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Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear

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ugly_broad_saloon
11/04/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
Does no one pay attention to her mother anymore? That's where you learn what's appropriate dress and what isn't. Maybe my head's up my ass on this one because I had a simple-chic mother. I was smart enough to take notes and never felt the need to question her authority on that particular issue. Then again, maybe this one more way parents have relinquished responsibility, however subtle.
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MarkKnopflersWristbands
11/04/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
I worked at a law firm with a dress code so specific with respect to women's attire that its strictures could only have been inspired by real-life incidents of inappropriateness. Example: "No Harem Pants."
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Tree123
11/04/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
Ok ladies, some advice please (if anyone is still reading this thread). In my company (finance) the PAs (all women) have a dress code which is basically no jeans, nothing tight or revealing. The execs (predominantly men) dont have one. As part of our appraisal process, they have to say between 1 and 4 how we respect the dress code ie above expectation, meets expecation, falls short of etc etc. I am absolutely horrified by this but want to complain in a non ranty way. Am i being too sensitive?
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ZonzoMaster
11/04/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
I didn't personally saw this, but a friend of my sister once told her a story. She always wears makeup to the workplace, one day she didn't so she looked pretty different, one of the bosses got surprised by this and asked her what happened. She replied of course "nothing". The boss then drops a warning: "I don't want to see you like this again, be careful".

Well, the story is more than usual i guess, not incredible. But boy does it scare me to know dickheads like that are bosses and that my sister has to work in that environment putting up with that shit.

Well, of course, there could be legal repercussions. But this is Mexico (I live in Mexico), and sincerely, it would be very hard for a demand to follow trough without some asshole defending the status quo. I feel very impotent some times.

I wish my generation (I'm 19) would be more interested, but I'm disappointed for the lack of awareness on pretty much everything. I just wish future generations notice the shit happening every day, I really hope so.
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Erinjb: life rerailing extrodinaire
11/04/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
My 14-year-old self would try (and fail) to kick the crap out of me for this, but as a catholic school survivor, I am thankful that I spent all that extra time I could have been stressing out about my outfit on making out with boys and eating bagels.
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eigne
11/04/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
Although I can't tell you what investment bank I work at (I'd be killed), we had the same god damned class and I was told by my employer that it wasn't mandatory but "give it a chance, it might be quite valuable." (read: go or I fire you)

It might not surprise you to learn that said manager is female.

The course was called "Admin Awareness Session: First Impressions... and how to make them last!"

I'll even give you the details:

"I would like to invite you to our next Admin Awareness Session on Thursday 25th September, 4.30pm - 6.30pm with drinks and canapés to follow.

______ ______, Image Consultant and Personal Brand Coach, will be sharing some of her secrets on style, business etiquette and how to make your first Impression last!

A first impression is formed within the first thirty seconds of meeting someone. 55% of that is based on how you look. 37% on how you sound and only 8% on what you actually say! You never get a second chance to make a first impression, therefore it is vital to make it a good one- the way you dress, look and hold yourself are the key to fulfilling your goals, whether they be personal or professional - your attractiveness, intelligence, competence and credibility are all decided upon by someone in those first thirty seconds of you meeting them!
- ______ ______

Please come equipped with an open mind and bring pen and paper!"

WOW! SOUNDS AMAZING! The course included telling us what colours did and did not suit us, and when I asked her in jest whether it was 'possible to be both a winter and an autumn' because surely I wasn't allowed ONLY to wear one set of colours from their stupid chart, she told me that you could 'NEVER be more than one season'... ooooooook........

....PSYCHO!

I still wear brown, so fuck you lady!
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PrettyPrettyPrincess
11/03/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
Juicy!! My company used to be owned by Ernst and Young, and they are still a client of ours. I LOVED the annual 'dress code' reminders they sent out every spring. You know - just cause it's gettin hot, don't dress like a hootchie! Women are required (REQUIRED) to wear hose. No open toed shoes, etc. The dress code outlines the minimum so you won't get sent home to change. Because we were a remote office in freaking TEXAS, us rebellious female types balked at the hose and we wore strappy sandals in the summer. As a tech company we had a few years where jeans were ok, but some corporate type noticed and raised a fuss.

