“I feel like a man when I wear a pantsuit.”
This is a complaint I hear pretty frequently when I talk with girls my age about interview and work attire. Something about the strong shoulder and minimalist styling gives it an androgynous look some women aren’t comfortable with. But there are a few reasons we should get over it:
- Most interviewers and some employers expect you to wear one anyway.
- All that structuring does wonders for your trouble spots and keeps your figure looking fabulous.
- With the right accessories, any suit can be feminine.
Most young ladies resort to jewelry to make an outfit girly, and there’s no difference when it comes to suiting. Sure, your career counselor recommended pearls and simple studs in gold and silver, but you’re allowed to have a lot more fun once you get the job! Seriously, as long as the piece isn’t giant or noticeably plastic, you should be able to make it work. The key is balance – bold jewelry requires tame tops and busy shirts can only handle simple accessories. Likewise, only wear one statement piece at a time to keep your look from competing with itself. Another useful tip? Consider your job function. You might not want to wear post-back earrings if you spend a lot of time on the phone or noisy bangles if you share a workspace with a colleague.
Even though I already owned a fair amount of jewelry, I was looking for a few more pieces. After taking inventory, I decided I needed a few basics like a pair of pearl studs. I also had a lot of necklaces and earrings, but not as many bracelets. Here are a few of my favorite pieces from my collection.
Most girls limit themselves to their jewelry boxes and are missing two major opportunities be creative and look femme: with scarves and brooches. These items are great because they’re incredibly appropriate, but everyone isn’t wearing them already. Which, in turn, makes you look resourceful and creative.
Brooches are traditionally worn on the lapel of your blazer, but they can also be worn at the hip of your sheath dress, in your hair, or to pull your cardigan closed. A little bling and sparkle are fine – just make sure to stay away from anything too kitschy or casual. I have two brooches that I’ll be taking with me this summer. They were gifts from years ago, so I’m not sure how much they cost. I’m just glad I’ll finally be putting them to good use.
I also liked these five pins – and I’m definitely hoping to find a cameo and owl pin to add to my jewelry box.
Scarves get a bad rep for making you look like a flight attendant, but that’s only if you make poor choices in color and pattern. Scarves come in a variety of shapes, colors, and fabrics. Unlike most accessories, it’s hard for most scarves to do double duty in your casual and professional wardrobes. Professional scarves are generally square or oblong and made of silk, chiffon, or a polyester blend. Stay away from cotton scarves and pashmina shawls unless your workplace is business casual. In terms of how to wear them, scarf manufacturer, Texere Silk features an awesome Scarf Tying Guide with 37 ways to tie scarves. Here are the three that I’ve bought/found so far. Both square scarves were lifted from my mother’s closet, and the leopard print oblong scarf is by Echo, and was purchased at Dillard’s for $12.
And I also loved a few of these scarves from Hermes that don’t scream flight attendant. Each one costs more than my entire work wardrobe, but I love their bright, lively patterns. I’m definitely adding one to my closet (once I’ve been working 20 years and can actually afford one).
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