Dresscode for twentysomething women!
 

There's been some talk on how young women should dress lately. Why not start a thread just for this? ;) In this thread we will share some more of the "do's" and "don'ts". ETA: Guys are welcome to post their opinions too. :)

I'll start.

DON'T
-wear any shirt that says "princess" or "angel".
-mini-skirts should only be worn at clubs, and think twice when you wear them there
-wear blue, purple, black, orange, or green lipstick

DO
-chill on the glitter
-wear a bra if you have sagging boobs

That's all I can think of for now...

All bets are off in Vegas and for bachelorette parties. But REMEMBER those outfits are not ok for job interviews.

Don't wear dark lipliner w/ pale lipstick.

Don't wear brands you can't pronounce.

Don't wear giant hoop earrings the size of doorknockers that have your name in them.
Don't get fake nails so long that you can't push elevator buttons or find anything in your purse with them.
Don't wear shirts that say "Mrs. Pitt" or "Kisser of the Month."
Don't wear those Chinese beaded slippers. House slippers are meant to be worn inside the house.

I completely disagree with this one. I have several pairs and I love them. They are so comfortable, and they don't have soles like regular house slippers do, they are just like wearing flip flops.

Don't wear ultra low rise jeans.

Don't wear tops that drapes down towards the tummy and shows cleavage. This is a must for people with degrees. (On that note, did any of y'all see that episode of What Not to Wear with Jennifer last week? She wore a top that is black and she showed a lot of cleavage. And the woman has a master's degree in child development and graduated magna cum laude)

Huh, I don't get what one has to do with the other?

Nothing wrong with showing some cleavage, as long as it's an appropriate time and place and looks okay.

- Don't wear T-shirts that say "Porn Star" or "Boys are stupid" or "Spoiled brat".
- Don't wear flip-flops 24/7 or to every single place. They are fine for the beach or the pool, but they are NOT for work or the house of worship.
- Don't wear halter/strapless stuff everywhere either. Again- they are fine for a picnic or for a house party, but I do not want to see them at church or at my job no matter how scorchingly hot the weather is.
- Don't try to fit size 8 feet into size 5 shoes. Pointy shoes will only cause damage to your feet. Backless shoes can be a safety hazard in some places. It is not necessary to wear 4-inch heels at most jobs: not to mention they can be a safety hazard as well.
- And of course, if you cannot breathe inside something, it is way too tight. We do not want to see every one of your bulges and joints.

I wear ultra low rise jeans, sometimes wear black shirts that show cleavage, and I have a J.D. and graduated summa cum laude. Does having an advanced degree mean that there's no room for fashionable jeans, black shirts, and boobs any more? Because that's not the life for me, I tell you.

Personally I think they're tacky and definitely don't look as nice as flip flops.

Don't wear anything that doesn't fit. If your boobs, belly, or butt is hanging out, or if it looks like it's been painted on, it's too small. Swallow your pride and buy a larger size.

Shorts, miniskirts, jeans, sweats, and sneakers have no place in the office or at a house of worship.

Follow your company's dress code at work. When you start a new job, look around at what other women at the office are wearing, and take your cues from that.

Dress as comfortably as possible within these constraints. For example, no one is perfectly comfortable in a skirted suit with pantyhose and heels, but you don't need to wear 2" heels - if they make your feet hurt, wear flats.

I don't think I could ever attend a house of worship where wearing those things weren't the norm. YAY for big non-denomational churches, which usually have a "come as you are" kind of philosophy. As for work, looking nice is fine, but I wouldn't want to be employed anywhere you have to wear a dress, suit, or uniform.

Don't wear low rise jeans and/or cropped tops if you don't have the abs for it.

You HUSSY! I need to find a Scarlet Letter for you to wear! ;) :D

yes!

