Corporate 101: The Basics of Dress-Down Fridays
There’s nothing like Dress-Down Fridays on a sticky July afternoon…the photocopy machine humming like a microwave…not knowing if the steam rising from the bathroom is coming from your sweat or the coffee mug in your hand…fearing your Mac’s whirling internal fan, like a faint hummingbird’s heartbeat, will spin it’s final breath and kill your 5 hours of mind-numbing data entry. Ah, call it summering in Corporate. Kind of sounds like a New England town…
Dress-Down Fridays, for me, have never been the horror stories Hollywood makes them out to be. Themes like “Wear Your Favorite Hula Shirt” to “Bring a Bimbo in a Skirt” are buried in a paper trail of memos that date back to **gasp** when the in-house notifications were not sent by e-mail. Therefore, we are safe. Dress-Down Fridays are about calm, cool, and collection, and the secret tip: always be prepared to impress. The old saying is true, that the days when you wear a sweatshirt, is the same day you run in to (unexpectedly!) exactly the person you want to impress.
Where to Start:
Considering the sweater set is for the other four days in the cube, jazz it up a little on Fridays. Need help? Pick little themes for yourself. Go Girly. Go Glam. Go Beachy. TIP: If you can’t think of any reason to get out of bed, throw on a favorite sundress or some electric-colored high heels. It will give you a boost to go out the door and show off the fabulous you!
Pleated Mini w/Belt: $19.80
Writer’s Picks: High-waist, colorful skirts are fashionable this summer. Pick a solid, modest color and pair it with a short sleeve tee tucked underneath (add a little jacket or wrap if you think the boss might mind the short sleeves). High-waist skirts are great because, when they pull the shirt tight underneath, it looks more like a dress—mixing and matching shirts and skirts can give it a whole different feel!
Where to Stop:
No belly shirts, cut offs, short shorts, Daisy Dukes, fluorescent bras, tattoo or piercing reveals, track pants, or hooker heels. Of course, look out for sheer/transparent tops, skirts, low backs, etc. You’re a tasteful gal. You know what to do. Be super careful of skirt/ dress length, and if you’re in a city, take in to account wind from traffic, or if you’re anywhere, watch out for breezes. You want to expose your personality, not expose yourself.
Find at Smarter.com: Shop through all women’s clothing.
