Prime Minister Theresa May has recently been scouted wearing…not heels….not pumps…but a trainer type of shoe called a ‘troe’. It’s s trainer that’s so smart it looks like a shoe. It’s big news because this is the prime minister f one of the leading nations in the world, and she’s expected to look a certain way all the time, i.e. she’s expected to be in heels all the time.
While it’s great for those of us who are self-employed who can have the flexibility to (mostly) wear what we want, based on what we’re doing, who will see us, and what we want to wear, it’s not always as easy for women who are employed to pick and choose accordingly.
Dress for the job you want
One of the rules of thumb that we suggest at Mothers Who Work Towers, when it comes to dressing for the workplace, is to dress for the job that you want. Prime Minister Theresa May doesn’t have a boss, so besides wanting to look professional, she isn’t trying to impress anyone.
The rest of us mortals on the other hand, who want to get to the top – directorships etc, senior management or supervisory roles have a lot more people to impress. Unless it’s dress-down Friday, or you work in the creative industries, and don’t need to be suited and booted all the time, how you present yourself speaks volumes.
First impressions count
In meetings, for example, how you dress can have a huge impact on how your colleagues perceive you – whether you’re new to the company or are a veteran. When you walk into a meeting room, your colleagues will judge you – gopod or bad; intentionally or non-intentionally. You may get a compliment on an item of clothing, hairstyle – those are all judgements; or you may look so sloppy that no one comments – that’s a judgement, too. So, trainers or a troe probably won’t cut it.
If, however, it’s a team building day outside the office, which requires a lot of walking, or a site visit that requires lots of walking on surfaces that are not conducive for wearing heels, then you’d probably look ridiculous to wear a pair of four-inch heels…especially if you take a tumble.
Does that mean you have to look stuffy all the time?
No – it doesn’t. If you look stuffy and unapproachable, then you’ve gone to another extreme. The best way to judge what you should be wearing in the workplace is to look at well-respected women of seniority in your workplace. You’ll likely notice that they are well put together, neat and tidey and that’s the look to aim for.
Money is not the issue…really
Budget doesn’t have to hinder you either. Looking smart and dressing like your boss’s boss doesn’t mean you have t break the bank and splash out on designer handbags and shoes. It just means you have to shop smartly when you do buy clothes for the workplace, and rethink how you combine the clothes you already have. From Primark to Zara, there are great outfits and style pieces for every budget.
You can also repeat the same item of clothing (trousers, skirts and dresses) and make them look different by using accessories and layering your clothes smartly. Try it – you’ll soon see that you’ve probably got all or most of the clothes you need in one way or another in your wardrobe.
Watch this video on how to use a few peices to make you look like you’re ready for the next promotion: https://youtu.be/byk-wu6NGFw
