A reader suggested we start a series this summer for what to do in different cities — I DO often notice that there are a lot of comments about different cities, so this seems like a great idea. Let’s start with NYC! What’s your best advice on where to shop for workwear in NYC? (What … Read More about City Series: The Corporette® Guide to New York City
How to Break the Ice With Coworkers — Even While Traveling
How do you break the ice with coworkers and make conversation, particularly while traveling together? Travel with coworkers can be awkward for exactly this reason — and hopefully our tips can help. We’ve talked about party-appropriate conversation topics, as well as how to steer a conversation away from sports or the like, but not in … Read More about How to Break the Ice With Coworkers — Even While Traveling
4 Types of Vacation Packages for Busy Women
2020 Update: We stand by this advice on specialty vacation packages for busy women, but you may want to check out our newer advice on travel companies that plan surprise vacations. Travel planning can be a lot of fun, but it’s also time-consuming — and stressing out about a vacation kind of defeats the purpose. Vacation packages take almost all … Read More about 4 Types of Vacation Packages for Busy Women
Weekend Wednesday: Stylish Travel Dresses
This is the first in a new occasional Wednesday feature where we explore weekend-wear more in depth. I wouldn’t wear any of these to work, but if you’re on the hunt for a packing-friendly, easycare dress for any upcoming summer travel (or, hey, just brunch or other weekend activities), I thought we’d round up a … Read More about Weekend Wednesday: Stylish Travel Dresses
You’ve Just Won the Lottery. Like, a LOT. Now What? (Fantasy Open Thread)
I was looking around the designer dresses and clothes at Nordstrom recently and found myself thinking, man, if I ever win the lottery I am immediately going to the closest Max Mara store. (Then I started debating myself — Akris Punto? Armani? Hmmn.) So I thought this might be a fun fantasy open thread today — what would … Read More about You’ve Just Won the Lottery. Like, a LOT. Now What? (Fantasy Open Thread)
Vacation Horror Stories
With holidays coming up, here’s a fun topic for today: let’s all share our vacation horror stories! What comically went wrong on your vacation? What was a rookie mistake and what was just one of those things? What would you do differently to plan your next vacation? My $.02: Last week, we went on a beach vacation with my … Read More about Vacation Horror Stories
Dressing Professionally But Comfortably: What to Wear for a Long Flight
What should you wear on a long flight with colleagues if you want to be comfortable but still look professional? Reader N wonders… Could you do a post on comfortable, but professional attire for international or long flights? I have an upcoming business trip where my boss and two colleagues will be on a long flight … Read More about Dressing Professionally But Comfortably: What to Wear for a Long Flight
Coffee Break: Mobile Foodie Survival Kit
My mother was just extolling the virtues of something I got her at Uncommon Goods (these beer sommelier glasses, if you’re interested), so I was perusing the site again recently, and found this fun spice kit. If you’re traveling for business (or working crazy hours), you’re often at the mercy of the hotel kitchen (or Seamless), and eating … Read More about Coffee Break: Mobile Foodie Survival Kit
Forget Me Not: Business Travel
Here’s a fun question that is hopefully hypothetical: what are you most afraid of forgetting for business travel? What would you go out and buy immediately if you realized you had forgotten it? For me the answer is always my makeup bag. (Or, when I was nursing, some vital pump part.) It’s hard to forget … Read More about Forget Me Not: Business Travel
City Guides for Business Travel: Weather, Makeup, and More
When you’re preparing for work travel to a different part of the country, how do you decide just what to pack? Reader B has a question about business trips: I find myself traveling to various cities for work and when I get there finding that I’ve not packed well for the weather or not brought … Read More about City Guides for Business Travel: Weather, Makeup, and More
Business Travel Tips and Tricks
Whether you travel every week for work or it’s rare that you find yourself at an airport for a business trip, travel can be a series of small hassles — but a little planning can be a huge help. It’s been a while since we’ve talked about business travel — although we’ve shared plenty of posts about all kinds of … Read More about Business Travel Tips and Tricks
Left Behind By a Male Colleague While Wearing Heels
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 differently handled here but still most of the tips and advice can be applied here as well. I have experienced some male behaviour which I just find to be rude but I wanted to know if other women have experienced it as well and how they dealt with it. I was travelling with my former boss and and we went to meetings with potential partners etc. I usually wore heels. After the meeting we really had to hurry to catch a train. Meaning he walked extremely fast and did not look after me where I was. I really had trouble keeping up with him. The other time I was prepared and wore flats but then we actually had to run to get to the train. A couple of weeks ago I was travelling with a sort of male CEO and the train was a bit late, but we still had more than enough time to get to our appointment. I was also pacing, almost running, just seeing that he did not bump into others.
I’ve seen situations like this unfold — and I definitely have Opinions. I’m curious to hear what the readers say. To recap, we’ve talked about comfortable heels, the best commuting shoes, how to walk quietly in heels, how to look professional in flats, and traveling with coworkers — but I haven’t stated my pretty stark opinion on heel height for work in a while…. so here goes:
If you cannot walk quickly in your shoes, you are wearing the wrong shoes to work. If the people you work with — whether women or men — are forced to change their routines and wait for you because of your fashion choices, you are making the wrong fashion choices.
The right time to wear shoes you can’t walk in: a) when they are limo shoes (as in, the limo picks you up at your door and drops you off at the restaurant where you have to walk exactly three steps before you sit down), b) when you’re a model, or c) when you’re a trophy wife or the princess daughter. OK, fine, one more: when you’re d) the boss and Can Do Whatever You Like Because You Set the Pace.
Maybe I’m being harsh — or too New Yorker-ish — but the business world moves quickly. When you’re lower on the career ladder, you have to follow other people’s pace.
Something else that I think Reader L is discovering is a personality I like to call the Eccentric Genius, which is a special breed of coworker/boss (usually an older man) who has either developed or kept odd quirks that have been tolerated by those around him because he is Very Intelligent and a High Earner. Maybe he runs and bumps into others, but there are other versions of this same personality — one partner I used to work with had a thing about playing Tetris while giving assignments, hearing reports, brainstorming, whatever. As in, he sat with his back facing me and casually played Tetris the entire time. Charming! I’ve found that the best you can do is realize what the little quirks are, adapt as best you can if you need to continue the working relationship, and ultimately decide if want to continue the relationship at all. (Maybe I’m a pessimist, but the thought of trying to change this behavior, or somehow acknowledging it as rude or antisocial, never occurred to me as a real possibility.)
Next time, Reader L, make sure you have PLENTY of time so you’re not late, plan as much in advance so you don’t have to carry a ton of paperwork or anything with you, and possibly wear shoes you can run in.
Ladies, have you been left behind by coworkers because you couldn’t walk quickly enough in your heels? Have you had to work with difficult personalities at work (Eccentric Geniuses or otherwise) who had rude, antisocial habits? (Ladies on the other side of the table — have you gotten annoyed at coworkers who couldn’t walk quickly in high heels?)
(Pictured: Germany_101, originally uploaded to Flickr by Yu-Yee Lien.)
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