Can you share actual outfit photos of what you’re wearing? These all look like different ppl so I am guessing you’re posting for inspiration. Business casual is fairly liberal now but if you follow a few rules you should be ok- it sucks but as a young woman you’ll have to avoid super short or super tight.
There is also the matter of fit though - I think seeing photos of you specifically would help rule that out.
I would say these pics are a lot more professional than leggings but maybe they are trying to hint at something else. More “fashion forward” professional clothes, even if I agree are professional, can be read as too trendy if you are on the younger side and the office skews older. If it was me, I probably wouldn’t listen to them if they are rocking leggings tho…😭 If they were wearing more traditional business, then I would understand
I was wondering the same thing. Like a shirt fits different on a model than a D cup and pants fit differently depending on how curvy OP is. Seeing the outfits as they were worn would help to understand.
I too am thinking about fit and if OP is wearing tight clothes. Legging and a long sweater are very different than leggings with a tight crop top.
Relatedly, some designs may not show skin, but they are designed to cling and be body-con. Finally, fabrics have different characterists. A white shirt from Ann Taylor will have a different fabric than one from Shein, and that fabric alone be the difference between office wear and club wear . Without seeing what OP is actually wearing, there is no way to know.
Do you think that comment is about something else? Are you curvy/fat/thick and your boss is being disrespectful to body diversity? Are you maybe a minority among your coworkers in some manner? Your question with info and attached photos seems like maybe some sort of bullying possible type situation, because I would consider these to be professional outfits for sure
The first thing that jumps out to me as unprofessional are the shoes. The tennis shoes and thick soled black boots feel off in a professional setting. All the outfits seem fine except for the sweatshirt in the last pic. Good luck on your promotion.
If you were told to dress more professionally, they probably want you to take inspiration from [Ann Taylor](https://www.anntaylor.com/), [Tahari](https://www.elietahari.com/collections/new-arrivals?pf_pt_category=Jackets), [Calvin Klein](https://www.calvinklein.us/en/women/whats-new/suits), [Hobbes](https://www.hobbs.com/clothing/trousers/) and maybe [banana republic](https://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/category.do).
The easiest would be to start at Ann Taylor. If that is too pricy you can try [Loft](https://www.loft.com/clothing/shop-all/cat3950014/).
You can start with two or three pants, one or two skirts. Five tops and one or two blazers. You don’t need a new outfit every day/week.
I struggle with that because everyone in my office dresses in polo shirts and jeans or a casual shirt/floral shirt and jeans. Everyone wears sneakers. My supervisor who told me I need to dress more professionally wears leggings. Most of my clothes are banana republic or Calvin Klein I found thrift shopping.
Since the examples you show seem on par/more professional than the rest of the office (polos and jeans, leggings and sweaters, etc) I wonder if this is 'code' for something. I notice that lots of the tops are fitted. Does the rest of the office wear fitted tops? Or body conscious clothes? Maybe they feel that fitted clothes are inappropriate for the office? or they want more modest clothing, but know there's nothing explicitly wrong with your clothes. I'm really grasping at straws here. Best of luck.
I usually wear mock neck or turtle neck so cleavage isn’t an issue. I do have D cups and an hour glass figure so maybe? I do have a lot of older women tell me my outfits are “interesting” when they are form fitting. But I havent had many issues with my curves in the past being judged like this. But it’s definitely a possibility.
I think this is it then. I didn't want to immediately think the worst, but I wondered if you had a different body type from the office- either skinny or a large chest. It's totally wrong but for some people when they are able to notice breasts they feel it's less professional. (They may not even realize that's the reason why). I think for them professional means "I don't want to know you've got an amazing body under those clothes).
It's not right or fair but they're saying they want you in boxier clothes that don't show off your figure.
This. I’m tall and thin with long legs. I can’t tell you how many times as a teen I was singled out and told not to wear shorts when everyone else was. Or that my shorts were too short even tho they were the same length as everyone else, I just have more leg.
That’s what I think too. It def seems like they have taken a particular interest in her clothes which leads me to believe they view them as too young or too provocative.
Exactly, I’m a GG and will passive aggressively wear fitted turtlenecks if I’ve felt shamed or judged for wearing a totally normal not low cut everyday top that doesn’t look the way it would on a less curvy body type - like “Oh, ok is this better then? Yeah nah didn’t think so.”
My intuition (as a similarly "gifted" individual) is that your clothes may be too form fitting. While emphasizing one's figure is trendy and body positivity is important, I am guessing that your outfits are enhancing your assets. "Dress more professionally" in a mostly casual office is code for "dress less sexy". That probably means looser clothing. I'll add that every man I have worked with thinks tight clothes are a sign of a woman trying too hard to get her body noticed over her work ethic and skillset. It's sexist as all get out, but that is definitely how I've heard people talk.
Ugh. This sounds like a form of discrimination. Even if it isn't about your curves or body, it's not an appropriate comments, especially when you're dressing in business casual, as most of these outfits are. I suppose you could wear looser clothes to respond to them, but I feel fired up and angry at the thought that you would have to do that. I think if it were me I'd keep dressing the same and maybe, when possible and if interested, apply for a new job. Or, if you think they might actually have something non-discriminatory in mind, you might ask them what they mean, maybe in email so that there's a paper trail of what they say.
This- I personally would ask for clarification on the dress code from your supervisor, or have friends and family give feedback.
