What are your best tips to be taken seriously when you look young, readers? What should you do if you look young for your age, and you do all the basic things you're supposed to in order to seem older (dress professionally, wear heels, etc.), but you still get mistaken for a college student? What more can you try to get your colleagues to take you seriously? Reader E wonders how to be taken seriously when you look young... I'm a college professor (outside your ... Read More about How to Be Taken Seriously When You Look Young
Colorful Pants for Work: How to Style Them and Look Like a Boss
Are colorful pants for work a thing -- and how can you style them so they look appropriate in an office setting? Are they for young'uns only? Reader J sent in this question a while ago: Question - today's trends are to wear colored pants. What are your thoughts on wearing colored pants to an office setting on casual fridays? And, more relevant to me, what are your thoughts on wearing trends such as this if you're over the age of 35? I am obviously all for colorful pants, and I don't think ... Read More about Colorful Pants for Work: How to Style Them and Look Like a Boss
That’s Ms. Griffin To You: When To Use Last Names
When do you call work associates by their last name (such as Ms. Griffin), or by another title (such as Attorney Griffin)? Do you have a preference how work associates refer to you -- and how do you communicate that? Does calling someone else "Ms. Griffin" make you look young? I've gotten a number of questions about this lately -- one from reader D who notes, I work in legal services on the East Coast, and I'm a little stumped about how to address people. On the one hand, working with the ... Read More about That’s Ms. Griffin To You: When To Use Last Names
How to Lower Your Voice
Have you ever thought you should deepen your voice (and make it louder) to be taken more seriously? Reader G has a great suggestion for a topic ... I'm in my mid-thirties and had to work hard early in my career to be taken seriously. A big component of that is consciously "aging" my voice, so that I don't sound 12. I frequently speak publicly for my job, and have found that the engagements where I was a bit hoarse are the ones where I feel that I was taken the most seriously. I have seen other ... Read More about How to Lower Your Voice
When Can You Buy an Expensive Briefcase or Handbag for Work?
We've talked about how a $9,000 handbag might be a bit much for an intern -- but Reader E, a young woman lawyer, wonders when in your career women can buy an expensive briefcase or work totes. How soon is too soon? I was wondering if you could do a post about expensive handbags for work. Kind of like the Hermes post, but a little bit of a different situation. I'm graduating law school this spring and will be working in a large law firm in the Fall. I want to purchase the Celine mini luggage ... Read More about When Can You Buy an Expensive Briefcase or Handbag for Work?
‘Geek Chic’ Glasses and the Office
Can you wear hipster/geek chic eyeglasses to the office -- especially if you're young? I'm hoping for your input on a quandary I'm having. I'm starting my first real job this summer so trying to build an adult wardrobe now. I am nearsighted and strongly prefer glasses to contacts for everyday wear. I love my (only) current pair; they're big and plastic and perfect for me. But can I pull off "geek chic" in a professional (though not very conservative) environment, especially as a 21 year-old ... Read More about ‘Geek Chic’ Glasses and the Office
Is Ombre Hair Professional?
Is ombre hair appropriate for the office? When does any hair color become "unprofessional"? Reader P wrote in with a great question, and perhaps might lead us to an interesting discussion of when hair dyes and colors cross the line: I was wondering if you could do a post on whether ombre hair is professional. I graduated from law school last May and am currently interviewing for positions. I have this "fellowship" through my school for now (used for rankings), but am looking for a full time ... Read More about Is Ombre Hair Professional?
Business Casual — Without Being Overdressed
How do younger women do "business casual" in a male-dominated environment -- without ending up looking like the mom (or younger sister) of the group? Reader S asks how to do business casual for women without being overdressed. I have a question about work attire: is it possible to be "over-dressed" for work? Without getting in to too much detail, I work for a medium sized engineering firm as an engineer. I am the only female engineer in my group so it's really hard for me to gauge what would ... Read More about Business Casual — Without Being Overdressed
Can Older Women Have Long Hair and Still Be Professional?
Update: We still think this is a great discussion on whether older women can have long hair and still be professional -- but you may also want to check out some of our more recent discussions on aging gracefully, including how to go gray intentionally. Long hair on older women: the perennial question. Despite our extensive oeuvre of hair-related questions here, I don't think we've done this one* (and it was hotly protested among commenters in response to The Careerist's recent diatribe ... Read More about Can Older Women Have Long Hair and Still Be Professional?
Back-Handed Compliments at the Office
How do you deal with back-handed "compliments" at the office? Reader B wonders... I am a 30 year old lawyer working in Washington, DC. My late 20’s/early 30’s professional female friends and I have experienced a strange and disconcerting dynamic amongst women in the workplace: getting negative comments from other women for being smartly/well- dressed. These outfits, I believe, would objectively be considered professional, age-appropriate, and well-fitting: tailored suits in feminine ... Read More about Back-Handed Compliments at the Office
Beauty Wednesday: Skincare and Aging
So here's a fun question: how has your skincare routine changed through the years? For the older readers, when did you notice that you needed to add a little "somethin somethin" to your routine? Do you think particular brands matter, or is it just important to do something? (For example: does a particular brand of eye cream work better than the others, or does your eye area just need extra moisture and any eye cream will work as long as you're consistent?) (Pictured: wrinkles - part I, ... Read More about Beauty Wednesday: Skincare and Aging
Eyeliner & Competence: An Open Thread
So a few weeks ago there was this survey: more makeup makes you look more competent. Or so they say. This seems like exactly the kind of thing we should explore here... hence today's open thread. Do you think makeup or eyeliner says anything about your competence? Let's Assess The Models' Competence Based on Eyeliner & Makeup So here are some of the pictures they showed to test subjects. And I thought I'd share my thoughts (I typed these specifically for the first row, but really ... Read More about Eyeliner & Competence: An Open Thread
