offices - Jezebel

posts about #offices more →
Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
Girl-On-Girl Crime Rampant At The Workplace

Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.

Dsmvwl Admin Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×

corpuskristen
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
does anyone else feel singled out in their office re: the dress code? This just reminded me of the rage I feel at being told my skirts must be knee length while everyone else goes around in mid-thigh skirts.
Reply

corpuskristen was starred corpuskristen was unstarred

hellosunshine
01/16/09

@corpuskristen: You mean like at my old PR firm when I wore tastefully tailored khaki Bermuda shorts, kitten heels, and a twinset and was lectured for wearing shorts at work when the girl in the next cube over was wearing a denim mini? (As in, MINI.) Yes.
Reply

hellosunshine was starred hellosunshine was unstarred

Grim Reaper of the Forest
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
I work at home. I am going to have to consult my puppy. I'm pretty sure my promotion would be locked up if I wore less clothes and smeared my exposed skin with bacon grease.
Reply

la.donna.pietra
01/16/09

@treecut...Grim Reaper of the forest: At the moment, my cats would probably hire me full-time if I promised to wear only cashmere sweaters.
Reply

la.donna.pietra was starred la.donna.pietra was unstarred

meloroast
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
biologist here...in my world its the opposite. if you look 'nice' or 'fashionable' whatever that means, so subjective, people look at you like a freak. serious. i work in a world that promotes "ugly=smart" so if you pay attention to how you look, you can't be that good at your work. now me and and one of my GFs (also biologist) say "screw u" to that and wear what we like. tends to be more 'put together' than others and she even wears heels!!! EGADS! But you know, where what you like. if someone calls it slutty, whatev, that's their business. FREEDOM PEOPLE!
Reply

meloroast was starred meloroast was unstarred

Ailanthus-altissima
01/17/09

@meloroast: I'm on my way to becoming a biologist, and this does not ring true with my experience. Girls wear make up and low heels with fair frequency, though, since we're all field ecologists, getting dolled up on the regular is out of the question.

I wear jeans and canvas flats about 9 times out of 10, because I'm a casual gal. However, if I put on a cute pair of silver flats, I get compliments, not criticism.
Reply

JerseyCurl
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
Even if I didn't work in the conservative environment where I'm currently employed, I would never dress provocatively to try and "get ahead." You *will* be judged on your clothing, and it won't be favorable.

I'm a manager, and I would have to be seriously, strongly persuaded to hire a woman who dressed in skimpy outfits. And if I hire you and you start dressing like that? Don't make me have to tell you to tone it down. I'll be very annoyed -- at you, for obvious reasons, and at at myself because I went and hired someone who doesn't have good judgment.

On a relate topic, for women, it's really challenging to find attractive, professional clothing that doesn't make you look like a hooker. It seems like everything I try on turns out to be low-cut, tight and/or see-through.
Reply

JerseyCurl was starred JerseyCurl was unstarred

PrettyPrettyPrincess
01/17/09

@JerseyCurl: Probably sounds boring, but for work, I go for Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Loft, and Banana Republic. I can get pieces from Nordstrom etc (love their sales) but those 3 are my main staples. Oh and J Crew. Stick a cute cami under everything, that's my rule, only way to keep from showing cleavage. I mix things up, add cute accessories to keep it fun. All the women in my office who are manager/program manager/director level shop at the same places so we kind of have to watch it or else we start seeing too many familiar items on each other. But we are all different shapes and sizes and tend to pick different things even from the same shops.

I had to buy a few new suits recently because I a) gained weight and b) had a ton of client meetings, and Overstock had great deals on Tahari, Ann Klein, etc. Also since Ann Taylor keeps clearancing everything to keep their numbers up in this damn recession, they have had some AWESOME sales and their cuts are so flattering and modest. Got the cutest belted chocolate tweed skirt suit... yum!!!

Sorry I went off on a shopping rant :P Where do you shop?
Reply

funnyface
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
I'm glad that the majority of survey answerers managed to learn what everybody's mama hopefully teaches them: no way anyone's gonna take you seriously if you're dressed provocatively.

That said, sometimes it's hard to figure out what to wear to work. I'm 24 and working as an admin in a college academic department, and I don't want to look like a student (everyone always thinks I'm a work study kid), but I also don't want to be the overdressed dork, especially since I'm in studio art, and it's kind of messy around here, especially in the painting faculty's offices. Also, the department head seems to wear the same jeans and corduroy blazer every single day.... Today I'm sporting "dressy" jeans, boots, a cashmere cardigan, and a pashmina. And I still agonized about the jeans.
Reply

funnyface was starred funnyface was unstarred

Plum-Pie
01/16/09

@funnyface: The department head sets the tone - if s/he isn't worried enough to rotate their outfits (or whatever), neither should you!

