Fashion ideas?

[GLC1968]

Thanks for the Tim Gunn list. Again, reminds me that I do know what I am doing and I just need to DO it.

Seriously, I have probably 5 of every item on that list (25 in the case of some of them!). This is why I'm so overwhelmed and basically end up wearing the same things day in and day out. It's out of control. Most of my stuff is truly awesome, so I NEED to dig in there and get it out, get it cleaned, get it front and center so that I am inspired to wear it.

Part of my dificulty is also that I no longer wear heels (of any type), so all the pants need hemming and all the skirts and dresses look different than they used to. I need a day or two to just try on EVERYTHING, dig out shoes, put together outfits, etc.

Again, overwhelming!

You guys are certainly getting me inspired though!

[SheFly]

GLC - if you have lots of neutral colors in your wardrobe, update with a nice leather belt, colorful scarves (I work at Harvard Business School, and use scarves to dress up cords and a turtleneck in the office!), bright colored jewelry (that is simple, not loud).

As I have gotten older, I've determined my own style - lots of skirts and sweaters (mostly t-necks) and NOTHING that needs ironing (no blouses, no shirts). I can dress up a comfy t-shirt by adding a scarf, layering t-shirts, or putting on a nice piece of jewelry. Boots work in the winter with the skirts and some tights (add color here, too - gray dress, black boots, burgundy tights), and sandals in the summer.

You have the clothes - you just need to accessorize. I've also been in a position like yours - keep it YOUR style, not necessarily what's IN style. And whatever you do, DO NOT try to dress like the graduates you are hiring .

SheFly

[indysteel]

I just saw the suggestion that Muirenn (citing Tim Gunn) posted upthread about having a trench coat in your wardrobe. I haven't bought a lot of new items of late, but I did add two new coats. One is trench coat, the other is a wool winter coat. Both are camel colored, "car length" and tie at the waist. I adore both of them, and I think they've made me feel more jazzed about my wardrobe in general (which often feels pretty stale to me). So, don't overlook your outerwear!

[lph]

I doubt that my friends would consider me particularly fashion-conscious, and I do work at a pretty relaxed place. Still, I do hit on on a good look or two once in a while, and have bought some nicer dressier things recently. I wear a lot of thin wool longsleeved tops that are incredibly versatile. The nicest ones, usually with a zipper that gives a deep v-neckline look good with knee-length skirts, dressy pants, jeans - and I can wear them home cycling afterwards Crew necks look really frumpy on me so I'll add a scarf on those.
I also wear a lot of knitted dresses, some of them wool. The best look on me is sleeveless, since I have big shoulders that tend to pull at a closely fitted dress. My favourite is black and mid-thigh with a loose cowl neck, and looks relaxed with coloured woolly tights and flat shoes, or elegant with sheer tights and low heels. It also looks really cool with my 60's style knee boots.

I'm not going to win any trend prizes, but it's nice to feel I can choose to look stylish enough when I need to.

[limewave]

So, don't overlook your outerwear!

A few years back I had a very high-paying, executive-type job interview--in December. I really needed something new for this as my wardrobe did not accommodate this type of position. After spending the entire day shopping, I finally decided to get a dressy wool coat and stylish boots. I figured that would be the first thing they would see me and it would make the best first impression! It must have worked, I was offered the job! But turned it down because it was a very demanding position--and I wanted time to have a family, ride my bike, and play

[ultraviolet]

Depending on how much help you think you need, or if you're willing to spend a little money on getting help, you could look around in your area for personal stylists. Many offer a Closet Cleanup, or Shop Your Own Closet, service packages that can help you go through what you have, assemble new outfits, get rid of things that need to be retired, and come up with a plan to fill in the gaps. Most charge $200-$400 for this, and it's generally about a 4-hour time commitment.

If you have any particularly stylish friends, you could also reach out to them for help. I've spent years acting as "personal stylist" to many of my friends. It's gotten to the point that most of them try to pay me for the time I spend helping them shop, and I've considered establishing it as a business for myself.

[GLC1968]

Thanks you guys!

So many great ideas! Even just outfit ideas are helping me (thanks LPH & SheFly!).

I think I just spent too much time wearing nothing but jeans and an Ibex Shak (I have enough to wear a different color every day of the week...because when I was an engineer, I did!) that I lost my touch.

I was also a tad surprised when my boss (who is slightly younger than me) wanted to ask a fashion question so she went to one of the three 'fashionista' girls in the office. The thing is, those girls might know whats hot or trendy, but two of the three of them have zero clue what looks good on their bodies. I was shocked at how frumpy looking they both were at our annual party last weekend when both of them have nice bodies to work with. It just struck me that I used to be the one that everyone asked for advice. If they aren't asking now, I had to ask why and my only conclusion is that I must be slipping!

[Veronica]

Do we wear the same size? You could ship some of that stuff down here.

Veronica

[GLC1968]

Do we wear the same size? You could ship some of that stuff down here.

Veronica

LOL, probably! Though my pants would all be too short for you.

Actually, most of the stuff in the donate pile so far is all too big for me, so I'm sure it's too big for you as well. If I run across duplicates in good sizes, I'll offer them up!

I've actually already started a 'sell on TE' pile for bike stuff.