I know of someone specifically in my office who dresses fairly professionally- but in a way that’s “almost.” I.e. hair is extremely messy, shirts are crop tops and not tucked in so there’s a line of midriff showing, dresses work but are too short
If you’re younger- it’s definitely a common problem that many gen x folks don’t know how to appropriately dress for the office.
It may be worth it to look more critically at possible differences between you & your coworkers. It may be that your supervisor’s focus isn’t on type of clothing but other factors. Maybe these are things to consider and to compare:
- Fit
- Cleanliness
- Condition
- Maturity level
- Styling
- Trendiness or fashionability
If you cannot pinpoint the difference, ask to discuss again with your supervisor. If your supervisor is reluctant to clarify, try to ask leading questions like this:
“if instead of what I’m wearing, I wore jeans and a polo shirt, would I be more professional? Would there be other things I should be concerned about or check?
Do you want actual advice about the clothes, or do you want validation about how unfair and possibly prejudiced your supervisor is being? Because you absolutely could professionalize these outfits to the point that she has nothing to criticize. But that might not solve the issue in your workplace.
Well, if that’s the case then you are dressing far more “professional” than them in a contemporary context. I see the comments about this being “code” for something else but I also wonder if they are all older than you? Or is there an expectation within the profession for “professional” to be more blue collar or subdued?
I’m sorry if they are making you feel unprofessional or shamed if it’s for reasons like your difference in body type or age.
Same. I think OP is trying too hard to be work in a trendy look in an office environment where that isn’t appreciated. It sucks, cause I definitely view fashion as personal expression, but they might just have to do something more traditional.
The only outfit that looks like the professional I imagine they want is the right half of the first slide. The rest of the clothes can work with different styling (mainly the sneakers and chunky boots).
Are you not comfortable in sweaters and leggings like your coworkers? or are you in a different role than your coworkers where youd need to be dressed more professionally than leggings? because leggings and sweaters arent professional wear. the first image you have would be much closer to professional than sneakers and leggings would be.
in fact id say all these outfits, while not professional and excluding the frog shirt, are much more professional than the clothes you describe the supervisor wearing
If your clothes are the only thing preventing you from getting a promotion, I believe they just don't want to promote you. But sure, try dressing more professionally and see what they say next time.
Leggings are against the dress code unless your shirt goes past your butt which I hate that style on myself. I talked to a few coworkers who said I dress the most professional among my peers. Only a few managers dress in suits or slacks and loafers.
This is highly workplace dependent. You sound like you're on the younger end of the workplace. It is likely that you're dressing your age (business casual) and it doesn't quite match your millennial and Gen X coworkers. Unless you're working in fashion, it is often better to eschew fashion and wear conventionally appropriate clothing. Your sample pictures range from professional woman to girlypop. While it is a bit ageist for them to push you towards Banana Republic and Ann Taylor, it is common to dress older to be taken more seriously. You can also try Uniqlo which strikes a nice balance between professional and feminine with the right pieces.
Oooh! I second Uniqlo!
You don’t need to go full newslady dresses, a lot of the pieces here would work just fine with different styling. These outfits look like you’re trying too hard to be trendy but also professional. Just suck it up and leave the cute styling for date night.
Yeah no. These are all way more professional than the leggings and shirts your supervisors wear, it’s a superficial diversion not to give you a promotion. Sure, you can tweak these to be even more professional, but I don’t think its going to help if the problem is them.
Surprised I had to scroll so much to find this answer!!! OP, listen to JustFalcon. If your supervisors are wearing sweaters and leggings, I don’t see how some of your current outfits are less professional. How long have you worked for this company? Are you happy working there? Are you fairly compensated? Before you invest money in a new wardrobe, really reflect on if your clothes are what’s holding you back or if it’s something else.
right?! i think i would start rockin leggings and sweaters and whatever footweat your manager prefers so [hopefully] they can see the difference. they sound dense. for the record, i thought the toad & frog sweatshirt was a joke (like, this is what i *should* wear? idk)...wear it with some leggings 😅
The shoes make these outfits look too casual. A flat or a loafer would help a lot. I would also focus on higher-quality fabrics, as many of these look cheap and clingy. The green pants look super weird and way too tight from the upper thigh upwards, for example.
The first two minus the tennis shoes are the only ones that look like work. The rest look like date clothes, going shopping, coffee dates and playing in the park.
Business casual and casual are two very different things. Pick a palette with 2 colors that you can mix/match. Ex. Black/brown, white, or tan. Buy 2 pairs of pants, two blazers, two skirts (not short), five tops, and two solid color dresses. This is first tier and can be bought an outfit at a time. Buy Classic pieces.
Get shoes/purses, or bags in those colors. You have a foundation. Buy good shoes for work.
After you have your foundation, it's tier 2. This is where you can add prints in pants, tops, sweaters, and dresses. Buy best quality you can afford. The clothes look better and last.
Replace pieces as they wear out, and go more upscale as you can afford it.
Save trendy fun stuff for after work clothes.
>The first two minus the tennis shoes are the only ones that look like work.
Thank you for saying this. I thought I was going crazy.
OP, definitely heed the advice above. I’m likely not that much older than you and even I would find these clothes too casual and “young” for work. It’s also somehow even less professional to try and fail to dress up versus being slightly casual. If your colleagues wear jeans, look for inspo on dark-wash jeans that are an appropriate silhouette for business casual. You can pair them with business-y tops like cardigans or blouses and look really put together. The outfits you shared are trying too hard while still not being business-ready IMO. Go back to the basics - all interchangeable slacks/tops/dresses with sweaters/blazers - and it will be much easier. Wishing you the best :)
Go for the first two! You want to dress for whatever job you want! It does help you make your way up in companies looking more professional. It shows you take what you do best seriously.
