Comments on: What to Wear When You’re Laid Off and Looking

By: JV

JV — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:09:17 +0000

i loved the original post. it’s good to have tips for giving yourself a subtle boost in a down economy. but the whole “look good or die” at work thing is a little bit much for me. I manage around 30 women and they all dress differently, professionals and support staff. I find that there is no correlation between competence and dress. Pantyhose and buff arms don’t make for a better brief. so, just a thought there. personally, i have my good days and my bad days for looks, long periods of time when kids consume my after-work energy rather than the gym. my focus is insuring i’m always on top of my game at work and always there for my family. places like corporette help me look, um, better than i would otherwise, but i don’t feel a need to be perfect.

By: ela

ela — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:20:46 +0000

Any comments from those of you with children on how to look put together while hauling at least 2 kids around from school, to playdates, to classes/activities? I don’t think my usual business attire would do and I certainly couldn’t carry my 3 year old in a low kitten heel from the playground to the car….and the jacket buttons would pop off in the melee. (For this purpose, I have assumed that if one is temporarily unemployed, the nanny is also laid-off and more working moms are getting more hands-on with the kids.)

By: oncealawyer

oncealawyer — Wed, 27 May 2009 03:29:37 +0000

Whew. I am really glad I am not in the professional worlds you people llive in. Don’t think I ever was, even when practicing law – never was “BigLaw.”
But I thought I had conservative views on dressing professionally — I have never ever [before this blog] heard anyone suggest that a neat, low ponytail (on a woman) was not professional.
“only for the gym?” “Juvenile?”
And not wearing makeup means you don’t spend enough time on work? When I was practicing, wearing full makeup, carefully applied, was considered (if at all) a sign that that woman spent way too much time on her looks and not enough on her work.
And the prices and brands you’ve been discussing…amazing. I’ve never even heard of most of the brands of bags on the front page. (What is a Longchamps?).
ColeHaan shoes for an out-of-work person? Get real. Apparently most of you have not been unemployed for some time.
And for the “gentleman” who equated not wearing makeup with not shaving — no, the equivalent of not shaving is not washing your face or your hair.
Not everyone even CAN wear makeup – as one of the above posters mentioned. I can’t wear eye makeup–eyes swell shut with any kind of shadow or mascara. I curl the lashes occasionally – if I get up early enough.
Give me a break, people. You all are waaaay too overthinking this dress and makeup thing.

By: Violet

Violet — Sun, 24 May 2009 20:29:14 +0000

Ha, I just realized that BLiy is a man. I think that is even worse.

By: Violet

Violet — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:29:42 +0000

I feel a little bit sorry for BL1y. Her comments tell me that she is not really mature enough to be a lawyer. Whether someone goes to the gym three times a week is hardly indicative of her character and integrity. But I would never want to work with someone who judges others for eating a donut. What is going to happen when life get a little bit hard for young Miss BL1y?

By: kalimyst

kalimyst — Sat, 23 May 2009 01:47:20 +0000

I don’t believe that a woman should have to wear make-up at work. I have overly sensitive skin.

I can get away with wearing makeup once in a blue moon for a special occasion like a wedding. But wearing make up daily is a sure way to get eczema on my face, which I’m sure looks far less professional, and more distracting then my face “au naturel”

My first full time job was in 1984, as the secretary/receptionist of the province’s real estate association. Believe it or not I ended up going to the interview in a plaid flannel shirt, faded jeans and running shoes. I was called by agency while at my part-time job at 3:30 pm for a 5:30 pm interview. I just had time to get to interview leaving work at 5. Couldn’t go home to change. I told them that I was dressed inappropriately for an interview. They told me to show up anyways. Despite them interviewing more then 10 candidates, all of which were dressed appropriately for a job interview, I got the job. It was the only time I wore jeans and a plaid shirt & running shoes to that office.

By: K

Fri, 22 May 2009 19:26:21 +0000

I once got a job interview explicitly because I happened to look neatly pulled-together when I bumped into the boss while running errands. One of my friends suggested that if I was looking for work in a new town, I shouldn’t leave the house looking at all unkempt. I wasn’t sure if I believed her, but I thought I’d try it nonetheless. And it worked. I found myself speaking to a woman sitting near me at lunch, and she asked me to come in for an interview. At the interview she specifically said that she was impressed that I was dressed so nicely the previous day because she thought it implied I was detail-oriented (which I am in spades). I got the job, which I stayed at for 2 years and really enjoyed. That woman turned out to be a really good boss.

Do I believe women should be judged on looks, makeup, etc? No. But do I think in reality we are? Yes. And would I do it again if I was looking for a job? Absolutely.

By: Corporette.com · Reader Mail: How to Keep a Working Wardrobe While Losing Weight

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:13:17 +0000

[...] friends (new and old), alumni events, as well as industry events. (If you’re worried about bumping into network-ees at the supermarket, our advice is the same for you as for anyone — nice casuals such as jeans or khakis — [...]

By: Joyce

Joyce — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:05:42 +0000

I once asked a woman who worked at home how she stayed disciplined and professional without the structure of an office (which is basically the predicament of the looking-for-work).

She said she got dressed properly every morning, regardless of whether she had anywhere to go. She didn’t get totally dolled up, but at the very least, she was in trousers or skirt, a nice top and flats.

She also did her hair and make-up, picked up a bag or briefcase, and walked to her local newsstand. (She cancelled all her home newspaper and magazine subscriptions). Then, when she re-entered her home, she was “at work.”

I know this sounds superficial, but she was way more efficient than I was, when I was in my lounging-in-my-PJs phase of working from home.

The effect of looking decent is both psychological and practical. If she had to jet out to do an errand and bumped into someone important, she looked good. When I ran out for errands, I looked like a college student who had just pulled an all-nighter — not the sign of a confident potential hire.

By: bl1y

bl1y — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:00:41 +0000

You ladies are completely right. This morning I’m showing up to work without shaving and sans suit. I’m sure no one will care so long as my work is good.