Happy Monday Friends! Today’s version of Girl Boss Monday is a bit different. Today I will be sharing a guest editorial from Kate Gibson.
Being a millennial woman means you have probably recently entered the workforce within the past few years. Some of us might have just started our full-time careers within the past year, and maybe others have been at it for three years now—whether bouncing from one office to the next or holding strong at her first job right out of college.
One thing we all have in common, though, is the fact that we have to get dressed for work everyday. (Unless you’re the exception and you work from home. In which case, I envy your yoga pants!) Getting dressed for work sounds easy enough at first, but I’m sure I’m not alone in my moments when I have to take a step back and ask myself, “Wait, is this appropriate?”
There are definitely rules of thumb that millennial woman in the workforce should keep in mind when peering into her closet for an office-friendly outfit. But how can we combine those “rules” with dressing appropriately for our age? After all, wearing a suit is just not right for women our age. Here are my tips for dressing your age in the workplace but keeping it office-appropriate.
Colors and patterns are your friends
Because we have to trade in short skirts for longer hems, one way to maintain your youth without offending anyone is to find fun prints and pops of color. I’ve always admired the way Mindy Kaling’s character in The Mindy Project tackles work fashion with fearless abandon. She wears crazy colors and unexpected prints, but somehow manages to stay polished and professional. See some of her covetable looks in US Magazine for inspiration.
Find the right blazer
Blazers are no doubt an office wardrobe staple, but if you choose one too “old” for you, you could end up looking a lot stuffier than you’d like. When done right, tailored blazers can bring tons of chicness to your workplace wardrobe—it’s all about finding one youthful enough to match your age while still instilling smart fashion to your look. Lyst does a great job of rounding up clothing items by style or type, making it easy to scroll through and get a feel for what’s out there when it comes to blazers.
Pair existing clothes with select new office-wear finds
It’s likely you’re not trying to spend a small fortune on the clothes you wear to work, so it’s advised to mix and match old pieces with a few new investments. The aforementioned blazer is definitely one of those investments. Another one of those investments is a go-to pair of pumps that aren’t too high (stay away from anything higher than 3 inches—you could send the wrong message). A pencil skirt is also a workwear staple that will take you a long way. If you work in a creative field and the dress code is more on the “casual” side of business casual, WhoWhatWear has great examples on mixing new and old pieces.
You can dress your age while remaining appropriate. Simply find the right loopholes where you can infuse your youthful style into your work look, and you’ll be just fine.
Kate is a New York City based marketing assistant who loves everything fashion. When she’s not putting in long hours at work or writing about the latest trends, she’s scouring boutiques for unique pieces to keep her wardrobe fresh.