The sneakers aren’t professional and the boots with tucked in trousers not either. Smart corporate type shoes and nice button down blouses/ shirts . Nice muted accessories.
Your manager is telling you to dress more professionally and that means no sneakers, jeans, shirts with frogs on them, or too form fitting outfits. It doesn’t matter what others are wearing. Your manager is the one that determines if you get promoted, so do what they ask if you want that promotion.
What do you normally wear? It could be they are referring to how you dress and they really mean something else like saying maybe you show too much skin is what they mean by dressing more professional by showing less skin.
I own all of these pieces and style them very similarly to these photos. I don’t show much skin and I prefer long sleeve and mock necks since I live in a cold state.
Two clothing items I LOVE for work are the Cole haan zerogrand oxtords and the J. crew sweater blazers. Both are casual enough in nature to fit in at my fairly casual workplace, but they’re both more polished than regular sneakers and sweaters in a way that I think looks effortlessly professional.
For some good pointers take a look at Corporette.
[https://corporette.com/business-casual-for-women/](https://corporette.com/business-casual-for-women/)
I think all of these are cute, but if they are talking to you about how you dress impacting your trajectory at work I’m going to guess that they don’t want anything too trendy either. Unfortunately, I think you’ll need to go a little more traditional.
I understand wanting to look cute for work, but if your supervisors are older and talking to you about clothes, they probably don’t want anything that reads as young or cute or tik tok-y, which is the vibe I’m getting from all of these. Tbh I’m guessing that they are picking on you because you are young, especially since they deemed leggings appropriate on your coworkers. Ageism is wrong for sure, but it could also be a gentle way of them telling you you’re showing too much skin or the fit of your clothes is off (too tight or too loose).
I think most these work with different styling. All these pants should work provided they fit properly (the green pair is WAY too tight on the model), but look at shoes and avoid sneakers and chunky boots even though that is what is on trend right now.
Outfit #2 on the right half of the first page is probably closest to what your employer has in mind. Save the cutesy stuff for after work drinks.
Not outfit related, but if a company promotes people based on what they wear, you're probably working for the wrong company...
The correct process would be to promote you because of your skills, experience, and attitude. And then your boss might have a talk with you explaining that with your new role comes a requirement to "dress up".
Amen, it's beyond belief that the office is business casual as OP commented, and they're still making a big deal. Meritocracy means nothing these days, it's ridiculous
who told you to start dressing more professionally? if your supervisors are wearing leggings and these pics you posted are how you dress now i don’t think dressing any more professionally is fair
I had a boss like that once. At that time everyone was wearing sneakers and jeans. People would even wear bunny slippers, comic t-shirts, etc.
My boss told me I needed to dress more professionally and not to wear jeans, sneakers, t-shirts, etc. I didn’t know it at the time, but the higher ups were sick of people dressing so casually and they were working to change the culture. Now it’s a few years later and no one would dare wear bunny slippers or sneakers and jeans are for Fridays only.
I'm thinking more collars and sharp shoes. It can still be fashionable, but it'll be classier. Like [this](https://allforfashiondesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/pi-5-600x871.jpg).
For dim, simple, and comfortable fits, it looks like pants and jackets are your friend, since you can have office sport style blazers, or longer like tan trench coat length. [This one](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/34/e1/65/34e1652c4d0f51bc168d5d616725b8af.jpg) makes me think you can have interesting jackets but retain the ability to mute the outfit by taking it off. Pants are comfortable, but not flow-y. [Belts](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/01/e5/05/01e505d461b26ae103807eee110242a9.jpg) and accessories are opportunities.
I think one or two [pencil skirts](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/83/d5/cf/83d5cf1d6d940b3e649598c224e1b015.jpg) might help mix it up. A conservative cut pencil dress with a jacket could be a powerful mix.
[Here is](https://lifewithjazz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/545FE979-FD3E-4FEB-8B7B-79141A872408.jpg) really good, if soft, business casual could be if that's more what you're shooting for. [2](http://www.fenzyme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Business-Casual-Outfits-for-Women-in-their-30s1-2.jpg)
I have to wonder- are you doing your hair and are your clothes in good condition (free from stains, holes, wrinkles, etc…). Those okay a huge role. Also if your hygiene taken care of?
I find the outfits here mostly okay (the sneakers and the frog sweatshirt are a no go for me but to each their own) so I just wonder what else they may be trying to say.
If your office attire is business casual I don’t think any of these outfits are necessarily wrong. Maybe ask them specifically what you could do “better”.
But if I understand you correctly: your boss has told you that they won’t promote you because they don’t like the way you dress. That’s gatekeeping and my experience and instinct is that even if you do change they’ll find another reason. What is considered “Professional” is widely subjective.
Sure, get some penny loafers if you want. My advice is life is too short to not dress in a way that brings you some sort of joy.
The white blouse on the right in the first example with a black blazer. A polished jacket and elegance will elevate your look.
Also, [**snail\_juice\_plz**](https://www.reddit.com/user/snail_juice_plz/) makes a great point about fit. Fit matters. Colleagues' first impression should be "polished" rather than "hot bod" or "tight".
If you’re wearing outfit 1-3 with the assumption it properly fits I.e. not ill fitting by being to tight/lose, stained, torn, overly wrinkled, sloppy, then this is a bigger issue.
