Work Wear: Coord set Office Attire for Women

      Decoding the Dress Code

If there is one thing I complain about going from school to work is finding something to wear. Throughout my years in the public school system, I had a relatively easy time picking out something to wear because there was a dress code and a common code. The dress code was what the school board officially deemed as appropriate to wear. The common code was my own internal sense of what I should wear based on my age, the weather, and insight. Essentially, the common code is a jazzy way of common sense.

However, once I got to college the rules went out the window. I saw people in everything from a suit to pajamas going to class. There was no dress code at all. I even heard from one of my instructors that a girl was late to class so she came bikini-clad since she had been sunbathing just recently. But as my years as a co-ed drew to a close, it was obvious that I was going to have to put together the dreaded office ensemble.

Most places now fall under one of two categories from coord set for office clothing guidelines: business professional or business casual. Most of the places I have worked at fall under business casual given that there is too much activity going on to be effective in a skirt and heels yet still distinguished enough to disallow flip flops and tank tops.

In this hub, I am going to discuss some common rules I apply to dressing for work including multi-functional pieces, must haves, what not to wear, and Casual Friday. So for any woman looking to dress for success, this is the hub for you.

Dressing for Success: Where and How to Shop:-

I once heard someone say "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have." The job I want does not yet exist but the job I have is a great starting place for me to continually develop my own sense of style. My sense of style evolved in my later college years as I wanted to be taken seriously and not seen as a frumpy student. However, what I wore in college was pretty much a continuation of what I had worn growing up, just in line with my age and taste.

When I shop for clothes, several things come to mind for what I need to buy and some common factors always apply.

Appropriateness: Is this piece okay for the office? Will it be considered appropriate for an eight hour day?

Use Value: Can this piece be used for other purposes such as layering and non-work activities? Will I wear this more often than not?

Climate: Is this conducive to the environment of where I live as well as the office environment of air conditioning/heating?

Of course, these factors may vary based on your office attire needs but generally having these things in mind is very helpful in picking a work appropriate outfit.

Now the question comes as to where you should shop for your office clothes. It depends on your budget and taste but these places have helped me for sure in getting an office wardrobe together.

New York and Company: If you do not know about New York and Company, I suggest you get very familiar with them. Not only do they have a multitude of sizes and lengths to suit the clothing needs of most working women, they have amazing sales and discounts at least once a month. I recommend going here for your slacks and crop pants because they have a wide selection of color, shapes, and styles to suit your taste without breaking the bank.

Target: I know some people lament the big box stores for a variety of reasons and while I never completely agree with their approach or tactics at times, I definitely think they still offer some great clothes. Target has brought me a lot of success in terms of offering good tops for layering, nice sweaters at a reasonable price, as well as some nice dark washed jeans that look good for Casual Friday. As a bonus, i would also recommend checking out their limited edition collections offered each season. Jason Wu, who designed First Lady Michelle Obama's inauguration dress is among one of the latest designers featured.

Sears: Unfortunately Sears and JC Penney have unnecessarily earned reputations as being geriatric central for clothes. And while it's true some of their offerings are great for the retired set, they offer a lot of great things for those of us still working too. I like them because they offer layaway which so many stores are now cutting out. But I have managed to find great sweaters and pants on sale recently that will last a long time.

TJ Maxx/Marshall's: My local TJ Maxx and Marshall's recently irked me by not offering layaway any longer. I do not know why but I think it was because they just got tired of doing it. I still like going there for a nice dress for any occasion or separates at a reduced price for layering.

These stores are just some places where you can go but I also recommend shopping at thrift stores and exchanging clothes with family and friends to find other items you may need for the office.

Basic Pieces and Principles:-

Even though I don't write everything I know down, it comes to me at times like this. But in all honesty, I think every woman should approach dressing for work or anywhere for that matter like a guy plans his weekend watching sports. You have to give yourself enough time in advance to set up, have a backup lined up, and always trust your instincts.

Here are some basic clothing items I consider essentials for any woman working in an office or professional setting.

Cardigan: I have enough cardigan sweaters to set me up as the heir apparent to Mr. Rogers, but in the office they are very important. All year long they serve a great purpose. In warmer weather they offset sleeveless shells and short-sleeved tops by offering a nice cover up and they also keep you from being cold due to the air conditioning blast. I recommend having one in black and white as well as a couple of other commonly loved colors in your closet like blue and green.

T-Shirt Tops:These are the kind of tops I mentioned that I find at Target. Essentially they have the shape and appeal of a fitted t-shirt minus the writing and designs. I like to pair these with cardigans for a nice layered effect. Again, I say you should have a few in a several different colors to match your cardigans and your slacks.

Slacks/Crop Pants: In my current work, I do a lot of moving so wearing slacks and crop pants is more feasible for me. However, I also get cold easily because of their air conditioning so they help keep my legs warm as well. I like to buy my slacks in standard colors like black, gray, navy, and brown. But for crop pants (if your work allows) I like to get brighter colors to compliment the seasons of spring and summer. They pair will with t-shirt tops and cardigans too.

Dress: I think dresses are great in the summertime to beat the heat when most offices disallow shorts. There's nothing better than a loose fitting dress made of breathable material like cotton or jersey and depending on the season you can add tights and/or boots for year around wear.

Skirts:I like skirts as well. For the office, I prefer something I can move in easily but is not too long. A-lines are my favorites by far but it depends on your shape what works for you.

Flats: My favorite thing about business casual is that I do not have to wear heels. Having to stand for long periods of time is hard enough and I prefer being comfortable. And for all of you heel lovers, there are great designs in flats.

These pieces work well but there are also some principles you should have in mind when putting everything together.

Less Is More: Everyone says it but not everyone does it. If you look neat, professional and confident, I think that is more than enough.

Monochrome Can Mean Monotone: I say this out of experience and observation, but wearing one color can paint you as either a lover of one color or someone with issues. All black is one thing but all lime is another. It's all about discretion.

Club Wear Does Not Equal Work Wear: I have never lived the night life but common sense tells me that slinky top and platform pumps does not work the same kind of magic in the office as it does the dance floor.

The Fingertip Rule Still Applies: For those of you who do not know, it's if your hem comes above your fingertip that you should not wear it. I have no qualms doing this but it helps delineate the line of too short versus just right.

The Bend Top Test: No matter the size of your bust line, the last thing you want to do is expose yourself too much by wearing a top that's too low or for those of us with bigger chests shows too much cleavage. I know Katy Perry jumps rope to test her outfits but since none of us will be singing "ET" on stage, I think if you try to bend in the dressing room will help see if the top is appropriate, needs editing, or just has to be ditched.

Whale Tail Should Only Be a Movie: This is hard for anyone who has pants that are low cut or even the newer ones below the waist. You have to make sure you're not showing your co-workers where you get your unmentionables. A belt is helpful but you might want to try bending again in the dressing room with your rear facing the mirror.

Jewelry Should Be Simple: Coco Chanel famously said she took one item of jewelry off before heading out. I think you might can add two for the office but either way, you should not look like Mr. T's sister unless you want to resurrect the A-Team.