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
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
Sure, 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 … Read More about The Hunt: Layered-Look Sweaters
Wondering what to wear beneath unlined suit pants and other unlined women’s dress pants? We’ve got some great ideas for you…
How should you dress this winter when you work at a freezing office, and your trusty back-of-the-chair cardigan just won’t cut it? What are the best ways to keep warm while still looking professional and stylish? Reader J wonders: My office is freezing cold in the winter — some of the assistants and paralegals keep huge blankets in their office … Read More about Brrr: Staying Warm in a Freezing Office
What is the best underwear for eliminating VPL — particularly if you don’t like thongs? I’ve gotten a number of questions about this from readers lately (and have seen it recentlyish discussed in the comments), so let’s discuss in a proper post. Here’s Reader M’s question: The recent post about bras also triggered me wondering … Read More about The Best Underwear for Eliminating VPL
Sure, 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 … Read More about The Hunt: Silk Button-Front Blouses
How often do you wash your bras — and how do you care for them? Which bras are best for under work clothes?
Which are the best sweaters if you suffer from a wool allergy? Are there any other tricks for looking professional while avoiding wool? Reader P wonders: Like a lot of people I seem to know, I am allergic to wool. It makes me itch. Even cashmere. Even soft merino wool. Even if the sweater is … Read More about How to Look Professional With a Wool Allergy
Sure, 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 … Read More about The Hunt: Work-Appropriate T-Shirts
How do you wear three-quarter sleeved blazers in winter? Reader R wonders… Now that the cooler months are approaching, I have a question about 3/4 length sleeve blazers. I have a belted one that is very warm and work-appropriate, but I never know what sort of shirt to wear under it. (Ditto for many cute … Read More about How to Wear Three-Quarter Sleeved Blazers in Winter
How do YOU button your cardigans? I was surprised that I had such a strong opinion when I saw reader S’s email: I love regular crewneck cardigans and have them in several colors and brands, but I’m always debating whether I should be buttoning up just the 2nd and third buttons, only the top one, … Read More about How to Button Your Cardigans
