You are here: Home / Archives for Fashion / Business Casual

Riding Boots … to the Office?

12/13/2010 By 81 Comments

Frye - Dorado Riding (Bordeaux Textured Full Grain) - FootwearReader J wonders:

I have a question I’d love to see addressed on your blog (or maybe you can just give me your $.02): can I wear riding boots to work? If so, how? I am in court every day, but it’s juvie so it’s not like I have to wear a suit every day.

Hmmn. Well. Honestly? My $.02 here is that no, you really should not wear riding boots to court. Certainly not with leggings or skinny pants, and definitely not with miniskirts. The “librarian in the 80s” look of a knee- or calf-length A-line skirt, fitted jacket, and riding boots might work… but something tells me that’s not what you have in mind. You can, of course, wear them beneath trousers. (Pictured above: Frye – Dorado Riding (Bordeaux Textured Full Grain) – Footwear, $458 at Zappos.)

I guess my gut reaction is stemming from the fact that these boots are originally intended for riding horses. Like pants intended for yoga, and leather jackets intended for motorcycle wearers, they may occasionally be acceptable for a very, very casual day at some offices — but court is not one of those places.

I’ll let the commenters weigh in here… ladies? When can and can’t you wear riding boots to the office? Am I wrong to group all “intended for” clothing into one bucket?

Tagged With: , , , Filed Under: Business Casual, Fashion Gaffes, Shoes

Too Casual for a Weekend in the Office?

12/07/2010 By 136 Comments

Working on the weekend, originally uploaded to Flickr by jfranklin.Today’s reader K asks a great question…

I’m a junior associate at a large corporate law firm, and I’ve been working a lot of weekends. During the week, I’m one of the more formally dressed people on my floor (there’s a fairly wide range). However, I walk about an hour to work as my exercise on the weekends, so I’m usually wearing sweats and a hoodie while I’m working on Saturday and Sunday. Personally, I figure that if I’m coming in off business hours, I can wear whatever I want as long as it’s clean and fairly neat. I have never run into a partner, and I usually just keep my door shut anyways. However, I have run into associates while going to grab food/coffee etc, and I’m wondering whether it’s inappropriate to let them see me in my truly casual clothes. Should I be wearing jeans, or something at least a little more fashionable?

I wrote a post on what to wear on a working weekend a long, long time ago that got some flack when it was picked up by Above the Law — I believe one of the AtL commenters said if they were working on the weekend, they felt they could come in wearing tighty-whities and roller skates for all the senior management had to say about it.  [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Casual, Business Etiquette, Career, Fashion, Fashion Gaffes, Wear to Work, What To Wear To...

Giveaway Announcement: Three Dots T-Shirts

11/23/2010 By 9 Comments

One of my favorite t-shirt brands of all time is Three Dots, and I’m happy to announce that they’re doing 15 days of giveaways — one t-shirt a day. I’ve had these shirts for years and they’re a good weight, they wash well, and they hold their shape (while being super comfortable) — kind of the perfect basic tee.  (Pictured below: one of my favorites, the essential v-neck short sleeve tee, $44 at shopthreedots.com.) essential v-neck short sleeve tee

For a chance to win:

1. Like “three dots” on Facebook

2. Leave Three Dots a comment on the daily posting of the free tee of the day! Only same-day entries will be eligible for the prize

One winner will be chosen at random EACH day!

There’s no limit on how many times you enter or how many tees you can win!!  Read the full details here.

Tagged With: , , Filed Under: Advertising, Business Casual, Layering Pieces

The Hunt: Shrunken Blazers

11/01/2010 By 33 Comments

Elizabeth and James 'Elizabeth' Shrunken Ponte Knit BlazerSure, we all know what basics professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

One of my favorite wardrobe staples is the shrunken blazer.  It can be a great way to keep an outfit sleek (such as by adding it to a sheath dress) or to make a more casual outfit, more professional (by adding it on top of, say, a hip-length tunic blouse) — it’s also a great look with most jeans.  Expensive ones are easy to find (such as, say, the one pictured above (Elizabeth and James ‘Elizabeth’ Shrunken Ponte Knit Blazer, available at Nordstrom for $395) — but for today’s “Hunt,” I thought I’d look for ones under $150… If you’ve recently purchased a shrunken blazer, please let us know in comments!

Urban Renewal Vintage Wool Blazer The cheapest item on the list is this “vintage” wool blazer from Urban Outfitters.  Love the blue for the pop of color, but there’s also a more sedate army green.  At $48 it’s not a bad way to try the trend, but because it’s wool it probably won’t be as comfortable or as stretchy as many of the other ones featured here.   Urban Renewal Vintage Wool Blazer
Fitted Ponté-Knit Houndstooth Peplum JacketNext up, this ponte knit peplum jacket from Spiegel.  While I love the houndstooth pattern, I wish it came in solids.  It’s $59 at Spiegel (sizes 2-18). Fitted Ponté-Knit Houndstooth Peplum Jacket
Jones New York Signature Jacket, Three Button BlazerThis sweater blazer from Jones New York also fits the bill, particularly if you prefer a more relaxed fit to your “shrunken” sweater.  The seam at the waist is a nice touch, also.  It’s $69.98 at Macy’s (sizes S-XL). Jones New York Signature Jacket, Three Button Blazer
Aqua Ponte BlazerThis ponte blazer from Aqua brings comes with some interesting details reminiscent of menswear, most notably the shawl collar.  I’m also a fan of the interesting paneling on the back.  It’s $98 at Bloomingdale’s (sizes S-L). Aqua Ponte Blazer
Sun Spiral Jacket LOVE the unusual details on this “Sun Spiral Jacket” from Anthropologie — the pleats on the neckline and pocket, as well as the ornamental sun spiral on the front — gorgeous.  Also love that it’s a very wearable ivory — perhaps it’s just me, but I’d wear it January through August (and then stop, lest people think you’re still wearing summer clothes).  It’s $148 at Anthropologie (sizes 0-12). Sun Spiral Jacket