But yes - the code (HOSE!!!) was a little silly, but some of the suggestions are useful, especially if you are young and cute and want to be taken seriously. Career ladies who want to get ahead can strike a nice balance of still expressing themselves but in a way that commands respect. Corporate EY, unfortunately that means the uniform of grey or black skirt or pantsuit. With business casual (as my company is now) any of the Ann-Taylor style work outfits are great; when you wear a belted dress and heels, or slacks and a sweater/shirt combo, people subconsciously respond to the image you project. I spent a few years just enjoying my role and i dressed average, sometimes taking it up or down a notch. When i decided i wanted to play with the big dogs I started gradually stepping up my wardrobe to make my move, and it's worked well. And YES, the cami to hide the girls is a GODSEND - I am short and my shirts are LOW on me, the cami keeps my coworkers looking at my face.

But when I meet with the EY client I gotta bust out the suit :)
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femaledwightschrute
11/03/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
I had to sit through a lot of these during college. It was all the same blah-blah-blah but in addition to all the "no open toed shoes" and "no lingerie" crap the speaker also told us to always have well-groomed eyebrows, because they frame the face and somehow that was super important for work.
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Le Kangourou de Kataroo
11/03/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
My office is suuuper casual, but even the douche bag who wears the most terrible outfits feels the need to say something to me about my outfits, even when I am completely appropriate. In my boss's words, "Are you KIDDING me?! He wears shorter shorts than you'd ever THINK of wearing. Even when you're super casual you're still appropriate."
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HamlinMeerkat
11/03/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
I'm having this problem right now! I'm a college student and I've got a job interview at a politician's office in two days and I have no idea what to wear!
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cwisto moweina has got yer goat
11/03/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
ahhh...a dress code is just one less stress I have working on a farm. I only have to dress for the weather. And wear clothes I can get dirty and wet. And clothes I don't mind the goats chewing on.

Ok so I have a few clothing issues to consider, but at least I just bought my entire winter wardrobe for $25 at Goodwill. you can be jealous.
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noirgames
11/03/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
i 23 years old and i am working at my first 'proper' job, at a record company.

everyone else in my team is male and in their 30's with many many more years experience in the industry than i - even though we are on the same working level with the same tasks (aside from the team leader, duh) i still feel like i am trying to prove my professionalism, so i really do make an effort with presentation. i'm not a twin set and pearls type person, but i do go for a stack heel and collar. i can wear a hoodie and converse on occasion, but when i have a meeting i'll bust out the patent. it just makes me feel like a proper grown up...
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recidivicious
11/03/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
I think the fragrance thing could apply to men too, I do not want to be gassed by aftershave fumes either.
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PrettyPrettyPrincess
11/03/08

@recidivicious: You are totally correct - strong fragrance, regardless of gender, is a bit offensive in confined quarters. I've heard this advice given equally to men and women.
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m. Bohème
11/03/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
My bestie, who works in PR wore a designer gray and black mod style dress to the office last year and within the hour the ceo (a woman) sent out an email detailing the "dress code" and how not to wear anything 'trendy' or current. Yet girls wear lily pulitzer and sweater sets and thats just fine. She is constantly getting comments on her clothes although she dresses conservatively, yet stylishly and in mostly black. I find it perplexing.
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BettyCrockerPunkRocker
11/03/08

In reply to Accounting Firm Tells Its Female Employees What Not To Wear
At one point early in my work career, I worked at a radio station, early in the morning on weekends. Most of the time, the only three people I saw were the engineer I relieved and the one who came in after me, plus one incredibly old man who was the on-air talent for a financial show.

I almost always wore something office-like, as the guy who trained me suggested I do, but the ONE day I woke up late and wore a sweatshirt and jeans in, the vice-president of the company came in unexpectedly, and I got a lecture on how I was expected to wear appropriate, clean clothing. I was okay about the "appropriate" comment, since I did dress far down from my usual on that fateful morning, but the "clean" comment has me fuming to this day. Just because it was a sweatshirt, that doesn't mean I was unclean! Sheesh!
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