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When I lived in New Orleans the dress code at work was pretty strict. Casual Friday meant khaki pants, not jeans. I regularly wore dresses and skirts from Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic, and other fine shops. Now that I'm in California the work dress code is shorts and flip flops. That is seriously what my boss is wearing today (I'm trying to contain the explosion I'm feeling in my head). I wear jeans and a tee shirt almost daily and shop at stores like Old Navy and Target. (Not that I have anything against either of these stores; I love me some Target)
I'm beginning to feel like I have no style and that I dress too old for my age (I'm 27). I still go in BR, but now when I look at the clothes all I can think is "Yeah it's cute, but I need about $100 worth of accessories to make it work." And since CA is way more expensive than New Orleans, I can't afford $100 worth of accessories for every outfit I own. I'm also thinking that the lack of style is making me look unprofessional and making it hard for my bosses to look at me as someone to promote. But, at the same time, I don't want to go overboard and be uber-professional and stick out in the office. (okay so there are only 3 of us in my office, but still).
Also, I lost all of my "work clothes" in the hurricane, so am still short on basic wardrobe items. I have a nice pair of black slacks and a suit coat, but that's about it. And now I'm just babbling on, because when I get upset that's what I do, and my wardrobe situation definitely upsets me.
I'm fighting the urge to get on a plane and fly to California and take Regan shopping. Or at least take her out for lunch and nice glass of wine.
Regan has a common dilemma: she's trying to sort out the rules of the new casual office, which is often more casual than office, and she's trying to do it without breaking the bank. What Regan needs is a good selection of basics (have you heard this before?) that she can wear for work AND play, and a couple of more business-like pieces that she can mix with her casual clothes and wear together for dressier work functions.
Let's start with basics. Because Regan's office is a jeans-and-tee kind of place, she needs two or three really great pairs of jeans. No holes or ragged hems or whiskering; she wants nice looking jeans in a dark wash. She needs one pair hemmed for heels, one pair hemmed for flats, and one pair of trouser jeans. A boot-cut or wide leg will be dressier than a skinny jean, although skinny jeans with ballet flats can work for a casual Friday office. Regan should also make her existing black pants work for her by substituting them for her jeans as much as possible. She can wear them with a basic tee and some great accessories for a look that is casual but not necessarily dressy. (More about accessories in a moment.)
Under NO circumstances, however, should Regan wear flip flops to work with her jeans. Flip flops are fine for weekends, but they should NEVER be worn to the office, even if her boss does wear them. For a casual office, a strappy sandal or open-toed pump may be entirely appropriate, but unless you are a lifeguard, NO FLIP FLOPS, ever, for work.
I get the sense from Regan's e-mail that she's not entirely happy with the All Jeans All The Time office wardrobe, and I can sympathize. Casual doesn't mean you must wear jeans all the time (for work or weekend), and a great cotton or linen skirt is a good alternative. Regan should look for A-line skirts in quirky patterns or interesting colors; she wants the hems to hit at the knee, for a more professional look. A knee length A-line skirt can be dressed down with flat shoes and a tee, or dressed up with kitten heels and a sweater. Target has some great skirts this spring, and Old Navy is a good source for tops.
Regan might also want to add a pair of
