b is by far the most common, but no one really wants to hear the story. It’s about a one-sentence comment by the manager. a leads to much more gossip, and the occasional internet post. If someone thought they could get away with black jeans and had to be told that no, that’s still just for casual Friday, no one is interested.
I’ve preached before, but I’ll say it again: New York & Company is my best source for stylish, young-looking, work-appropriate clothing. Some of their tops are a bit too cleavage-y, but I can always find something that works.
I supervise college students in my office. Now I don’t care if they wear jeans, a t-shirt, and flips-flops–we are after all on a college campus and most people dress fairly informally. But every year I have to spell out my dress code very explicitly: “You must wear shoes to work. I don’t want to see your underwear or your belly. You must shower regularly.” Oy vey.
I bought a nice dress at Sears last week. 50% off!
If you’re a guy, splurge on a good suit. Not off the rack, but a custom fitted suit. My SIL gave my son one for his birthday last year from Men’s Wearhouse, and they fitted him down to the hanky in his front coat pocket.
He certainly bowled over Steak 'n Shake when he walked in for an intervew. In this day and age, it’s rather sad that a nicely dressed applicant is not the norm, but if you go in dressed like you mean it, it can be the tipping point in your favor.
You are totally right. The few times I’ve popped in a NY&Co (there aren’t any where I live, but there are some closer to our commuter offices), they’ve had a lot of good stuff.
The Limited was also nice, but they closed the one that was in Bakersfield. And maybe it’s just that I’m a boob’ed up chick, but I’m remember The Limited’s shirts being a little too short and too tight in the chest, even when I was a size 12 with C cup. Their pants, on the other hand, were also cut very liberally- I always wore two sizes smaller than usual in that store.
Before I was 40 - well before I was 30 - I got a lot of professional peices shopping carefully at The Limited, Banana Republic. Ann Taylor is lovely, but usually too pricey for me.
The real problem was between 30 and 40 - when I was “too old” to feel comfortable in The Limited’s trendy wear, but not yet up for Chico’s “mature” look. Those were the Casual Corner years and the “non-schoolteacherish” Christopher Banks years - but alas, they CC has gone out of business. Fortunately, most of those years also coincided with my “tech factory” job - where wearing Dockers I manage to outdress almost everyone.
I’m not a boss, but when I was working late one night, my boss started chatting with me and it was largely a rant about dress code issues. He would answer B: too casual.
When we renovated the office, we had a staff meeting during which we were told to make more of an effort to “look less ghetto”. PLEASE NOTE: He did not mean that in a racist context, but rather said that office was looking like a “student ghetto” or a “frat house full of slackers”.
So he made an outright ban on sneakers and t-shirts. All shirts must have a collar with exceptions for women’s blouses that are still dressy and professional looking. And no sportswear such as tear-aways, yoga pants, or shorts. And nothing baring the midriff.
ETA: He also doesn’t like facial pericings, but does NOT insist on removing piercings, and the regular dress code keeps most tattoos covered anyway. So you can have both. They aren’t really a big deal as far as dress code, he just thinks tattoos are ugly.
All-in-all, we’re a much more casual office than you’d expect.
Wow. I’ve never heard of this store until now. I just checked out their website and they’ve got quite a few items that will work in the office…even if you’re an old broad like me. Blouses, jackets, career pants. They’ve got it all and it’s pretty reasonable!
Nope, not the same one. La Cache sells these clothes but you have to somewhat dig so you don’t come across as a victorian miss. I can’t find the shirt I bought just a few days ago on there, but it’s really nice. It’s a light purple and fitted, but the top button is actually above my breasts and the collar is this lacy thing. Feminine, yet reasonable for business casual when paired with dress pants or a skirt and easily more formal with a jacket.
Shopping is a huge mix and match for me. It is rare for me to find an outfit all from one store, and usually that is casual. So tops I pick up at La Cache (if I have some extra cash), Ricki’s, Reitman’s, The Bay, Sears, and this really cool cheap store called Dots. Dress pants and jackets I usually get from Tall Girl or (if I manage to find a decent pair that fits right) Old Navy.
Most of the stores I’d like to shop at don’t stock my size, or fit small (so they still, essentially, don’t stock my size). Tall clothing generally stops at size 14-16 in the average store and there is exactly one tall store in this city.
Yes, it is. That’s what I hate, most things geared to my age group and price range are sluttacious (good word!). What’s even worse is that my being taller, along with plus size, means that things that are reasonable are often still too small on me. Take the shirt I am wearing now, the neck is low cut but the hem is at about average. Currently, while I sit here, the hem is about 3-4 inches above the back of my jeans (I have one of those camis I mentioned on right now, which is what keeps the shirt decent). The long shirt style has been a huge boon to me.
It does get boring. That’s what I wore to work at Sears all the time. It really can be hard, especially if you aren’t as hyperaware as I am about showing too much skin (especially around the stomach/chest area) or if your pants/skirt are too short. Most girls in my age group (and some older) seem to have no problem with showing lots of skin, so in a professional environment it doesn’t quite click that maybe they are showing too much for where they are. They are comfortable showing that much, so why would it seem unprofessional?
The worst part of threads like these is finding out about stores that might carry what I can (and like to) wear, except they’re all out of the States and don’t have stores here and I prefer to try on before I buy instead of shopping online.
Did you wear your slut-length short skirt? Wear that with your turban and you can’t go wrong, my brother.
I used to see a lot of this in the office (amongst the younger set): http://www.nyandcompany.com/nyco/browse/product_detail_with_picker.jsp?productId=prod150054
Is that considered OK?
I wore this to my first day on the job as a male stripper. I think I made an impression.
…And yes, I did lots of jumping jacks.
Standing ovations rung through the halls.
I would say no unless you wear a cardigan or jacket with it (and don’t remove it). I think that’s far too bare for a professional office. Maybe OK for a very casual office but I’d be uncomfortable in it.
Sure we want to hear the story.
But I"m a little surprised; any time we talk about dress code violations people always seem to bring up the short skirts and sheer sundresses, but rarely sneakers or jeans. We’re not supposed to wear blue jeans here M-Th, officially, but there are a few who do that almost every day, and others who do it occasionally, and they’ve been working here for years.
It’s super-cute, but I agree with tremorviolet, I’d pair it with a little cardigan or a jacket. Perfect for when you’re going straight from the office out with friends, though.
I agree. I think it’s too bare and the cut is too casual. But with a little 3/4 sleeve cardigan…way cute.
And who’d want to be that bare in an office anyway? The A/C is always set on snowflake. Too nipply for my comfort.
You are so hot!
I think this one is perfect for the office: http://www.nyandcompany.com/nyco/browse/product_detail_with_picker.jsp?productId=prod110050 and I wouldn’t feel bad about removing my jacket.
Are you absolutely sure that the Straight Dope is the right kind of message board for you?
I do NOT envy women who need to shop for this stuff. Dockers? 19.99 at yer average Maison Du Target. ( The House of Target. Where discriminating boys everywhere shoppe. ;) ). I don't know a single article of clothing that my wife OR daughter owns that costs 19.99.
Seriously.
It’s more of a sashay than a walk. For every inch your hips move forward, they roll an inch. Here, lemme show you… 
Cartooniverse
With all due respect, when I buy Dockers at WalMart, Target, JC Penny, Kohl’s or anywhere else, are they not the same Dockers? Or are there various grades of that kind of pants and am I buying the El Cheapadelico kind at Wal Mart and the better made ones at Kohl’s ??
Of course it’s a sashay. Silly me. Back in my day, all you needed was a decent shimmey to get your foot in the door!