Women in pants

Dionysus · #1 07-18-2003, 11:17 PM

Father lectures me that people and particularly men never takes a women who never wears dresses/skirts seriously and is viewed as a she-man...particularly in business.

I completely and utterly disagree with that.

I think people from older generations actually believe, but please tell me that younger people know better.

The bad experieces of guys trying to look up my dress, sometimes being successful, and other things, has really detered me from wearing skirts/dresses, unless there is a formal event.

I know that doesn't hurt me know, but when I get out of school and get a more professional job will my predominately slack wardrobe hurt me?

juniorgrrl · #2 07-19-2003, 02:21 AM

Everything I've ever been told about dressing for business, both in college and in law school, is that women should wear suits with skirts to interviews. Unfortunately, women in pants suits just aren't as accepted as we'd like them to be.

I think it really depends upon the corporate culture of the particular organization. At some place very conservative, women would absolutely be expected to wear dresses and skirts.

Personally, I prefer to wear dresses or skirts to work. They look better on me, and I just think its more "acceptable"

KillarneyRose · #3 07-19-2003, 02:23 AM

Since I'm assuming you want to work in PR or Advertising, I don't think you need to worry about your preference for slacks. I personally think a woman can look fantastic in a well cut pants suit; not "masculine" at all.

I don't know how common this is, but a former neighbor is an attorney and she mentioned once that, whenever she appeared in front of a certain judge, she always wore a skirt suit because everyone knew that he didn't approve of females in pants

CarolinaCutie · #4 07-19-2003, 02:37 AM

The very first of the Southern Truths for Daily Living from What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should) :

Femininity is a plus in the business and social worlds.

Which means, wearing a skirt just reminds everyone that you're a woman. And that ain't a bad thing

Men are naturally drawn to women, and I think it's a good idea to play that up as much as you can.

Although I do agree with KillarneyRose, a well-cut pants suit can be absolutely stunning and professional! It's just a matter of choosing THOSE types of pants suits above those other types... you know, the ones that make even attractive women look like monochromatic, gray-pinstripe blobs.

justamom · #5 07-19-2003, 07:29 AM

CarolinaCutie-"... It's just a matter of choosing THOSE types of pants suits above those other types... you know, the ones that make even attractive women look like monochromatic, gray-pinstripe blobs.
I also agree with Killarneyrose-". I personally think a woman can look fantastic in a well cut pants suit; not "masculine" at all.''
You just need to read the landscape before you assume the fashion demands for your situation.

You should have seen how LONG it too for those polyester pant suits to DIE in the late 60's!!! I don't know if they were even biodegradable!!!

Not exactly the situation you are speaking of, but an interesting situation. At a party, when cocktail pants were really the rage, I decided to wear a dress. Some guy came up and said how great it was to see a woman dress like a woman for a change.

My sister is the manager of a company and she does TV promos frequently. She wears a dress suite every time...it's professional.

I think it depends on a couple of factors. Who is hiring/promoting and who are you trying to appeal to. If your business atmosphere and boss are really laid back then there will be a more casual office attire policy. If it's more high powered, well you need to dress in the same manner or you won't be taken seriously...AT FIRST.

Like Collin said in another thread-Know your audience. That pretty well stands as truth in every aspect of your public life.
Start out as classy and well coifed as your financial situation allows...even to the point of hitting consignment shops for some
"classic" wear.

Eirene_DGP · #6 07-19-2003, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CarolinaCutie
The very first of the Southern Truths for Daily Living from What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should) :

Femininity is a plus in the business and social worlds.

Which means, wearing a skirt just reminds everyone that you're a woman. And that ain't a bad thing Men are naturally drawn to women, and I think it's a good idea to play that up as much as you can.

Exactly. Although, some women wear skirts that are way too short to an interview. A business skirt should be no shorter than knee length when standing. Also, cleavage is not an asset to the interview contrary to popular belief.

LeslieAGD · #7 07-19-2003, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by juniorgrrl
Everything I've ever been told about dressing for business, both in college and in law school, is that women should wear suits with skirts to interviews.

