Monday, January 05, 2009

Kids These Days

Excuse me while I vent. I am constantly astonished at how "kids" -- meaning anyone more than 5 years younger than me -- these days are so ill prepared for the workplace. What is up with all of the inappropriate office wear?


While the fashion magazines may be telling young women that it is ok to show some skin at the office, if you expect to be taken seriously by me, then you'd better cover up your cleavage and your derriere and do some good work. This is not The City and you should not be dressing like Whitney Port.

There is a junior associate on my floor that seems to think that our hallways are in fact fashion runways. The other day, she was wearing the following: black platform stilettos, semi-shiny black super tight leggings with zippers at the ankles (fully unzipped), a super short "kilt" that barely covered her behind, and an oversized cowl necked sweater -- so oversized, that it periodically exposed her bra straps. I recognized most of her outfit from various ads I have seen in Vogue. However, just because something is obscenely expensive doesn't mean that it's appropriate office wear.

I am trying to figure out why her unprofessional outfits bother me so much. It's not like what she wears has any bearing on how I am perceived at the workplace. I accept the fact that I am a corporate lawyer, working at a BigLaw type of firm and that means that not every day is a fashion show. It's ok to try to inject your own fashion sense into your outfits, but you've got to remember that this is a conservative environment. Dressing like you're an extra on Gossip Girl or one of those semi pornographic American Apparel ads could give one of the older partners a heart attack. Talk about liability...

6 comments:

Xtian said...

why are you delete sparks comments?

Anonymous said...

why, what did Sparkes have to say? pray tell

Anonymous said...

I complimented ET1's witty Rumschpringhe post (below), but the comment was removed. I will save all future flattery for xTian.

Anonymous said...

Stay on point, please, people! Do not use the comments section of this post as a place to vent your pent up, unrelated frustrations!

ET#2 - I really do like Whitney Port, but you have the right idea. I stick to the belief of keeping work wear boring and overly appropriate. 10 of 10 stuffy males in your office will pick the woman dressed conservatively fashionable over salaciouly trendy (unless you work with X-tian). And don't worry, you will soon have the option of firing them both in due time.

Anonymous said...

This post is good, but would be even better with a snapshot from your cameraphone. Make sure to get the kilt.

And said...

Oh good one. There are some medical students at the hospital as well who do not dress appropriately. Like, wearing heels to observe in the OR. Or, wearing a top that leaves ones boobs hanging out. Not appropriate for patient care at all!