[Crankin]

GLC, did you say you don't wear tights?
That made me laugh. I have totally stopped wearing stockings with skirts or dresses, unless I am going out with DH and/or friends my own age. I try not to wear them to work, as I know it dates me. So, I wear tights from October through April. There might be a day or two in May or Sept. when it's just a bit too cool to go bare legged, so I wear pants.
And that's another thing. Not counting the fact that most people I work with dress like crap, even my boss and the other supervisor never wear skirts. What's up with that? I feel much more comfortable in a skirt, but I wear pants a lot more now.
I finally figured out my style is pretty classic/updated preppy, with some athletic type dresses thrown in. In the 80s I wore suits and in the nineties I still dressed up a lot for teaching. I gradually started dressing a lot more casually in my last teaching job, but now, it seems like the other therapists I work with wear jeans most of the time, which I don't think is OK.

[Veronica]

I gave one of my students The House on Mango Street to read. While reading it, she came and asked me what nylons were.

I tend to dress a little nicer than most of my peers, but there are a couple of older teachers who really dress up. The K teacher wears dresses and hose most days.

I'll wear a dress or skirt on Mondays - no recess duty - but it's with tights or bare legs when it's warm enough. Otherwise it's chinos, cords or jeans on Fridays and messy days. All my sweaters are cashmere though - warmth without bulk. Lands End had an awesome deal just before Christmas...

I struggle to find nice warm weather clothes.

Veronica

[Crankin]

I had to make some adjustments in my summer wardrobe this year, as this is the first year I've worked in the summer. I tend to wear Athleta type dresses, short skirts/skorts and tanks, or capris. A lot of what I wear is not OK for work, although I adjust for when I am going to someone's house who does not have AC. I have a few nicer sleeveless dresses I wore teaching, but they are not so comfortable for getting in and out of the car all day, like I do now. And, they are getting dated.
One thing I learned from living in AZ is that it's cooler to wear a dress. Nothing rubbing on your waist band. I never wear shorts, unless it's for an athletic activity. I feel more comfortable in capris.

[GLC1968]

I wear tights that are like hosery under dresses and skirts, but I don't wear leggings which some people call 'tights'. I'll wear them for athletic stuff, but not for work. My legs are NEVER cold though, so I only wear tights as a fashion accessory (which is why I had to buy some as I never bothered when I was an engineer).

Yeah, what is 'work appropriate' for my company is very individual. As an engineer, I could wear whatever I wanted (and hardly ever heels due to needing to wear an ESD strap on my shoes on the test floor) and most engineers dress like slobs. I refused to do so so I was always just kind of cute casual. If I wore jeans, it was usually only on a Friday and always nice jeans with a jacket or something slightly dressier so that I didn't look sloppy.

Now that I'm in HR/staffing, I'm not only seeing tons of other employees every day, but I see outside customers too. I should be wearing more typical business casual attire (most of my group does). I still keep my same jeans rule, but interestingly enough, most people in this department dress like slobs when they put on their jeans on Fridays. It's really weird to me. They dress nicer during the week, but much worse on Fridays.

The other piece of the puzzle is that I travel and represent the company a lot. When I do, I am expected to dress casual because we are a casual company. BUT, I need to wear company branded stuff as much as possible. I hate, hate, hate what I look like in a polo and khakis which is what most of the guys in my situation wear. I need to get more creative. I want to appear like a hip but mature woman. Finding that sweet spot between 'mom' and 'cool' without crossing into 'trying too hard to look young' is tough! Toss in the company branded items (which are almost never 'cool') and you get a real challenge!

[indysteel]

The legal world in Indy is really interesting. When I first got out of school in 1996, lawyers still dressed up. Every day. My first job was at the Indiana Court of Appeals, and I always has a skirt or suit on, even though I spent all day, every day outside of the public view. From there, I went to a law firm. Again, I wore a suit or dressed up in some fashion every day, regardless of whether I had court or was meeting with a client.

Since then, I've been at a federal court and, as I indicated, I don't wear suits much at all anymore. My boss has been on the state or federal bench for the last 23 years and he has remained "old school." He wears a suit nearly every day. On Fridays, he dresses down a bit, but not much. Keep in mind that when he's on the bench, he wears a robe and sit's behind a tall bench. So, it's pretty difficult to tell what he's actually wearing underneath it. Most law firms, however, have really lightened up their dress codes, however. We routinely see lawyers on the street wearing casual wear or jeans. They only dress up if they have court. My boss has asked them about it and they maintain that most (though presumably not all) of their clients prefer that they're casual. My boss just can't get his head around that though.

[lph]

I want to appear like a hip but mature woman. Finding that sweet spot between 'mom' and 'cool' without crossing into 'trying too hard to look young' is tough! Toss in the company branded items (which are almost never 'cool') and you get a real challenge!

That sounds like me, except I don't need to wear branded stuff much. Can you get away with wearing just a button or a pin? Or a cap or something else small? Or maybe just carrying a tote bag or briefcase with the brand name prominently on it? That would give you a lot more leeway with clothes.

We have some branded stuff too that I hate, but wearing it is optional. I try to look professional when we're out travelling, but luckily in my line of work professional equates rubber boots and goretex jackets

Anyway. The hippest mom - and new grandmom - I know at work is also a cyclist, and wears lots of knee-length, colourful dresses. Not frilly feminine ones and not closefitting sexy ones, but semi-fitted, artsy detail, fun Pippi-like dresses without looking childish. A bit like some of these: www.desigual.com. And colourful shoes and boots. She looks fantastic.