Today was a very exciting day. I began a new job at a non-profit in Cincinnati. If you follow me on Instagram (and you totally should! It’s my favorite), you knew a tad about my first day of work outfit. I’ve posted several photos here. I was accidentally patriotic with a navy and white polkadotted dress. The neckline is red, so I paired my favorite red heels with the ensemble.
As I drove to work, I reflected on the fact that I have opted against wearing this dress twice in the past several weeks. I had found this on sale too, so you’d think I’d be jumping at every chance I could to wear it. The first time I rejected it, I was getting ready for a Friday night out and felt that this dress was maybe too 1950’s housewife for an evening of dancing. The second time was even more recent: the interview for this job I now have. The polkadots were just too bold. The shoes were too red. When in doubt, I stick to whats safe. The color of the dress I interviewed in was gray.
I then thought back to the Spring when I had a job interview for a position I really, really wanted. It was sort of a dream job, so I wanted every little bit to be perfect. I met a good friend for drinks on a Tuesday a few weeks before the interview. My nerves were looming and ever present. I was thinking of every interview question imaginable so that I’d be prepared. At some point our conversation switched from questions to my attire. One thing was clear … a bright red blazer was a bad idea.
When we left, she told me to text her pictures of what I wanted to wear. Either later that eveing or the next day, she helped me decide upon a professional outfit with little pops of color. A bright red blazer is exactly as it sounds … bright, red and potentially off-putting for an interview. I then thought back to a second round interview I had a year and a half prior. It was down to myself and one other candidate for a development position. The other candidate got it. I wore the red blazer. While that was not the deciding factor, subtle things can matter more than we think.
So as I thought through this stream of consciousness on my way to work, I came away with several take aways:
- When in doubt, softer colors are always better.
- Your friends can be such a resource. When in doubt, ask your trusted allies.
- Our clothing says more than we think. Great forethought is always necessary for things that matter.
- It does not end at the interview. When you do interview, take a look around the office and note the dress code. That’s what I did. I noticed the attire was more professional. The women wore heels, dresses and skirts. It’s always better to be over dressed at first than under dressed.
What office dress tips do you have?
