Career Clinic: Dressed down for dressing down

Short skirt, blonde, female & intelligent... come and work with me at the US firm I am at!

Anonymous -14 Jul 2008 | 12:55

Be pragmatic. Sounds like you're either a trainee or a paralegal. In which case, ask yourself whether either the associate's feelings towards you (jealous? justifiable?) or your attitude (justifiable? cocky?) could do the most damage to your legal career and dress accordingly. Personally, I haven't found wearing short skirts causes issues but upsetting colleagues can. Don't become the standard-bearer for a vendetta against the associate.

City Woman -14 Jul 2008 | 14:58

I don't think it really matters what you wear to work provided that you are professional and work the best you can and try to have a good relationship with your colleagues and clients. I

female solicitor -14 Jul 2008 | 16:06

An interesting dilemma, but one very hard to answer without more facts. How short was said short skirt? If in reality a mere belt, such as one would wear to a nite-spot, then I think that embraces the dress down policy properly and you should be commended. A wishy washy mid-length number is merely a cop-out and it would be only right that you were asked to change.Pics would be helpful.

Red Robbo -14 Jul 2008 | 17:06

May i suggest that you re-read what you have written and ask yourself whether it is really the fact that you are being discriminated against for being blonde and good looking or whether it is actually because you are massively arrogant and they all hate you. Just putting that out there...

Anonymous -14 Jul 2008 | 17:09

Think about how a client may react if they are in the building and see your outfit. You are better to be known in the firm for your work rather than your outfits!

Anonymous -14 Jul 2008 | 17:12

I think it sounds as though you are picking on your associate because of her looks (pasty, overweight, dowdy) - why should she not judge you on yours? Presumably she got where she is despite being a plain jane, which means she must have the brains to do the job without needing (or being able) to flash a bit of thigh - so give her a bit of credit.Once you have climbed the ladder to the top you can wear whatever you want - the most snappy and fashion-forward dressers at my firm are the female partners - and why shouldn't they be - they've worked hard to get where they are and have nothing to prove.If you want to wear provocative clothes you should be prepared to provoke a reaction. Next time it might be the handsome male partner who complains that your short skirt makes him feel uncomfortable. And besides, don't you read Vogue? - short skirts are totally passe. Get a personal shopper and try dressing in clothes that your colleagues won't feel the need to complain about - i.e. no hemlines way above the knee, no super-tight trousers and no revealingly low-cut tops. There are so many more ways to look attractive and professional than displaying your wares to all and sundry......How about fishnet stockings with a pencil skirt or decent-length city shorts? Or an ample fitted dress with great accessories - why not flaunt a red sole instead of a tanned thigh - much more elegant and less risk of offending your co-workers.

Anonymous -14 Jul 2008 | 17:22

Who's picking on who? You complain about being mistreated for your looks, but seem happy to describe someone else as pale, overweight and dowdy. Would the straw poll equate to your mates? I'm more impressed with the sensitive way your firm seems to have dealt with this rather than your mood swings. Just because you were asked to change from an admittedly short skirt doesn't mean you have to cover up.

Optimist -14 Jul 2008 | 17:24

Interesting how one of the commentators has assumed that the "pale, dowdy, overweight" complainer was female. Could have been male - or would it be outrageous for a man to complain about a short skirt?

