Supernatural Botanicals

Recently, I received a comment from a reader in regard to a prior blog post on Thoughts on Business Casual.   She asked what the big deal was with dressing for success?  She stated that as long as your clothes are clean and ironed, we really shouldn’t fuss about what we wear to work. 

Au contraire, reasons of which will be displayed below.  Dressing for success is more than your appearance, it’s a mind-set.  When you are in appropriate business dress, it changes your demeanor; it changes the way in which you carry yourself.  The way in which you carry yourself can project how people perceive you.  If you radiate confidence and professionalism, it shows, and you’ll earn the respect of colleagues.  And if you are dressed inappropriate or look like a slouch, you’ll project that, too. 

Business dress is implemented for a reason…we need guidelines.   The following are pictures of women in their “business attire.”  It becomes blatantly obvious that we need guidelines as to what is appropriate…and what is not.  While these clothes are clean and pressed, they are completely inappropriate for the business world. 

However, another post followed the first post.  Our same reader wants to know why it’s unacceptable to wear Crocs to work.  She also wants to know why it’s inappropriate to wear open-toe heels to work.  …..I’ll be glad to explain.  Most corporate employers have very strict attire guidelines for the office.  That is the first and foremost reason one should look professional and appropriate at work.  However, lets gather some visuals to further drive the point home, shall we?  We don’t want open-toe shoes, essentially because everyone does not have the same hygiene standards.  Below are some examples of why you don’t want to see one’s feet in the workplace, i.e., dry, cracked heels, dirty soles of feet, blisters, corns, dirty toenails, long toenails, chipped nail polish, etc.  Do you want to see that…..do you?  It makes you re-think the whole foot exposure in the office, yes?   

Lets look at another example of inappropriate shoe-wear in the office.  Perhaps visuals will help to clarify how overtly wrong Crocs are for an office and professional setting.  As Bill Maher once said….“Crocs are for pre-schoolers and mental patients.”   

I do hope this clears up any confusion as to why we need guidelines on business attire in an office/corporate setting.  If this does not bring clarity, however …you’ll need to contact Stacy London, stat, for a fashion intervention.