When I began my career in the late
80’s it was easy to dress “strong” at work. I would wear an expensive freshly
dry-cleaned power suit, a pair of tan colored nylons, along with matching pumps
and I was out the door. Whether I was at work, lunching with my co-workers or
running errands after work I always felt strong in this outfit. Then along came
the 90’s when many companies adopted relaxed workplace dress-codes. Currently, it
is not unusual to see jeans, capris or even flip flops at the office. The problem
with this relaxed-style is I no longer feel “strong” as I walk into meetings
wearing a polo shirt, khakis and flats.
For suggestions on power dressing in
a business casual environment, I turned to executive styling consultant expert
Catherine Storing who agreed to be interviewed on this topic. Catherine Storing can be
found at http://catherinestoring.com/.
Several years ago, I attended a two-week
workshop covering communication skills for women. The first week I wore a
purple suit, the second a pink one. After the last session, the instructor pulled
me aside and told me I dressed too pretty. She recommended I wear grey or black
if I wanted to be taken seriously in the workplace. Ironically, just prior to my
interview with Catherine I came across a photo of myself wearing a lavender
jacket and tan slacks at a work function. I sent the photo to Catherine asking her
to critique my outfit:
Catherine was much kinder than my
former instructor instead of blurting out my outfit was all wrong she complimented
my smile and offered the following suggestions:
You want to
stand out.
You want to be
the first thing people see when they walk into the room.
Don’t be afraid to wear color. The lavender jacket I was wearing in the
photo muted my appearance. She recommended I not wear pastels unless I
contrasted them with color.
Here is more of my interview with
Catherine Storing:
Do
you have any recommendations for dressing casual at the office?
Business casual was meant to relax
corporate dressing and give employees a little more freedom to express
themselves through their clothing.
Business casual should be professional only a little more relaxed. My
motto is comfortable = confident. Clothes should be loose and comfortable; they
should fit well and be designed for your body type. If an article of clothing
bothers you when you put it on, take it off.
It will bother you all day.
Here is an example of appropriate
business casual attire:
Just because your office has a
business casual dress code, it doesn’t mean you have to adhere to it, at least
not completely. If you’re looking to get promoted, you need to dress seriously.
And you have to dress the part-as if you already have the part you want and
have earned.
Suits are very important. If you own
two suits including a jacket, skirt and pants you should be able to create ten
different outfits. Wear them with a colorful funky blouse that is form fitting.
The jacket should hit right below your waist and shouldn't cover your butt
completely.
Purchase one or two charcoal
separates because they are so easy to pair with something else.
Dresses are also a good choice
because they eliminate the need to find a matching blouse to wear with them as
you would with a skirt or pants. They can
also be dressed up or down.
What
about accessories?
When done right accessories
compliment and elevate corporate attire. Just remember you are going to work
and not to a party.
Earrings are a good choice because
they frame the face. Wear small hoops.
Over-sized hoops do not belong in the office.
Necklaces – layer medium size
bangles of like colors and textures.
Watch – every career woman needs a
good timepiece. No girlie watches and never
one with rhinestones. She recommends Michael Kors for affordable style.
Rings – wear one or two that
compliment your outfit.
Here is a photo of Catherine having fun with accessories. Also, I love her shoes:
Speaking
of shoes, can I wear high heels to the office?
It is fine to wear 3-1/2 inch heels,
but don't wear black and never skinny. Wedges are easier on your feet, as are platform
boots. I recommend wearing heels because you want to be at eye level to be seen
and heard. For comfort I like Naturalizer and Rockport.
What
current trends do you recommend?
Color - I prefer solids. If you want
to wear a pattern make sure the pattern is small.
Leggings
Awesome wrap around sweaters
Jeans - trousers are amazing. Wear
them with a little top for a polished look.
Capris are fine as long as they are
form-fitting. They shouldn’t be short.
Tights off black or black are great for
winter.
What
stores do you recommend?
Talbots – for dresses.
TJ Maxx – for accessories especially
watches. Also, good for undergarments, tights and socks.
Make
sure your style is age-appropriate:
For the 30 – 50+ crowd you should
not wear low riser jeans. Do not show your stomach or wear really tight
clothes. When I talk about form-fitting
clothes I mean tailored to you, not tight.
Forever 21 is a store for teen girls, not for adult women.
What
are some of your business casual don’ts?
No flip flops ever.
No sweats.
Never go sleeveless.
No cleavage. You want people to notice
the color the color of your eyes.
No miniskirts. Your skirt should fall
either right below or above the knee.
Never wear nude nylons. Unless
nylons are the right color they don't look natural. Instead she recommends
shaving and not showing too much skin.
For more tips on dressing appropriately for work please see Business Casual Dress Code Done Right.
What should a woman wear to a
meeting where she is the only woman in attendance?
She should wear her favorite outfit
or power suit, the one that fits her well and is comfortable. This is not the time to go out and buy
something new.
What should a woman wear to a
conference attended almost entirely by men (all wearing blue oxford shirts and
khakis)?
A dress and don’t be afraid to wear
red. She should also wear make-up.
What
should I wear when I need to make a quick run to the store? More than once,
I’ve run into a colleague wearing sweats and no makeup.
Wear a trench coat. Close it and it automatically
dresses up whatever you are wearing. Also be sure to wear a bra.
How
should I dress for my body type which is athletic?
By athletic do you mean flat
chested?
Yes,
that is what I mean?
For
the athletic body type:
Your look should be feminine. You
should wear dresses and skirts. Wear necklaces and scarves to draw attention
away from a smaller bust. Opt for fitted
clothing over clothes that are loose.
Make sure your bra maximizes whatever there is. You do not want your bra to separate, but to lift.
Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life's Work
by Steve Pressfield
What
do you know now that you wish you’d have known when you were 18?
What I wanted at 18 will change over
time and that is okay. Study what you want in college don't care what your
major is. Go for what you love.
What
is the most important advice you give to clients?
I believe I am an amazing person and
everyone else is too. Everyone is so judgmental about what they look like and
can't take a compliment. Just say thank you.
Is
there anything else we should know about you?
We are a work in progress. and Where we are is where we need to be.
Thank you, Catherine Storing for an enjoyable and informative
interview. In addition to Catherine Storing's website, She can be found on twitter and pinterest. To learn more
about Catherine's services, please visit:
. I recognized the author and thought we should give it a try. To me, 
she writes:
Steinem reads:
by Mohandas K. Gandhi and Hugh Missildine’s book 
. Gretchen is a mom and business owner who promotes balance and forgiving
yourself for not getting it right.
by 