Anonymous -14 Jul 2008 | 18:15

For your reference our firm's dress down policy is as under:Casual dress trousers, skirts, or dresses; long or short sleeve shirts with collars; long or short sleeve blouses for women; sports coats, sweaters, or jackets; dress or deck shoes are appropriate attire; and traditional business attire is always appropriate. Clothing such as t-shirts, tank tops, crop tops, midriff tops and see-through clothing are not permitted to be worn in the office. Jeans, any clothing made of denim and women's capri pants which end right below the knee or mid-calf are not considered business casual wear and should not be worn in the office. Open-toed dress sandals for women are fine; however, flip flops, thong sandals, or the kind of footwear one would wear to a picnic or beach are not acceptable business casual attire. Likewise, trainers, flip-flops, hiking boots, athletic shoes or tennis shoes are not considered business casual. Sleeveless shirts, sweat outfits and other gym clothes, athletic wear and stretch pants are not acceptable. Pay close attention to the fit of your clothing. Avoid tight-fitting or revealing clothing. Clothing should be clean, pressed and wrinkle-free. Clothing that is faded, torn, stained or provocative is considered inappropriate.These guidelines apply during the business week. Weekend dress standards remain casual, not business casual, unless client, vendor, or other meetings are involved.

Assc at US firm with dress down policy -14 Jul 2008 | 18:24

If you're ruled out of client meetings because of your clothes, the clothes are inappropriate, no matter how shapely your legs. Think powerful, not sexy, when you pick your Friday clothes. If that's too tricky, then personal shopping is the way forward. Others are right, you can't wear what you like till you make partner - it's just the way of the world.

Liberty Lovely -14 Jul 2008 | 18:55

You need to approach this problem creatively. Get a male colleague to rock up at the office next Friday in a dress. That will distract pasty associate and her ilk. I would do it in a heartbeat for you, and not just because my pins are ace.

Big Barry (Linklaters) -14 Jul 2008 | 22:39

I assumed the associate who complained about this girl's clothing was female because of her use of the word 'dowdy' to describe her. 'Dowdy' is not an adjective usually applied to describe men - and in fact is also a noun meaning a shabby, plain woman.

Anonymous -15 Jul 2008 | 13:12

Dowdy is also a deep-dish apple dessert covered with a rich crust apparently. Sounds quite pleasant.

Anonymous -15 Jul 2008 | 15:08

I heard women dress up to upstage other women and not, as I thought, to impress us men.As the weather gets hotter, expect the skirts to get shorter, so other 'dowdy' workers may come out of the woodwork. Maybe they are jealous. Either way, relax and do not let your work suffer.

Anonymous -15 Jul 2008 | 16:36

As other posters have suggested - common sense is required when deciding what to wear. You are at the office so despite wearing casual clothes you need to continue to project a professional image. The offices I have worked in have only operated a dress down policy for occasional charity days and on those days I have had to put more thought into what outfit I will wear so as not to make it awkward to see clients, but also so that I am not an obvious target for bitching or lewd comments by colleagues. I agree with other posters - once you make partner, wear whatever you like - until then, why draw potentially adverse attention to yourself? I am also a young blonde associate, but in the interests of maintaining respect in the workplace and progressing my career I save my short skirts and other revealing clothes for my leisure time.

Anonymous -15 Jul 2008 | 17:59

What does dowdy mean?

ill educated assistant -16 Jul 2008 | 08:59

As a female lawyer with a passion for clothes, I generally applaud those of my female colleagues who dress in a quirky, feminine or individual way which expresses their personality. So much more interesting than the "I work in a male environment therefore I will dress like a male" style that has prevailed in the legal profession for so long. However, I have always thought flashing the flesh in the office to be a complete no-no, whether dressing up or down. Whether your little skirt infringed this rule is difficult to judge. A cute short skirt with opaque tights and boots in winter can look quite funky. A cute short skirt worn with bare legs covered by nothing more than streaky Fake Bake will always look slutty, and is wholly inappropriate for the office, although entirely appropriate for a D-list celeb hoping to get papped falling out of 'Faces' nightclub and into a cab (knickers are probably also optional). True business casual requires a third wardrobe halfway between the normal suits and the stuff you actually like to wear out of the office. I'd always err on the side of caution if you want your colleagues to respect you. But I suspect you would rather they fancied you.

City Litigator -16 Jul 2008 | 11:20

"As a blonde female...". Can I ask why it makes the slightest difference what colour your hair is?

Another blonde -16 Jul 2008 | 13:25

To 'Another Blonde' - maybe her skirt was so short they were questioning it!