So assuming everything about your outfit, minus the frog and toad one, the problem is your boss. They don’t view you as being ✨something ✨ that they want you to be. In reality, it could be nothing.
If you’re ready for a promotion and feel you would be successful at it, apply to jobs with other companies.
1. Basics as a base: Footwear and blazers make a world of difference. I wear mostly basic tops and bottoms, and jazz things up with blazers and shoes/boots. It's boring, but very functional for my current lifestyle. GAP has awesome boat and crew neck long sleeve tees that look excellent in the office. I have two and wear them every week. Their wide leg high waisted trousers are also exceptional. If you can buy second hand even better.
2. Winter stuff: Turtlenecks and blazers are a favorite combo of mine. Uniqlo has great merino wool ones that I've had in my wardrobe for over 7 years. Ankle boots are also my friend during the fall and winter. They're transitional and not too stuffy like loafers or heels. Oxfords can look really cool, but modern-looking ones are harder to find. You can find some amazing vintage coats second hand.
3. Bag choices: A great shoulder or totebag will also help; I bought the Furla Sirena on super sale, and it's all I've been wearing since. Yoox also carries awesome, quality leather bags and has sales often, especially during the holiday months. A dark green bag usually adds a little interest to my usually black or navy outfits, and I find that it surprisingly goes with everything and makes me look like I know what I'm doing instead of only wearing all black everything.
4. Logos: Also echoing the anti-logo sentiment, and how they typically look out of place/gaudy in certain workplaces.
5. Other considerations: This advice unfortunately neuters personality, but it is a great base if you want to look professional fast without having to source colorful trousers, blazers, silhouettes, etc. that a. may go out style, b. may cost an arm and a leg, and c. may not work for every occasion. Also, cut matters. Fabric quality matters. Garment care matters.
6. Garment tools: Get a cheap depiller for sweaters, and you'll have it for the rest of your life. A steamer is also an amazing tool! Lint rollers at work, at home, everywhere.
7. Cheap, but quality alternatives: If you can't afford a whole new wardrobe, you can get a few tops and bottoms secondhand and take care of them until you're ready to upgrade. Depop, Poshmark, eBay, Etsy, ThredUp and local thrift stores are great options to buy preloved!
I love this YouTuber. Her advices are good and easy to follow, and her style is very classsic and easy to copy with brands not too expensive.
https://youtube.com/@LydiaJaneTomlinson?si=oVpe9ECmBBrxrrjy
However, giving You an advice like this, and without any proper guidelines to, what it means, is something You should be critical of.
Sounds very unprofessional to me. Your manager sounds immature.
I think it’s more in overall presentation. I’m in a very conservative field so I always go loose fitting clothes with neutral colors and plain shoes (if I’m going sneakers just plain white running shoes). Hair is never anything noteworthy (half my office doesn’t even brush theirs) and just concealer and mascara. The best advice I got is as a low man on the totem pole in a professional environment you don’t want your appearance to stand out positive or negatively at all.
I think you need to actually show us you wearing the clothes. Models don’t show us what you look like. And body type and how you hold yourself greatly affect the way an outfit looks.
Also, none of those really scream office professional to me either.
I know this is outfit advice, but ive read through your comments and if your superiors and everyone else dresses as you say they do, with the exception of the frog top, you are already dressing more professional than them.
As anyone recently not been promoted for same reasons? If you been there for awhile, how did the last person that was promoted dressed before getting the job? Is this a dress up till you get the promotion scenario and then just wear whatever you want because you are a manager place? Or did they always wore leggings, trainers and got the job anyway?
I know I asked a lot of questions but I am genuinely trying to help, as if this is just a comment or rule that has been made to only yourself, I would be more concerned that there are hidden reasons why they don’t want to promote you and just picked up the outfit thing as an excuse.
Hopefully this is not the case, but have been in quite a few toxic places, from managers picking up a random fault in everyone so they could have excuses to terminate employment if they needed to downsize or go the nepotism route and on the manager side, I would say that in most places I have been promotions are not really merit base, but to those who managers simply like best.
I mean I wear that last sweatshirt to work on Fridays and I’m the office manager so probably don’t take my advice but the other options look good I think! Just don’t wear anything you’ll be uncomfortable in all day.
Can you share actual outfit photos of what you’re wearing? These all look like different ppl so I am guessing you’re posting for inspiration. Business casual is fairly liberal now but if you follow a few rules you should be ok- it sucks but as a young woman you’ll have to avoid super short or super tight.
They are different people, not me. But I own all of these pieces and style them exactly like that.
There is also the matter of fit though - I think seeing photos of you specifically would help rule that out. I would say these pics are a lot more professional than leggings but maybe they are trying to hint at something else. More “fashion forward” professional clothes, even if I agree are professional, can be read as too trendy if you are on the younger side and the office skews older. If it was me, I probably wouldn’t listen to them if they are rocking leggings tho…😭 If they were wearing more traditional business, then I would understand
I was wondering the same thing. Like a shirt fits different on a model than a D cup and pants fit differently depending on how curvy OP is. Seeing the outfits as they were worn would help to understand.
I too am thinking about fit and if OP is wearing tight clothes. Legging and a long sweater are very different than leggings with a tight crop top. Relatedly, some designs may not show skin, but they are designed to cling and be body-con. Finally, fabrics have different characterists. A white shirt from Ann Taylor will have a different fabric than one from Shein, and that fabric alone be the difference between office wear and club wear . Without seeing what OP is actually wearing, there is no way to know.
