By Susan Johnston

Susan Johnston is a copywriter for a startup company by day and a freelance writer by night. Learn more on her website, or blog.

College taught me how to write a killer press release, how to survive on peanut butter and fat-free Snackwells, even how to rotate my collection of Gap sweaters between biweekly laundry sessions. But listen up, Class of 2007, because I doubt your class syllabus covered how to dress for work. My transition from college student to cubicle dweller was far from seamless, but I have a few words of advice to avoid a major wardrobe malfunction.

Before I started working full-time, my friend and I picked out a linen suit for my first day. We thought its subtle pinstripes and tailored cut made it a classic. “You’ll be able to mix and match the jacket and pants well into fall,” my friend assured me. I probably wore it a total of three times. After braving the sweaty subway on my first morning commute, I arrived looking (and feeling) like a rumpled piece of beige parchment paper. Lesson #1: linen suits only look good in the J. Crew catalog. The rest of world wears wool.

I quickly discovered coworkers only wore suits during my interview to make a professional first impression. A normal day at the office meant Ann Taylor twinsets and kitten heels. Unfortunately, after investing in my linen suit, Ann Taylor was out of my budget, so I made due with my Gap sweater collection and felt like I was there for Take Your Daughter to Work Day. Lesson #2: don’t blow all your graduation money on a new work wardrobe. Wait until you’ve settled into your job, collected a paycheck or two, and observed what others are wearing.

My favorite pair of khakis from college had gotten so threadbare that I covered the holes on the back pockets with butterfly appliqués. I thought they looked unique, but I’m sure my colleagues thought they were way too cutesy for work. I had passed into a world where butterflies khakis and college t-shirts just didn’t fit. Lesson #3: if you have to ask yourself “is this appropriate for my office?” then it probably isn’t.

If dressing for a day at the office was fraught with potential faux pas, then finding an outfit for a night-time event was even harder. I spent several days planning the perfect evening ensemble, which I envisioned as high heels and a sophisticated black dress, ala Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. But as I bent over a wrinkled tablecloth, flashing a little too much leg, I felt more like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. From then on I wore dress pants and ballet flats. Lesson #4: ladies, please save the stilettos for Saturday nights.

Another time I arrived at my company’s annual luncheon wearing a powder blue suit I had purchased after the infamous linen suit met an early retirement at Goodwill. I thought my new suit’s conservative cut and stylish brooch was just what the occasion required. My coworkers, on the other hand, all chose sophisticated variations on black. Who knew salmon and mini-quiches were so somber? The planning committee seated me at a table in the corner as far away from the podium as possible, claiming they wanted staff members strategically placed around the room. I saw right through that: I’d been seated at the equivalent of the kiddie table at Thanksgiving. Lesson #5: if you’re unsure of the dress code, then ask. No one wants you dressed like an Easter egg in front of a client.

More recently I found a new job with a startup company. The dress code is relatively lax, so I can wear sweat pants or a suit if I want. Fleece and flannel are tempting, but if I dress down, then I feel silly going to a last-minute meeting or delegating projects to my coworkers. And I know I’ll get carded when I meet up with friends after work. Lesson #6: dressing like a professional makes you feel like a professional. And do you really want to get mistaken for an intern during happy hour? Dress accordingly. Long distance calling cards.

Popularity: 8%

Share This