..please wear pants that fit...i don't want to see any "cameltoes" or "coin slots"
..please wear skirts that are an appropriate length
..please cover up your stomachs...guts are not in
..please stop wearing those cheap lace up sandals
..please stop wearing those juvinile "juicy," "princess," etc. t-shirts
..please do not wear anything with the words "bitch" on it
..please do not wear anything with the words "your boyfriend wants me," "i got your man," etc. i'll start to question your age.
..please do not wear shirts with curse words on them, period. it's disrectful.
..please do not show up to work with your boobies out all over the place
..please wear a bra if your breast cup size is over a 32B
..please stop wearing flip flops everywhere. they do not count as appropriate shoes. i've seen them with formal dresses and business suits; i've also seen them worn in all types of weather...gross.

umm, that's all i can think of now, but you get the jist.

these young ladies are embarrassing me. i'm in my 14th year of catholic school. if i'd ever worn certain things...yeah, it just wouldn't happen.

Didn't you get that memo when you graduated? As soon as you have an advanced degree, you need to wear mom jeans/"slacks" and cover all cleavege and signs of skin. It is inappropriate. Heaven knows the world cannot handle smart women who look good.

Maybe you can bring back those penny loafers with heels. But thats where the line is drawn.

There is nothing wrong with showing clevage, but Jennifer on WNTW was a DD, I think. And on her before outfit for night clubbing, she wore a top that her boobs wanted to pop out.

If you're large chested, don't wear tops that have makes your boobs want to pop out.

Thank you 100000x!!!!

Sorry...you're not taking my flip-flops. I wear them every day to work (most days, with jeans and a t-shirt, but I happen to be wearing a casual dress today). But then again, we may get one vistor or so per day, and they're usually a delivery guy, delivering toliets and sinks.

I have a nicer pair that I wear to church on Sunday (relaxed ELCA church).

Of course there are some jobs where you can wear whatever you want (such as Alphafrog's job, from what it sounds like). But for a professional young woman, flip flops are not professional. There are also some industries where appearance is VERY important and you may be expected to dress and act a certain way.

Say no to:

White or cream pumps when you're not the bride/mother of the bride

Big clunky shoes with skirts or dresses

Lots of sequins (we're not talking about a subtle design- we're talking full on lots of sparkle) and glitter in the office.

Being overly made up- either too dark, too Mimi Bobeck, etc.

Short skirts. If you're wearing pantyhose with a skirt, and you sit down and the skirt rides up to the point where you can see where the top part of the pantyhose starts (don't know what it's called, obviously it's not present in sheer-to-waist pantyhose), it's TOO SHORT.

Too much fragrance. One or two sprays is sufficient

Emphasising this. My coworker is allergic (as are many people) so it would be rude for me to wear perfume to work. We work in close proximity...so if I find some fragrance I really want to wear, I bring it in first for her to "allergy test".

STOP SPREADING YOUR LIES!!

No suntan pantyhose- every designer came out with a variety of shades that match every skin tone. We are not Hooters waitresses, so suntan hose are not acceptable unless your legs are that shade.

No ankle bracelets.

If you must wear ankle bracelets, for the love of G*d, don't wear them WITH pantyhouse.

(Sorry, pet peeve of mine.)

Wait, you can only show cleavage if you have small boobs? That makes no sense.

In my opinion, say no to big clunky shoes at all. They tend to look juvenile and dated in the workplace. Invest in a few pairs of classic, good quality shoes with a moderate heel for work and you'll be set for awhile....just be sure to find a good shoe repair person to help you take care of your investment!

I think she means don't wear tops that are way too small for your chest, if you have big boobs. Cleavage is fine whether it is small or big boobs, but your tops should not be so tight or ill-fitting that people take one look at you chest and think: "OMG....RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!!" :eek:

Same goes for good quality bras. Noone wants to see your nips... unless you're at Hooters wearing your suntan pantyhose. And, am I the only one who gets :rolleyes: at women who wear bras that have noticible seems/sequins/beads/etc... ? Either wear a heavier shirt or buy a smoother bra. Maybe it's just me.

LOL I agree with the concept, but wonder if that is what she meant.

LOL...so true! Also, proper fitting good quality bras! No one needs to see you adjusting your ladies in public.

