The dress code for the workplace has changed over time with an era's trends, for both men and women. However, the times of women wearing tailored suits and heels may be less prevalent—depending on your work culture, but wearing something that brings the confidence to ace the meeting or presentation, or helps get through the long work day is still in existence, and an endeavor I’ve grown to love.
I see fashion as an ensemble that sets me up to seize the day. At times, it is a reflection of my mood and even has the powers to influence my disposition or mentality for how I will approach my day. For instance, wearing black can reflect a certain amount of sadness I may be feeling, or simply, that I am aspiring for a more classic, professional look. Either way, it is an attestation to my internal thoughts and feelings at that moment, which can be summarized to a feeling of being overwhelmed; therefore I don’t care what I look like, so I have chosen to default to a simple ensemble, but that informs the audience that I am ready to work.
Fashion has always been a passion of mine. No matter what field I was in, or type of job I had, I always made it a priority to assess the culture and office dress code as I entered and exited an office from an interview. Positioning myself to assimilate with the company’s culture while expressing my dedication and enthusiasm for the work is a personal mission of mine, and have found that it has helped me embark on the day more confidently. You may call this superficial, but I guarantee it is nothing but a device for how I approach my day (in addition to others that I will discuss later), and in some way—a suit of armor.
For decades, women have had to work hard to assimilate themselves into the modern day workplace of the era, and have changed their style with that of their male counterparts. It wasn’t until the late 1980s to the early 90s that pants became a trend for workplace attire for women, largely due in part because of the introduction of tech-culture in Silicon Valley. Up until that point, fitted dress and skirts with knee-length hems and hosiery were prominent among working women from the late 1940s to the early 50s, when women became more notable members in the workforce.
Today, I observe women’s fashion for the inspiration for my own wardrobe. When I put on those great pairs of jeans, with the bold printed top and perfectly fitted sweater, and heeled booties: I feel as though I could achieve anything, and nobody can intimidate me or belittle me. But, if I am wearing the slouchy top, with looser fitting jeans, and sneakers, I feel—relaxed, sure, but I also feel less assertive and confident. The former is saved for a day reserved for my leisure time at home, and the only important decision I have to make in my day is where to go for lunch.
However, the days of selecting a nicely tailored and fitted dress, skirt, and top, have inspired me to be more courageous in my selection of clothes, and in some way have my wardrobe be an homage to the millions of women that worked so hard to establish fair working conditions for all the women that would follow in their footsteps (or heel-steps—for good humor).
I don’t want to frivolously pick out my outfit for the sake of wearing something, but to instead wear clothing that provokes confidence, thought, style, and courage. I want clothing that can connect me to other women—because that’s how I see fashion. It’s a narrative that has yet to be talked about, and by being courageous enough to ask a woman, “where did you get that”, or even better, to compliment her on how beautiful it looks on her is a conversation I will always be happy to have.
By connecting with each other through fashion, we can all be more relatable, approachable, and confidence in our days. And, by adopting those qualities, we can then adopt the mentality that we are all equal and deserving of the encouragement to achieve our goals.
With my closing, I ask you, please go compliment a woman. Lift her up, and tell her how beautiful those sweaters, skirt, glasses, haircut—whatever it may be, do it! I guarantee it will be our first step towards lifting each other up, instead of hindering and discouraging each other, one compliment at a time.