges above to really dress it down.

Oh, and I agree with the other ladies, your co-workers will get used to your "style". So, wear what you feel comfortable in, don't wear anything you'll feel unprofesional or sloppy in.

-- Edited by kmd at 20:27, 2006-07-20

jacL · Coach

I don't think you should change the way you dress, but you could get some flats to wear so that they won't pass you over to do something that requires walking--who knows, someone could get petty and say you never do anything that required walking since you always wear heels (I know that is not the case at all, but someone could think that, right?). I also think flats are a good way to dress down your outfit.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

Just wear what you want to wear! Maybe everyone else would start thinking about what they are wearing to the office! I wouldn't be surprised if it all started out as a casual Friday and got out of control! Whatever kind of office, tees, whatever pants are lying around, and flip flops are never appropriate attire!

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

They're just hazing you because you're new, and they don't want to feel gawky next to you (no one likes to feel awkward or ugly or underdressed). I would dress way down at first, while still being within your style, and gradually dress it up to where you feel comfortable. Once people know and trust you, they're likely to actually sort of follow you. But if the culture says flip flops, wear flip flops with your cute sweater and jeans. (And I hate flip flops - they make that NOISE...) Anyway, try to figure out the common denominator and use that as part of your outfits, but keep gradually adding more and more YOU into it, until you're back to your old self. A determined stand against the status quo usually isn't worth the hassle. But no one expects you to be just like them. They just don't want you to make them look or feel bad for what they are... Does that make sense?

ILoveChoo · Hermes

thanks guys. I wasn't planning on drastically changing what I wear- I just don't want to be way overdressed either! And you know I've never done casual very well...

I think I found a good medium this morning- new Target denim skirt, antro top, and kitten heels.

asf · Kate Spade

i told you! lol

i like lilykind's advice of pairing one "nice" piece with something more casual. (un)luckily for you, the shopping around here still sucks so you won't have as much access to nice stuff and soon you can dress like a bum like the rest of them!

on a side note, i may be doing some shopping i can't afford this weekend (assuming i can get my butt of the couch), possibly at the mall near your new home, so if you're interested in meeting up let me know! i know you're still settling in, so no biggie either way.

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

My office is ULTRA casual...flip flops, jeans, tank tops, etc... But you can dress however you want, and I'd say at least once a week I dress up in more business casual clothes, just to stay in the habit. In your case I would say continue to wear all your nice stuff, just swap out the heels for flats. Then they can't argue that you can't walk far!

blubirde · Chanel

I say stick with your closet. One casual thing and one nice things seems like a good compromise. Just because they dress like slobs doesn't mean you have to. Maybe you'll influence them to try harder.