Is it professional to go sleeveless at the office — even if you don’t have perfect arms? When you want to bare your arms at your sleeveless-is-acceptable office, is it worth considering other people’s potential reactions if you don’t exactly have Michelle Obama arms to show off? Do people adjust their expectations of what’s “appropriate” when considering coworkers of … Read More about The Sleeveless Professional: Body Types, Bare Arms, and Expectations
What are some guidelines for wearing tweed in the spring and summer? We talk a lot about “lightweight tweed” — but what the heck is it? (For example: our most recent Suit of the Week.) Reader C wonders when you can wear tweed in summer… I was wondering if you could do a post on … Read More about Summer Tweed, Winter Tweed — What’s the Difference?
2017 Update: We still stand by this advice on how to look stylish and professional at a business casual office, but you may want to check out The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women. When you’re used to dressing conservatively for work and your new office is much less formal, how do you put … Read More about How to Look Stylish and Professional at a Business Casual Office
2017 Update: We still stand by our advice for what to wear to a big meeting at a casual office, but you may also want to check out The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women. When you work at a company with a casual dress code, how should you step it up for a board meeting — or for … Read More about What to Wear to a Big Meeting at a Casual Office
When interviewing, must you button your shirt all the way to the top? How many buttons are acceptable to leave unbuttoned? Reader S wonders… I am going for an interview at quite a conservative organisation. I have a navy skirt suit and was going to wear a white button up shirt. Do I need to button … Read More about How High to Button Your Shirt for Interviews
2019 Update: Check out our latest discussion on the 2019 fashion trends we hate. What trends can a younger woman safely wear to work? You don’t want to dress too “old” — but you also doesn’t want to appear too trendy and/or in styles that are inappropriate for workwear. How do you find a balance so that you look professional without feeling … Read More about Trends and the Conservative Office
Are suits made from tropical wool acceptable to wear during the winter, or are they only designed for cooling you down in hot summer weather? And how does the suit color factor in? Reader P wonders… I bought a dark navy colored suit last year from J. Crew in tropical wool, and I am wondering if it … Read More about Can You Wear A Tropical-Wool Suit in the Winter?
2017 Update: We still stand by this advice for how to wear jeans to work; you may also want to check out our latest discussion of what tops to wear with jeans to the office. How can you wear jeans to work — and particularly, what shoes should you wear ? Which business casual outfits … Read More about How to Wear Jeans to Work
If you’re running for the train in high heels and find yourself getting left behind by a male colleague (or a woman, for that matter) as you struggle to keep the pace, is that coworker simply being rude? What should you do next time? Reader L wonders: I am from Germany and I love your Blog. Some topics are … Read More about Left Behind By a Male Colleague While Wearing Heels
Midi rings at the office: yea or nay? In terms of the bigger picture, how do you know whether to try out a fashion trend at the office? What makes certain jewelry or accessories too trendy or unprofessional for work? Reader J wonders: I normally don’t wear any rings other than my wedding bands but I recently bought some … Read More about Are Midi Rings Appropriate for the Office?
2018 Update: We still stand by this advice on how to look professional but stay warm in a freezing office, but you may also want to check out our most recent thoughts on what to wear to work in the winter. How should you dress this winter when you work at a freezing office, and your … Read More about Brrr: Staying Warm in a Freezing Office
2016 Update: We still stand by this advice on how to wear black and navy togetther; links below have also been updated. You may also want to check out our discussion on what tights to wear with navy skirts! Can you wear black and navy together? What about a dark blue pinstriped blazer — how can … Read More about How to Wear Black and Navy Together
