| As some of you are recent college grads, I | | | | the length of your fingertips at your side or below |
| understand that you have become accustomed | | | | the knee. Let me explain. If you stand up straight |
| to literally rolling out of bed and grabbing anything | | | | and place your hands at your side, your skirt |
| off the floor or out the hamper and going to | | | | should either meet or pass your fingertips. Please |
| class. And it was great, wasn't it? But you know | | | | do not walk up into people's job wearing a |
| what? You can't continue to dress that way when | | | | skintight above the knee cocktail dress. It may |
| you get a job in the corporate work | | | | get you looks from the guys but it will not get |
| world.Recently it has become clear to me that | | | | you respect, and wearing it to an interview with |
| some of you twentysomethings don't know | | | | fishnet stockings (which are not acceptable with |
| what's appropriate to wear to an interview or in | | | | any outfit for work) won't get you the job either. |
| the workplace. And I am by no means a fashion | | | | Desiree Spivey, CEO, of Beauticontrol, says a |
| expert but I can make a suggestion right off the | | | | reason why people dress inappropriately for work |
| bat: IRON YOUR CLOTHES! I've seen some of us | | | | is because "everyone is a too fashionable. They |
| twentysomethings on the train in the morning, | | | | can't differentiate whether they are going to |
| going to work in nice outfits that look like you | | | | work or going out to the club." This is true in the |
| first balled it up and sat on it, twisted it around | | | | case of women. How many of you have seen |
| itself, jumped on it and then put it on. Please stop | | | | someone wearing that tight skirt and low-cut off |
| that. And for those of you who have to wash | | | | the shoulder shirt to work? I know I have.For |
| your hair every morning, please take the time to | | | | men, slacks, khaki pants, shirts, polo shirts, |
| blow dry it out. And my people who sport a 'fro: | | | | pullover sweaters and sports jackets are a great |
| comb it, shape it and make sure there isn't any | | | | choice for the business casual office. Besides |
| lint in it. Really people, it doesn't take that much to | | | | having a clean dress shirt, you must also wear a |
| make yourself look presentable.I know what | | | | tee-shirt under your shirt, NOT a tank top. "No |
| you're thinking: "I'm not going to succumb to the | | | | matter what type a shirt a man wears, if he is |
| way society wants me to dress." But if you | | | | not wearing a tee shirt, the dress shirt will get |
| desire to make a career out of your job or want | | | | soiled," says Lori Lepage, President, Living Out |
| to be considered for promotions or taken | | | | Loud, Inc., as long as you're not wearing sneakers, |
| seriously, you are going to have to play the part. | | | | flip-flops or any kind of slippers then you'll be fine. |
| You wouldn't expect to become a professional | | | | LePage says for women, the shoes should match |
| swimmer if instead of wearing the swimsuit you | | | | the belt and if you are not wearing a belt, the |
| wore a sweat suit. So why would you wear a | | | | shoes should match your skirt or pants. Spivey |
| dingy shirt or tight skirt to work in a professional | | | | says for men, shoes should match the socks.One |
| office?Now, I realize that not every office has a | | | | last thing I learned that I wanted to share with |
| business casual dress code. Some of you may be | | | | you is: "the bottom of your pants should meet |
| lucky enough to wear jeans to work. But in the | | | | the top of the heel to the mid part of the heel of |
| event your offices' dress code is strictly enforced | | | | your shoe, anything over that is too long," says, |
| and you haven't a clue as to what to wear, I aim | | | | Lepage. I really learned a great deal in writing this |
| to help you out.In general, clothes made of silk, | | | | article. I pray some of you have learned |
| rayon, silk blends, wool blends, polyesters or other | | | | something as well. Because the next time I see |
| synthetic material (not spandex) are good | | | | one of you looking a mess I am going to call you |
| choices.Women can wear pants, slacks, pants and | | | | on it. And I'd hope you'd do the same for |
| skirt suits, dress shirts, skirts and dresses. The | | | | me.ChaChanna Simpson is the editor and publisher |
| general rule is that dresses and skirts should be | | | | of Twentity.com, an ezine for twentysomethings. |