YES! I can't stand it when women buy bras that are like three sizes too small on them and you see the girls spilling out all over the place.

I know some of you will disagree with this, but if you have to dress in full on business attire, like a suit or business dress WEAR PANTYHOSE. Bare legs are fine with a sundress or more business casual type skirt or whatever, but I think if you're wearing a suit and everything... bare legs just don't go.

I completely agree.

Once you graduate from college, Charlotte Russe/Abercrombie/Aeropostale and American Eagle should slowly disappear from your wardrobe. Notable exceptions: you work in a night club or spend your days beach combing.

If you have a large chest, watch what you wear to work. The same shirt that appears demure on your B cup colleague will make you look like a porn star. I know it's not fair, but you don't have to hide yourself in turtlenecks-- just think twice when you're selecting your work clothing.

I can't remember the last time I stepped foot in those stores. I was probably still in college.

Here's one: denim shorts and heels are never attractive. In fact, I don't like demin shorts at all but that's more personal preference.

If you're wearing a light colored dress or skirt, wear a slip. (Can also be applied to any color dress/skirt.)

If you have a large chest, watch what you wear to work. The same shirt that appears demure on your B cup colleague will make you look like a porn star. I know it's not fair, but you don't have to hide yourself in turtlenecks-- just think twice when you're selecting your work clothing.

Or simply wear a cami.

Button-down shirts are the bane of my existence in DC. Ladies, if there are huge gaps between the buttons, YOUR SHIRT IS TOO SMALL. I have a large chest and I still manage to wear shirts without flashing people.

I will admit that I wear flip-flops to work, but I walk the mile and a half to my job. I change into my beautiful high-heeled pumps in the lobby, so no one ever sees my beachy feet.

On that note, if you're having a problem with a shirt pulling even though it's the proper size, try toupee (or any double sided) tape or a safety pin. It will prevent randoms from seeing your bra, which is always a good thing.

Belly shirts, low rise jeans, and bikinis were not made for every body.
Dress in what flatters your body.
When dressing for work, don't show off your belly, cleavage or thighs because then no one will take you seriously.
When there's a company picnic, carefully consider your attire - do you want the President to remember you wearing super-tight, too-short, inappropriate clothes??

A colleague at my new job wears demis and then spills out. She's a tiny woman, but the girls are too large for demis. After she wore a too-sheer top, I even considered telling her, but I think she would feel I'm outta line.

I've seen one of the PRIESTS at my church wearing flip-flops and my church is 100 years old with the worst air conditioner in the world so I am going to wear strapless dresses rather than have gigantic pit-stains.

Also my boyfriend is the son of a preacher man and he wears flip-flops to church every week even though he has a JD and graduated cum laude.

TEH HORROR!

Yeah, strapless dresses are fine at my church, too. So are flip-flops. And, I go to an ultra-conservative Southern church.

I think that you can wear almost anything if it is stylish and looks good on someone. However, there are things that never look good on anyone. I have never seen anyone in their twenties or thirties stylishly carry off a pair of hush puppies, sas, or doc martens. And, no homely skirts. Don't look like you're fresh out of the 1990's Seattle grunge mode! That's my worst pet peeve!

I think the only real "rule" is wear what is approiate for where you are when you are there.

As for clothing from certain stores.. I wear american eagle stuff all the time when I am around the house or at my rents place for dinner. They are affordable and comfortable. I am talking plain t-shirts and hoodies with jeans, why does it matter where they come from if they fit well?

Every job is different. At my school capris and a nice shirt are pretty much standard for women. Most woman also wear flip flops or casual sandals too. The majority of men are kakhis and polos. All fridays we are encouraged to wear school t shirts and most teachers wear them with jeans or denim capris. Some schools are more dressed up, but in my job my boss wants us comfortable first so we can worry about the kids and not how we are sitting. Obviously for parent conferences and open house we dress up more.

I do agree that some saying on t-shirts are just rude or crass, but I don't think that is an age thing. I don't think the word "bitch" needs to be on a t-shirt of any aged person.