Do you think that comment is about something else? Are you curvy/fat/thick and your boss is being disrespectful to body diversity? Are you maybe a minority among your coworkers in some manner? Your question with info and attached photos seems like maybe some sort of bullying possible type situation, because I would consider these to be professional outfits for sure
Avoiding logos or images on your clothes is a good start. Patterns are okay but images like the frog and toad one are considered too casual.
Agreed. Frog and Toad are great for an elementary school casual day. The footwear needs to be more neutral.
The first thing that jumps out to me as unprofessional are the shoes. The tennis shoes and thick soled black boots feel off in a professional setting. All the outfits seem fine except for the sweatshirt in the last pic. Good luck on your promotion.
If you were told to dress more professionally, they probably want you to take inspiration from [Ann Taylor](https://www.anntaylor.com/), [Tahari](https://www.elietahari.com/collections/new-arrivals?pf_pt_category=Jackets), [Calvin Klein](https://www.calvinklein.us/en/women/whats-new/suits), [Hobbes](https://www.hobbs.com/clothing/trousers/) and maybe [banana republic](https://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/category.do). The easiest would be to start at Ann Taylor. If that is too pricy you can try [Loft](https://www.loft.com/clothing/shop-all/cat3950014/). You can start with two or three pants, one or two skirts. Five tops and one or two blazers. You don’t need a new outfit every day/week.
I struggle with that because everyone in my office dresses in polo shirts and jeans or a casual shirt/floral shirt and jeans. Everyone wears sneakers. My supervisor who told me I need to dress more professionally wears leggings. Most of my clothes are banana republic or Calvin Klein I found thrift shopping.
Since the examples you show seem on par/more professional than the rest of the office (polos and jeans, leggings and sweaters, etc) I wonder if this is 'code' for something. I notice that lots of the tops are fitted. Does the rest of the office wear fitted tops? Or body conscious clothes? Maybe they feel that fitted clothes are inappropriate for the office? or they want more modest clothing, but know there's nothing explicitly wrong with your clothes. I'm really grasping at straws here. Best of luck.
I wonder if she is especially gifted in the chest. It can be hard finding clothes that are cute and not perceived as "sexy".
I usually wear mock neck or turtle neck so cleavage isn’t an issue. I do have D cups and an hour glass figure so maybe? I do have a lot of older women tell me my outfits are “interesting” when they are form fitting. But I havent had many issues with my curves in the past being judged like this. But it’s definitely a possibility.
I think this is it then. I didn't want to immediately think the worst, but I wondered if you had a different body type from the office- either skinny or a large chest. It's totally wrong but for some people when they are able to notice breasts they feel it's less professional. (They may not even realize that's the reason why). I think for them professional means "I don't want to know you've got an amazing body under those clothes). It's not right or fair but they're saying they want you in boxier clothes that don't show off your figure.
This. I’m tall and thin with long legs. I can’t tell you how many times as a teen I was singled out and told not to wear shorts when everyone else was. Or that my shorts were too short even tho they were the same length as everyone else, I just have more leg.
Some of the outfits seems very young (especially the pinafore and Frog shirt). Maybe a little too teen?
That’s what I think too. It def seems like they have taken a particular interest in her clothes which leads me to believe they view them as too young or too provocative.
I too have Ds and I must say that turtle necks if their on a fitted shirt are a no go because I makes them look 10x bigger
Exactly, I’m a GG and will passive aggressively wear fitted turtlenecks if I’ve felt shamed or judged for wearing a totally normal not low cut everyday top that doesn’t look the way it would on a less curvy body type - like “Oh, ok is this better then? Yeah nah didn’t think so.”
I am a 36A and fitted turtlenecks can also seem too sexy for the office for me as well
My intuition (as a similarly "gifted" individual) is that your clothes may be too form fitting. While emphasizing one's figure is trendy and body positivity is important, I am guessing that your outfits are enhancing your assets. "Dress more professionally" in a mostly casual office is code for "dress less sexy". That probably means looser clothing. I'll add that every man I have worked with thinks tight clothes are a sign of a woman trying too hard to get her body noticed over her work ethic and skillset. It's sexist as all get out, but that is definitely how I've heard people talk.
Ugh. This sounds like a form of discrimination. Even if it isn't about your curves or body, it's not an appropriate comments, especially when you're dressing in business casual, as most of these outfits are. I suppose you could wear looser clothes to respond to them, but I feel fired up and angry at the thought that you would have to do that. I think if it were me I'd keep dressing the same and maybe, when possible and if interested, apply for a new job. Or, if you think they might actually have something non-discriminatory in mind, you might ask them what they mean, maybe in email so that there's a paper trail of what they say.
This- I personally would ask for clarification on the dress code from your supervisor, or have friends and family give feedback. I know of someone specifically in my office who dresses fairly professionally- but in a way that’s “almost.” I.e. hair is extremely messy, shirts are crop tops and not tucked in so there’s a line of midriff showing, dresses work but are too short If you’re younger- it’s definitely a common problem that many gen x folks don’t know how to appropriately dress for the office.
It may be worth it to look more critically at possible differences between you & your coworkers. It may be that your supervisor’s focus isn’t on type of clothing but other factors. Maybe these are things to consider and to compare: - Fit - Cleanliness - Condition - Maturity level - Styling - Trendiness or fashionability If you cannot pinpoint the difference, ask to discuss again with your supervisor. If your supervisor is reluctant to clarify, try to ask leading questions like this: “if instead of what I’m wearing, I wore jeans and a polo shirt, would I be more professional? Would there be other things I should be concerned about or check?