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

Tagged With: , , , , Filed Under: Business Casual, Fashion, The Hunt, Wear to Work

What Makes a Sweater Appropriate for the Office?

10/26/2010 By 36 Comments

Laurie B 'Retail' Cardigan When I look through stores for something to post for the morning’s TPS, I see a ton of sweaters that strike me as inappropriate for the office, and it’s surprisingly hard to put my finger on why. So I thought I’d start a discussion today: what makes a sweater inappropriate (or appropriate) for the office? (Pictured:  I just ordered this cardigan at the big Nordstrom sale going on today — here’s hoping it’s versatile enough for both the workday and the weekend! Laurie B ‘Retail’ Cardigan (was $128, now $75).

For my own $.02, I often pass up sweaters and cardigans that are
- too chunky — while a really chunky cardigan can look great with leggings or jeans, it has to have a certain professionalism for the office, I think — either shaped like a blazer, or the ability to be belted
- too “hot mama” — if the model is wearing it skin-tight, or if it dips too low in the front, then it may be better for a night out than for the workday…
- too “holiday” — sequins, velvet, sparkly buttons — all of these things might be great to wear to an office holiday party, but not for the regular workday
- too … schlubby – I don’t even know the word to define this! I think this is a common problem with longer sweaters, like the boyfriend sweater trend or the waterfall cardigan trend. For my purposes, I’ll often I try to imagine whatever sweater I’m considering with a pencil skirt or sheath dress… and then I try to imagine a teenager wearing it with leggings and Uggs. If it looks better on the imaginary Ugg-clad teenager, I generally pass it by…  The sweater I just ordered, for example, might be better for pairing with jeans on the weekend (but the positive reviews still made me add it to my bag)…

What are your thoughts, readers? What makes a sweater appropriate (or inappropriate) for the office?

Tagged With: , , , Filed Under: Basics, Business Casual, Fashion, Fashion Gaffes, Layering Pieces, Wear to Work

Emergency Reader Mail: What to Wear to an Informal Interview?

08/23/2010 By 166 Comments

Elie Tahari Exclusive for Nordstrom 'Ava' JacketWe haven’t answered this kind of question in a while, so we thought we’d answer reader K’s question…

My dream job has requested an “informal” interview for this week. The purpose is for the potential new boss to become familiar with my communication style; a formal interview would follow if I am successful. He is looking to meet at a coffee shop anytime during the day, evening, or even on the weekend.

How do I dress for an interview that is labeling itself as low-key? I’m not a JD or MBA, but I do have an advanced degree in a profession known for being a bit more casual. I feel like a cardigan should be included, but beyond that, I am clueless. Thank you!

First off: congrats on getting the informal interview, and good luck on the interview whenever it takes place.

Second:  Avoid the weekend interview at all costs. Talk about a confusing dress code!  On a weekday interview, if you’re overdressed, then maybe it’s because of your current job’s requirements.   It doesn’t matter if it’s in the evening or during the day, but the important thing is that you are coming or going to your job.

For my $.02, I would avoid a cardigan for a job interview. It doesn’t convey authority, competence, or intelligence — or really any of the general things you want a prospective employer to think about you. It might convey that you’re demure — it will definitely convey that you’re chilly. (I have no problem, obviously, with wearing a cardigan to work — I am wearing one as I type this.) I think that for an interview — particularly a first one — you want to make the best impression possible, and that, to me, means a blazer at the very least.

That said, were it my dream job, I would bust out a full suit.  (Pictured, Elie Tahari Exclusive for Nordstrom ‘Ava’ Jacket, available at Nordstrom for $298. Also, be sure to check out our guide to interview suits here.) I’d probably stick with a pants suit for the “informal” interview — perhaps even in a “friendlier” color like a gray or a brown — and amp up to a skirt suit in a more severe black or navy for the “real” interview, but that’s me.  If it’s a job that really, really does not entail any sort of professional wear then I might go with a sheath dress and blazer, or perhaps a pair of non-matching trousers, paired with the blazer.  (Incidentally, I’m hard-pressed to think of a career that doesn’t require a suit occasionally — even a kindergarten teacher, who may be working on/near the ground with kids, would wear a suit from time to time.  I often think of doctors as being fairly casually dressed in real life, but I would still think a suit would be appropriate for an interview.)

Readers, what are your thoughts for reader K’s informal interview attire? Can anyone think of a career where a suit wouldn’t be appropriate?

Tagged With: , , , , , , Filed Under: Business Casual, Career, Interviewing, Networking