Your outfit sounds fine for that field, btw.
Reply

Plum-Pie was starred Plum-Pie was unstarred

Laulau
01/16/09

@funnyface: Yeah, I'm a 28 year old grad student who is finishing up my 7th year in a PhD. (But finishing! No joke!) It was just last year or the year before that a couple of the older male faculty figured out I wasn't a work study kid in the front office, but a real live doctoral candidate. (And seriously, who could afford five or six years to finish a degree at a private college anyhow?)
Reply

Laulau was starred Laulau was unstarred

la.donna.pietra
01/16/09

@funnyface: I feel you on the work study student tip. Seven years as a short woman with a high voice working the front desk of a research institute provides a refreshing antidote to any concerns you might have about looking "old." Also, your outfit sounds about like what I wore on my very dressiest days.
Reply

la.donna.pietra was starred la.donna.pietra was unstarred

Ulookinatmyjunk, JOC
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
I work with kids. And ass and titties will not help them to get their homework completed any faster. Although it does help with multiplication and word problems:

If middle-schooler Mikey stares at my breasts three times in 1 hour, how many times had he stared at my breasts in an eight-hour day?
Reply

Gretchen is a new kitten mom!
01/16/09

@Ulookinatmyjunk: Diary of a Mad Black Blogger: I teach too and I think dressing like a slut could advance my career... straight towards the unemployment line.
Reply

hellosunshine
01/16/09

@Ulookinatmyjunk: Diary of a Mad Black Blogger: 24!! Wait, are you including lunch?
Reply

hellosunshine was starred hellosunshine was unstarred

probablynotcontagious
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
ah, im having a 'liz tries to talk to ceree about her clothing and gets called dumpy' on 30 rock flashback.
Reply

Plum-Pie
01/16/09

@probablynotcontagious: 'Is is because you have one of those body image things?'

(I just watched that ep whilst eating a huge bowl of pasta with 2 kinds of cheese.)
Reply

Plum-Pie was starred Plum-Pie was unstarred

Dictator for Life
01/16/09

@Plum-Pie: I got my tonsils out yesterday, and haven't eaten solid food in two days. I am so jealous of your pasta and 2 kinds of cheese! I has a sad now :(
Reply

Dictator for Life was starred

Cesybabe or Nirvanah Crane
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
Also, I would think dressing without style wouldn't help your chances for promotion either. When I saw thee title, I automatically though 'computer says no', and then I realised if I was a boss, it's unlikely I'd ever promote Carol, even if she didn't cough on all the customers.
Reply

Nighthawk (the former Okori Wadsworth) is headed back to DGUSA in November!
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
I have next to no experience in this for 2 reasons:

A. I'm a boy with a gut the size of Orange, Putnam, and Oneida county. If by some fluke i dressed skimpily i might get shot.

B: I work in child care. No one is concerned about looking cute. Puke on skirts, though, that's a different matter.
Reply

Nighthawk (the former Okori Wadsworth) is headed back to DGUSA in November!
01/16/09

@Okori Wadsworth is resisting the urge to be a wrestling gee...:

Further explanation on point A: because someone might assume i had lost control of my faculties and feel the need to put me down before I did damage to myself or someone around me.
Reply

NefariousNewt
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements?

No, only to lecherous advances and sexual harassment suits.
Reply

NefariousNewt was starred NefariousNewt was unstarred

info*ninja
01/16/09

@NefariousNewt: The same can be said for non-revealing outfits!
Reply

info*ninja was starred info*ninja was unstarred

Flackette Goes Retro
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
I'm sure my female boss would be impressed.
Reply

Mmmmkay (gellin' and Jezebelin)
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
Semi-related - can we please discuss this idiotic quote from Katy Perry (when asked what job she'd like in the White House) -

"If I'm the Secretary of State, does that mean I get to wear a secretary outfit?"

HATE.
Reply

Plum-Pie
01/16/09

@Mmmmkay: It's as though Bikini Kill never happened.
Reply

Plum-Pie was starred Plum-Pie was unstarred

PrettyPrettyPrincess
01/17/09

@Mmmmkay: Ok. up to this point i have really not understood the rampant katie perry hate - tunes are catchy, i couldn't decided if they were tongue-in-cheek or what. But a secretary outfit? What a dingbat. Oy.
Reply

BrutallyHonestBabes (aka Mrs. Sarah.of.a.Lesser.Hobbit)
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
What does it mean when your employer provides you with a paper bag with eye holes cut out?
Reply

Evie Havok
01/16/09

@BrutallyHonestBabes: Butterface?
Reply

Evie Havok was starred Evie Havok was unstarred

pandorasmittens
01/16/09

@BrutallyHonestBabes: Next stop: office in the mailroom closet, sitting next to the guy forever looking for his red stapler.
Reply

pandorasmittens was starred pandorasmittens was unstarred

PrettyPrettyPrincess
01/17/09

@BrutallyHonestBabes: Means you now have a free pass to kick the shit out of him/her. I want one! But only because I am violent. My uterus makes me cranky.
Reply

badmutha
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
No way. Those things hurt anyone's career. Splits up to here and necklines down to there just make everyone uncomfortable.
Reply

badmutha was starred badmutha was unstarred

morninggloria
01/16/09

In reply to Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!
How did I, with an English degree and very little knowledge of finance, secure a job with a large brokerage house?

Boob tassels and ass clevage.
Reply

morninggloria was starred morninggloria was unstarred

Plum-Pie
01/16/09

@morninggloria: I know someone who was a high-class stripper after university (£50k/yr - better paid than any graduate starter job!) and one of the blokes she used to regularly grind in front of got her a job with a private bank. She still works there so apparently her job is safe from the current economic turmoil... Oh, the irony.
Reply

Plum-Pie was starred Plum-Pie was unstarred

hellosunshine
01/16/09

@morninggloria: You too? (Journalism degree here. I cover my tatas and hooha with small pieces of old press releases and my resume.)
Reply

hellosunshine was starred hellosunshine was unstarred

Earlier discussions Other discussions Show all discussions Show featured discussions only Start a new discussion

#offices

Jezebel

SUBSCRIBE TO Jezebel

Do Revealing Outfits Lead To Career Advancements? We Say No!

Girl-On-Girl Crime Rampant At The Workplace

Login

Reset Password

Register

Submit Your Comment