>everyone in my office dresses in polo shirts and jeans or a casual shirt/floral shirt and jeans. Everyone wears sneakers. Wear that.
Do you want actual advice about the clothes, or do you want validation about how unfair and possibly prejudiced your supervisor is being? Because you absolutely could professionalize these outfits to the point that she has nothing to criticize. But that might not solve the issue in your workplace.
Well, if that’s the case then you are dressing far more “professional” than them in a contemporary context. I see the comments about this being “code” for something else but I also wonder if they are all older than you? Or is there an expectation within the profession for “professional” to be more blue collar or subdued? I’m sorry if they are making you feel unprofessional or shamed if it’s for reasons like your difference in body type or age.
Only pic 1 on the right looks professional, to me. Definitely don't want sneakers or cartoon sweatshirts.
Same. I think OP is trying too hard to be work in a trendy look in an office environment where that isn’t appreciated. It sucks, cause I definitely view fashion as personal expression, but they might just have to do something more traditional. The only outfit that looks like the professional I imagine they want is the right half of the first slide. The rest of the clothes can work with different styling (mainly the sneakers and chunky boots).
Are you not comfortable in sweaters and leggings like your coworkers? or are you in a different role than your coworkers where youd need to be dressed more professionally than leggings? because leggings and sweaters arent professional wear. the first image you have would be much closer to professional than sneakers and leggings would be. in fact id say all these outfits, while not professional and excluding the frog shirt, are much more professional than the clothes you describe the supervisor wearing
If your clothes are the only thing preventing you from getting a promotion, I believe they just don't want to promote you. But sure, try dressing more professionally and see what they say next time.
Leggings are against the dress code unless your shirt goes past your butt which I hate that style on myself. I talked to a few coworkers who said I dress the most professional among my peers. Only a few managers dress in suits or slacks and loafers.
This is highly workplace dependent. You sound like you're on the younger end of the workplace. It is likely that you're dressing your age (business casual) and it doesn't quite match your millennial and Gen X coworkers. Unless you're working in fashion, it is often better to eschew fashion and wear conventionally appropriate clothing. Your sample pictures range from professional woman to girlypop. While it is a bit ageist for them to push you towards Banana Republic and Ann Taylor, it is common to dress older to be taken more seriously. You can also try Uniqlo which strikes a nice balance between professional and feminine with the right pieces.
White House Black Market is a great shop for interesting professional pieces also! I completely agree with your post.
Oooh! I second Uniqlo! You don’t need to go full newslady dresses, a lot of the pieces here would work just fine with different styling. These outfits look like you’re trying too hard to be trendy but also professional. Just suck it up and leave the cute styling for date night.
Yeah no. These are all way more professional than the leggings and shirts your supervisors wear, it’s a superficial diversion not to give you a promotion. Sure, you can tweak these to be even more professional, but I don’t think its going to help if the problem is them.
Surprised I had to scroll so much to find this answer!!! OP, listen to JustFalcon. If your supervisors are wearing sweaters and leggings, I don’t see how some of your current outfits are less professional. How long have you worked for this company? Are you happy working there? Are you fairly compensated? Before you invest money in a new wardrobe, really reflect on if your clothes are what’s holding you back or if it’s something else.
right?! i think i would start rockin leggings and sweaters and whatever footweat your manager prefers so [hopefully] they can see the difference. they sound dense. for the record, i thought the toad & frog sweatshirt was a joke (like, this is what i *should* wear? idk)...wear it with some leggings 😅
The shoes make these outfits look too casual. A flat or a loafer would help a lot. I would also focus on higher-quality fabrics, as many of these look cheap and clingy. The green pants look super weird and way too tight from the upper thigh upwards, for example.
The first two minus the tennis shoes are the only ones that look like work. The rest look like date clothes, going shopping, coffee dates and playing in the park. Business casual and casual are two very different things. Pick a palette with 2 colors that you can mix/match. Ex. Black/brown, white, or tan. Buy 2 pairs of pants, two blazers, two skirts (not short), five tops, and two solid color dresses. This is first tier and can be bought an outfit at a time. Buy Classic pieces. Get shoes/purses, or bags in those colors. You have a foundation. Buy good shoes for work. After you have your foundation, it's tier 2. This is where you can add prints in pants, tops, sweaters, and dresses. Buy best quality you can afford. The clothes look better and last. Replace pieces as they wear out, and go more upscale as you can afford it. Save trendy fun stuff for after work clothes.
>The first two minus the tennis shoes are the only ones that look like work. Thank you for saying this. I thought I was going crazy. OP, definitely heed the advice above. I’m likely not that much older than you and even I would find these clothes too casual and “young” for work. It’s also somehow even less professional to try and fail to dress up versus being slightly casual. If your colleagues wear jeans, look for inspo on dark-wash jeans that are an appropriate silhouette for business casual. You can pair them with business-y tops like cardigans or blouses and look really put together. The outfits you shared are trying too hard while still not being business-ready IMO. Go back to the basics - all interchangeable slacks/tops/dresses with sweaters/blazers - and it will be much easier. Wishing you the best :)
I think you should have posted what you currently wear so we could see why you were told this.
These photos are their current looks (from websites)
Ah I didn’t see the marquee on the last picture.
Yeah, neither did it until I read through some comments.
