I agree with the bolded! But, we do not have too many Zara's around here to make any judgements on the store, but H&M has pieces that are very work appropriate. I would wear a lot of these blazers! http://m.hm.com/us/subdepartment/LAD...94866589#items I think it is much less about the store. I've seen and more about learn how to shop for pieces that fit, are appropriate and maintaining personal style. I dreaded wearing businesswear growing up because it looked so boring! I think with marketing, girls and juniors clothing is so much more colorful and fun and then one day we say, "Whoa! Tone it down!" I work with college students who are making that transistion. They do research presentations across the country so we do wardrobe checks before they pack. Some of these girls loathe the process of having to kind of "conform" in their style. We ask for appropriate colored suits or suit pieces, heel heights, even down to the nail polish color so they will be taken seriously. (Mind you I don't like it just as much as the students, but that's the culture we live in.) I think grown women do have fun business clothes, it just takes time to make a proper transistion from "junior land."

Not white after Labor Day, that's for sure. :p

:p

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/galtim...b_4768367.html

This needs to be updated to accommodate "seasonal attire" interviewers.

Understand this is my bosses beliefs more than mine, but I have to follow the team. Appropriate meaning, "let's not wear the lime green suit to the presentation." That type of thing. Maybe incorporate it in a top or jewelry, but let's not do the bright orange suit for presentations/interviews. We are not saying be void of color or print for all of eternity, but make sure they begin to have neutral pieces for interviews and presentations (this is the first time many of the students are buying business attire), because they will be judged on their appearance. (I say after the they get the job, bring out the colored suits and the bright nails! :D But I'm not a fan of the traditional business culture).

Gotcha. That is taught in most career services and job training (including services and trainings for people across cultures and marginalized groups).

Have you all ever considered teaching people about the seasonal colors and white after Labor Day thing? Some interviewers take it mad seriously. :p

LMAO. One of my old (amply endowed) bosses had a lime green suit that was way too short and too tight and every time she wore it people would say she looked like slutty Kermit.

And she brings up another point. Just because it has a designer label on it or is the most expensive thing in the shop, doesn't mean it's right for you. PersistentDST was right in that H & M has quite a few business appropriate pieces, and if you're not sure your first job is going to be one you're in for many years, it doesn't pay to spend zillions.

DEAD @ "slutty Kermit!"

I didn't realize H&M had an "office wear" section. I think it's great that they are attempting to introduc affordable business wear to this particular demographic of young women. However, several of the skirts hit mid-thigh. The "knee-length" skirt all fall above the models' knees (false advertisement much?), and a couple of these blouses are completely see-through (and not in an obvious "it was designed to be like that" way). I could easily see a young woman either being spot on with the professional wear or being dead wrong and not realizing it because of the name of the section in which she found that outfit.

Slutty Kermit?! That's hilarious!
There was an interest who wore a lime green suit to my rush. It was...interesting to say the least.

H&M has had business clothes as long as I've shopped in the store. Perhaps it depends on the size of the store, but I've gotten dress pants and blazers from there for years. It's about fit and style to me. (And yes...see through shirts are no good either.) I have issues with skirts hitting my knee because of my height and build no matter where I shop!

Yes...me and my Sands bring it up from time to time. I was so shocked I don't know what she even looked like. :rolleyes:

I wore lime green chucks to work today. Our hiring manager complimented me on them and my boss looks to see which chucks and/or crazy colored hand knit socks I wear when she's in the office. I've been on a faster promotion schedule than most in my office.

So, I have to ask about this because this is a rule that I'd be clueless about. I'm guessing it was so egregious because it's an AKA color?

Exactly. Showing up to an NPHC rush wearing another sorority's colors (in any shade) is a serious faux pas.

However, it is not the end-all. If a woman is really qualified, a fashion mistake can be overlooked (particularly at the alumnae level). A woman wore bright pink pumps to my rush and she's my line sister now. We still tease her about it ALL the time. :p

^^^ Would wearing the pink wig in the GIFs above, with the lime green suit, be the end-all? I'm guessing yes. ;)

There is not a "rule", per say. I will say that I went for a neutral ensemble, as did 99% of the ladies who attended. I know people who became members despite wearing other sororities colors...it wasn't going to be me (or my line), if you know what I'm saying. ;)

And on a serious note, it falls into line with what I said earlier about the appropriateness of a lime green suit at an interview/presentation. Being that our org. is incorporated, appropriate business attire is a way of life. It should be treated like a job interview.

And besides, most of my AKA SisterGreeks would not have touched it. It was bright!!!