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An interesting question came to the NYT from a reader wondering if they could express their personalities at work… We’ve discussed this a lot in the past but not recently, so I thought it would be a fun discussion today.
Here NYT question (gift link):
I’ll be interning in a corporate setting this summer, and I’m wondering if you have any tips for dressing for work while continuing to showcase my personality. I don’t want to make big fashion mistakes, but I don’t want to look like a drone either. — Erica, Berkeley, California.
Vanessa Friedman’s answer is largely a version of our constant refrain: Know Your Office.
The best approach is the strategic one. Start by playing some bland and observing those around you and what they’re wearing. This will give you an idea of the corporate values and how you can expand it in your own way. Then you can stick your finger in.
Maybe literally. Shoes are a good place to start. For example, if you like ballet, said Mrs. Heller, pair cigarette pants or skirts with flats. Don’t show up in “Sex and the City” tutus at work.
(I love having ballet flats as examples of personality. Be brave, ladies.)
How to Show Personality in the Office
When we’ve talked about it in the past, we’ve had other suggestions—in fact, we wrote a blog post a few years ago from Sioxsie Law, who called her style “corporate goth.” his tips how to surrender without revealing yourself:
- Play it safe sometimes.
- Relax after people get to know you.
- Daily Fridays and weekends are a great place to start.
- Take it slow and be consistent.
HE Quote from Maureen Dowdhowever, to point out that sometimes you have to nurture the weird stuff in yourself:
Sometimes what’s weird about you is what’s cool about you. When you’re young, or even older, it’s hard to grasp that what needs to be fed is what sets you apart from the herd, rather than what helps you adapt. .
My own big tip on how to show your personality in the office: be deliberate. This means you have to Know Your Office first – so you know what deviates from it and what doesn’t. This means you consciously choose the parts of your personality you want to show off (and not just wearing the first thing you pick up when you open a drawer). The big part here is deciding what you want to convey about yourself at work in general (polished? talented? reliable?) and choosing personality outfits that complement that statement.
Remember that sometimes you will want to keep parts of yourself separate; “you on the weekend” vs you on the weekas well as wearing different clothes that will help you establish work/life boundaries. (For example, I think people should wear jeans or something else that’s “them” instead of sitting down in your corporate attire after work or directly into your pajamas.)
What are your thoughts readers? Where have you seen people showcase their personality through their clothes in such a wonderful way that it enhances your professional view of them? When have you seen people stumbling a bit by showing their personality through clothes?
Stock photo via Deposit Photos / Sonya92.
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