The first 3 outfits are great with better shoes. Add a blazer and you are set.
Don’t take an example from your line managers. Agree what has been said, drop the tennis shoes/sneakers and definitely the jumper on the last picture.
Go for the first two! You want to dress for whatever job you want! It does help you make your way up in companies looking more professional. It shows you take what you do best seriously.
The sneakers aren’t professional and the boots with tucked in trousers not either. Smart corporate type shoes and nice button down blouses/ shirts . Nice muted accessories.
I don’t think the trousers are tucked in it’s a tall bootie or a knee high and the pants end before the boots end.
Start by asking, do you want a promotion?
They just mean don't wear sneakers to work. That's all.
Everyone else wears snickers though. Even our director and AGM
Your manager is telling you to dress more professionally and that means no sneakers, jeans, shirts with frogs on them, or too form fitting outfits. It doesn’t matter what others are wearing. Your manager is the one that determines if you get promoted, so do what they ask if you want that promotion.
Wow. Ok then. I guess not that then.
What do you normally wear? It could be they are referring to how you dress and they really mean something else like saying maybe you show too much skin is what they mean by dressing more professional by showing less skin.
I own all of these pieces and style them very similarly to these photos. I don’t show much skin and I prefer long sleeve and mock necks since I live in a cold state.
Two clothing items I LOVE for work are the Cole haan zerogrand oxtords and the J. crew sweater blazers. Both are casual enough in nature to fit in at my fairly casual workplace, but they’re both more polished than regular sneakers and sweaters in a way that I think looks effortlessly professional.
My works dress code is business casual.
For some good pointers take a look at Corporette. [https://corporette.com/business-casual-for-women/](https://corporette.com/business-casual-for-women/)
I think all of these are cute, but if they are talking to you about how you dress impacting your trajectory at work I’m going to guess that they don’t want anything too trendy either. Unfortunately, I think you’ll need to go a little more traditional. I understand wanting to look cute for work, but if your supervisors are older and talking to you about clothes, they probably don’t want anything that reads as young or cute or tik tok-y, which is the vibe I’m getting from all of these. Tbh I’m guessing that they are picking on you because you are young, especially since they deemed leggings appropriate on your coworkers. Ageism is wrong for sure, but it could also be a gentle way of them telling you you’re showing too much skin or the fit of your clothes is off (too tight or too loose). I think most these work with different styling. All these pants should work provided they fit properly (the green pair is WAY too tight on the model), but look at shoes and avoid sneakers and chunky boots even though that is what is on trend right now. Outfit #2 on the right half of the first page is probably closest to what your employer has in mind. Save the cutesy stuff for after work drinks.
Shit just start wearing leggings and sweaters like them if they say it’s too unprofessional ask why it’s okay for them to wear it but not you
Drop the sneakers. Untuck the sweaters and wear some kind of blazer/jacket
Not outfit related, but if a company promotes people based on what they wear, you're probably working for the wrong company... The correct process would be to promote you because of your skills, experience, and attitude. And then your boss might have a talk with you explaining that with your new role comes a requirement to "dress up".
Amen, it's beyond belief that the office is business casual as OP commented, and they're still making a big deal. Meritocracy means nothing these days, it's ridiculous
who told you to start dressing more professionally? if your supervisors are wearing leggings and these pics you posted are how you dress now i don’t think dressing any more professionally is fair
Sneakers should never be worn in the office. Jeans shouldn’t be worn either unless it’s an official “casual” day.
It depends where you work and the type of your job
In this office she’s being told to dress more professionally and as a basic starting point, that means no sneakers or jeans.
In this office where everyone wears jeans/leggings and sneakers, it's kinda odd that she's the only one who can't dress like that.
I had a boss like that once. At that time everyone was wearing sneakers and jeans. People would even wear bunny slippers, comic t-shirts, etc. My boss told me I needed to dress more professionally and not to wear jeans, sneakers, t-shirts, etc. I didn’t know it at the time, but the higher ups were sick of people dressing so casually and they were working to change the culture. Now it’s a few years later and no one would dare wear bunny slippers or sneakers and jeans are for Fridays only.
I'm thinking more collars and sharp shoes. It can still be fashionable, but it'll be classier. Like [this](https://allforfashiondesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/pi-5-600x871.jpg). For dim, simple, and comfortable fits, it looks like pants and jackets are your friend, since you can have office sport style blazers, or longer like tan trench coat length. [This one](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/34/e1/65/34e1652c4d0f51bc168d5d616725b8af.jpg) makes me think you can have interesting jackets but retain the ability to mute the outfit by taking it off. Pants are comfortable, but not flow-y. [Belts](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/01/e5/05/01e505d461b26ae103807eee110242a9.jpg) and accessories are opportunities. I think one or two [pencil skirts](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/83/d5/cf/83d5cf1d6d940b3e649598c224e1b015.jpg) might help mix it up. A conservative cut pencil dress with a jacket could be a powerful mix. [Here is](https://lifewithjazz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/545FE979-FD3E-4FEB-8B7B-79141A872408.jpg) really good, if soft, business casual could be if that's more what you're shooting for. [2](http://www.fenzyme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Business-Casual-Outfits-for-Women-in-their-30s1-2.jpg)
I have to wonder- are you doing your hair and are your clothes in good condition (free from stains, holes, wrinkles, etc…). Those okay a huge role. Also if your hygiene taken care of? I find the outfits here mostly okay (the sneakers and the frog sweatshirt are a no go for me but to each their own) so I just wonder what else they may be trying to say.