Anonymous -16 Jul 2008 | 15:35

While I can appreciate good legs as well as the next man (and maybe more than most) I agree that the too-short short skirt is too much. We had a blonde-haired blue-eyed long-legged female associate that wore skirts so short that it was enbarassing for the rest of us in the department, including males! We just didn't know where to look. It is the 'you're not looking at the wart I have on my nose' sort of thing. The barrister opinion approach (summary of advice at the beginning of an opinion) just takes away from the mystery.

Budmor -16 Jul 2008 | 17:26

Our dress code is permanently dress-down and includes the following paragraph:"Golden Rule: If you have to think whether clothing qualifies as business casual dress, then it is probably inappropriate."So there you go.

Ted, US firm -16 Jul 2008 | 17:51

Woah there! You sound like one red hot mama. Forget about your two-bit hick town of a firm and get your fine self over to my firm. Call me.

Managing Partner, US Firm -16 Jul 2008 | 22:43

As a pale dowdy associate myself I have to deal with the fact that there are much younger more attractive women working with me, but that's life! However, I do agree that a short skirt at the office is not professional. The women I work with look great (partners, associates, and trainees) wearing great, fashionable, flattering clothes without the need to wear short skirts.

Plain Jane -17 Jul 2008 | 10:11

Dress down codes at law firms seem to be summed up as: feel free to dress down, as long as it's 99% the same as normal business wear. Which kind of defeats the point.

Anonymous -17 Jul 2008 | 10:21

May I just say that it is very disappointing that there are no pics yet :-(

Red Robbo -17 Jul 2008 | 10:45

The array of high waist-bands and 'trendy' 80s-style leather jackets (ugh) sported by a large number of the more senior partners on dress down days are much more offensive than short skirts, but none of us fairly junior members of staff are permitted to make any objections. I truly find a very high waistband deeply offensive.

Anonymous -17 Jul 2008 | 13:59

You may be blonde, but you might wish to ponder the maxim of my wise father: shortness of skirt is usually in inverse proportion to quality of legs. Or to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, better wear a longer skirt and let them think you might have ugly legs than a short one and prove that it's true.

Blonde, ex-paralegal, partner's wife -17 Jul 2008 | 23:40

The silly language here underscores why so many organisations have ditched dress down days. They ditched them because workers became competitive about their casual wear.You're in a conservative profession. If fashion is your bag, go into another industry which does not mind what you wear or how it may look.Also, remember who pays your salary, pays your bills and who sets the rules in your firm.

high street solicitor -18 Jul 2008 | 14:36

Think about your personal branding. What do you want your colleagues and clients to think about you? Do you want to look like a sexy tart - or do you want to look professional, in charge and competent? You can look nice without looking tarty - or frumpy.

Helen -21 Jul 2008 | 11:21

People do not seem to know what is appropriate to wear to work these days. If it is something you could/would wear to a nightclub/party - it is NOT office wear, especially if you work with clients. You are supposed to be a professional - dress like one regardless of the weather. Take some pride in your dress - there is no need to 'expose' yourself. Your looks have nothing to do with the situation.

Hot appropriately dressed worker in a city law firm -21 Jul 2008 | 11:36

Sometimes I don't wear underwear to work but my dress policy does not cover this. Please help.

Mr Bristols -21 Jul 2008 | 17:57

"inappropriate"?Frumptastic!

Ducks & Co. -23 Jul 2008 | 17:16

This is an interesting discussion, particularly as I run a Personal Styling business and we work regularly with corporate clients advising on 'how to be work stylish', 'dress to impress' etc. What is really appropriate in the workplace? Ultimately it is about understanding the styles and shapes right for you and your bodyshape and with this you will gain confidence in whatever you do. Yes it does matter what you wear to work, it is your professional image, the message you want to get across, who you want to be. For more information on our style talks and clinics email me on info@styleoursouls.co.uk

Style Our Souls -25 Feb 2009 | 11:13