I was always told this as well. However, I see women breaking out of this stereotype all the time. For some reason, I feel more confident going into an interview in a skirt suit, but that's me. I think it's really to each her own.

James · #8 07-19-2003, 11:36 AM

I think the intiial question was how men perceive you. And in answer its YUP, men will take you more seriously in the skirt.

GeekyPenguin · #9 07-19-2003, 01:25 PM

I cannot think of a single interview I've been on that I didn't wear a skirt to. Even when I interviewed for ResNet (really laid back, don't need to dress up for interviews) I wore a khaki skirt and a polo shirt. I think it just makes a better first impression.

I will wear pants to work though, because there is no way I am wearing a skirt everyday - esp. in the Wisconsin winters.

valkyrie · #10 07-19-2003, 01:59 PM

In my experience, nobody gives a crap whether I'm wearing a skirt or pants. I used to wear skirts to job interviews because it was drilled into my head in law school that it was the only appropriate choice. I gave that up a long time ago. I wear skirts when I feel like it and because I like to sometimes, but I mostly wear pants. Even if I thought anybody would take me more seriously if I wore a skirt, I wouldn't wear one for that reason because that's just me changing my behavior to fit someone else's outdated stereotype of what a woman should wear. I think it's about damn time we stopped letting our fashion choices (or any choices for that matter) be dictated by others.

I don't understand why men would take a woman more seriously if she's in a skirt. My gut reaction would be that he'd take you less seriously because if anything, he's going to be staring at your legs. Believe me, it happens. As a woman, you can always use that to your advantage if you want, but that's your choice.

aephi alum · #11 07-19-2003, 03:34 PM

I really hope that's not the case!!

I'm just not comfortable in skirts. I wear pants to the office and pantsuits to interviews. I'll wear a skirt or dress for a wedding, a nice dinner out, etc., but 99.999% of the time I wear pants.

I don't know that I could bring myself to don an uncomfortable skirt that restricts my range of motion just because it's "the norm."

Hey, most IT professionals don't wear skirts

Silverblue · #12 07-19-2003, 03:52 PM

I wear pants to work simply because my office is kept so darn cold! I need all the coverage I can get.

Luckily, a newspaper newroom is very casual, especially for those of us who aren't reporters and don't go out and interview people. I did wear skirts when I was reporting, but now, on the weekends, it's jeans and tennis shoes on the copy desk, baby!

Shine · #13 07-19-2003, 05:00 PM

The reason is that men are intimidated by women that look assured and powerful and don't play up their femininity as a qualifying factor.

I'm all about pantsuits that have long wide legs, worn with stilettos and an appropriately low cut jacket with blouse underneath. It's sexy and chic.

CatStarESP4 · #14 07-19-2003, 05:16 PM

When I used to go on job interviews, I against my own judgement would wear a skirt suits. I would have rather worn pants suit since I would have felt more comfortable than those wearing those damn skirts. I also didn't feel it was right to continue the outdated stereotyped that women should wear only skirts and dresses. One day, I had a interview and it was extremely cold out and snowing. I was wearing a woolen skirt suit, but I wanted to experiment with wearing pants. My legs nearly froze. I still want to experiment with wearing a pants suit for a job interview though.

texas*princess · #15 07-19-2003, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by juniorgrrl
Everything I've ever been told about dressing for business, both in college and in law school, is that women should wear suits with skirts to interviews. Unfortunately, women in pants suits just aren't as accepted as we'd like them to be.

I went to the university co-op dept. early last semester in hopes of finding an internship somewhere and we had a pre-interview type thing with the person who was in charge of dealing with students in my particular major.

Anyway, I was told it was 'professional dress' so I wore this really cute pantsuit and a really cute scarf. I thought I was smashing!!!!

The intern-guy didn't think so. He said when interviewing for co-ops or internships that I should wear a skirt suit.

I thought he was just being a pig! hehehe

But I guess he probably meant it in the way you described.. women in pant-suits aren't as accepted as we'd like them to be.