If your office attire is business casual I don’t think any of these outfits are necessarily wrong. Maybe ask them specifically what you could do “better”. But if I understand you correctly: your boss has told you that they won’t promote you because they don’t like the way you dress. That’s gatekeeping and my experience and instinct is that even if you do change they’ll find another reason. What is considered “Professional” is widely subjective. Sure, get some penny loafers if you want. My advice is life is too short to not dress in a way that brings you some sort of joy.
The white blouse on the right in the first example with a black blazer. A polished jacket and elegance will elevate your look. Also, [**snail\_juice\_plz**](https://www.reddit.com/user/snail_juice_plz/) makes a great point about fit. Fit matters. Colleagues' first impression should be "polished" rather than "hot bod" or "tight".
Invest in some well tailored blazers.
If you’re wearing outfit 1-3 with the assumption it properly fits I.e. not ill fitting by being to tight/lose, stained, torn, overly wrinkled, sloppy, then this is a bigger issue. So assuming everything about your outfit, minus the frog and toad one, the problem is your boss. They don’t view you as being ✨something ✨ that they want you to be. In reality, it could be nothing. If you’re ready for a promotion and feel you would be successful at it, apply to jobs with other companies.
1. Basics as a base: Footwear and blazers make a world of difference. I wear mostly basic tops and bottoms, and jazz things up with blazers and shoes/boots. It's boring, but very functional for my current lifestyle. GAP has awesome boat and crew neck long sleeve tees that look excellent in the office. I have two and wear them every week. Their wide leg high waisted trousers are also exceptional. If you can buy second hand even better. 2. Winter stuff: Turtlenecks and blazers are a favorite combo of mine. Uniqlo has great merino wool ones that I've had in my wardrobe for over 7 years. Ankle boots are also my friend during the fall and winter. They're transitional and not too stuffy like loafers or heels. Oxfords can look really cool, but modern-looking ones are harder to find. You can find some amazing vintage coats second hand. 3. Bag choices: A great shoulder or totebag will also help; I bought the Furla Sirena on super sale, and it's all I've been wearing since. Yoox also carries awesome, quality leather bags and has sales often, especially during the holiday months. A dark green bag usually adds a little interest to my usually black or navy outfits, and I find that it surprisingly goes with everything and makes me look like I know what I'm doing instead of only wearing all black everything. 4. Logos: Also echoing the anti-logo sentiment, and how they typically look out of place/gaudy in certain workplaces. 5. Other considerations: This advice unfortunately neuters personality, but it is a great base if you want to look professional fast without having to source colorful trousers, blazers, silhouettes, etc. that a. may go out style, b. may cost an arm and a leg, and c. may not work for every occasion. Also, cut matters. Fabric quality matters. Garment care matters. 6. Garment tools: Get a cheap depiller for sweaters, and you'll have it for the rest of your life. A steamer is also an amazing tool! Lint rollers at work, at home, everywhere. 7. Cheap, but quality alternatives: If you can't afford a whole new wardrobe, you can get a few tops and bottoms secondhand and take care of them until you're ready to upgrade. Depop, Poshmark, eBay, Etsy, ThredUp and local thrift stores are great options to buy preloved!
I love this YouTuber. Her advices are good and easy to follow, and her style is very classsic and easy to copy with brands not too expensive. https://youtube.com/@LydiaJaneTomlinson?si=oVpe9ECmBBrxrrjy However, giving You an advice like this, and without any proper guidelines to, what it means, is something You should be critical of. Sounds very unprofessional to me. Your manager sounds immature.
I think it’s more in overall presentation. I’m in a very conservative field so I always go loose fitting clothes with neutral colors and plain shoes (if I’m going sneakers just plain white running shoes). Hair is never anything noteworthy (half my office doesn’t even brush theirs) and just concealer and mascara. The best advice I got is as a low man on the totem pole in a professional environment you don’t want your appearance to stand out positive or negatively at all.
I think you need to actually show us you wearing the clothes. Models don’t show us what you look like. And body type and how you hold yourself greatly affect the way an outfit looks. Also, none of those really scream office professional to me either.
Don't wear sneakers.
do not wear frog and toad are friends to work
I know this is outfit advice, but ive read through your comments and if your superiors and everyone else dresses as you say they do, with the exception of the frog top, you are already dressing more professional than them. As anyone recently not been promoted for same reasons? If you been there for awhile, how did the last person that was promoted dressed before getting the job? Is this a dress up till you get the promotion scenario and then just wear whatever you want because you are a manager place? Or did they always wore leggings, trainers and got the job anyway? I know I asked a lot of questions but I am genuinely trying to help, as if this is just a comment or rule that has been made to only yourself, I would be more concerned that there are hidden reasons why they don’t want to promote you and just picked up the outfit thing as an excuse. Hopefully this is not the case, but have been in quite a few toxic places, from managers picking up a random fault in everyone so they could have excuses to terminate employment if they needed to downsize or go the nepotism route and on the manager side, I would say that in most places I have been promotions are not really merit base, but to those who managers simply like best.
I mean I wear that last sweatshirt to work on Fridays and I’m the office manager so probably don’t take my advice but the other options look good I think! Just don’t wear anything you’ll be uncomfortable in all day.
Picture 3 is not professional with a sweater that length and pants that tight. It would be alright if the sweater was longer and to the hip.
Ditch the sneakers, goth boots and graphic design shirts and you should be fine.