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The
Clothing Chronicles ================================================
In This Issue: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's tax day here in the States, so if you haven't filed your return yet, you obviously don't need me to remind you. I will say that if you plan to e-file and have any issues with your internet connection, don't wait until the 11th hour like I did a few years ago. My pc locked up during the transmission and I had to reboot and try again, with my nervous-nelly husband peering over my shoulder. The return was date and time stamped on the 15th at 11:59:52 p.m. - under the wire with just 8 seconds to spare. Talk about an adrenaline rush! So if you had to write a big check to Uncle Sam this year, would you like some good news? After YEARS of readers asking me, I'm happy to introduce (drum roll, please) ... The Top Drawer Publications AFFILIATE PROGRAM! That's right! You can promote my WARDROBE MAGIC and BUSINESS WEAR MAGIC ebooks on your website, in your ezine, or to your clients and earn a tidy profit for your efforts. Click here to learn more: http://www.topdrawerpublications.com/affiliates.htm So what's on tap for today's article? Well, after pressing the "send" button on last week's article, "Plunging Necklines and Other Distractions," http://www.theclothingchronicles.com/archives/174-04072005.htm I started receiving feedback within minutes, and the responses were truly eye-opening. So much so, that I've decided to expound on the topic a bit, to give you a few more things to think about as you "dress to impress" for work. Enjoy!
Diana ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Plunging Necklines and Other Distractions - Part II Have you ever had to work with someone who gave you "the creeps?" You know, someone who stands too close, leers too much, makes inappropriate comments or overtures, or just basically assumes a level of intimacy that wouldn't - even in his wildest dreams - ever exist between you? No? Consider yourself lucky. And as of now, forewarned. Because if one of these smarmy types hasn't yet darkened your door, chances are, he will. The odds are in his favor. Now obviously, all men aren't like this. In fact, I'd say the majority are pretty decent. But every now and again one of these types will slither into your existence and put a whole new spin on the phrase, "Monday Morning Blues." So what does all of this have to do with clothing? Plenty - if you want to keep Mr. Creepy at bay. Appropriate attire is always the first line of defense. Behavior is the second. When you use both to keep matters focused on the business at hand, you not only gain more respect in the workplace, you eliminate much of the nonsense that comes about from showing too much skin and acting inappropriately. Now some of the clients I consult with, particularly those under 35, tend to think I'm a bit too conservative when it comes to dressing for business. They think that my first career as an accountant has somehow skewed my thinking about business attire for non-traditional businesses, and that I'm "out of touch" when it comes to different types of workplaces. In reality, I'm giving them the benefit of my experience. Having been privy to situations and stories that would singe the ears off a sailor, I've learned that it's easier to button up than to beat them off with a stick. You know all those sexual harassment laws that are on the books these days? Ever wonder how they got there? Yep. By women who went off to work to earn an honest living, and suddenly found themselves at the mercy of a predatory male called their boss. Or, as reader Toby Wollin so eloquently wrote in response to last week's story of my sales rep client who insists on showing her cleavage, "Well, for those of us 'of a certain age,' this tale of 'over-exposure' certainly sounds familiar...This young lady has obviously never had a guy stick his hand down her top or up her skirt during a sales presentation; otherwise, she'd know where this is coming from. She's obviously standing just 'out of reach.' "It's tough enough as a female in the workplace to get taken seriously; dressing in a young, or cute, or sexy way may seem to get you the attention you are looking for, but it will not get you a promotion, except if you are accustomed to working your way to the top using the 'horizontal' method. I realize for a lot of younger females, those of us who actually broke down the doors in the 1970s, endured job interviews that included questions about marriage, what our husbands did for a living or where they worked, what form of birth control we used and so on, seem like a bunch of broken down old biddies, but we do know a few things about dressing for work." Now if you're thinking that I'm writing this because I have some sort of grudge against men, you're wrong. As I said before, most of the men I've worked with over the years have been decent, hard-working, and respectful of women. But, like working around a hot stove, you have to be careful. The lecherous ones tend to look like the decent ones at first glance, and unfortunately, they don't have "TROUBLE" stamped on their foreheads. It would certainly be much easier for all of us if they did. They're mindful of the laws but not controlled by them, and will prey on anyone they think they can easily control, belittle, or manipulate. So BEWARE. Or as one of my baby boomer bosses once advised me, "Think about the creepiest guy at work, then dress to dissuade him." So keep that in mind the next time you're looking at yourself in the mirror before work, wondering if what you have on is "too sexy." It probably is. So go change. If you keep it modest and appropriate for your line of work, you'll be able to enjoy the benefits of working with men without having to endure some of the nonsense that goes along with it.
************** Until next time,
Diana Pemberton-Sikes
http://www.FashionForRealWomen.com ------------------------ Published by:
Top Drawer
Publications, LLC Copyright © 2005 by Diana Pemberton-Sikes All rights reserved. |
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