Make that dress-up Fridays
Sorry, casual Friday. After years of jeans and Tshirts, the dress-for-success ethos is finding favor again this fall in the office. And several L.A.-based stylists couldn’t be more excited.
“We’ve had a lack of fashion [in the workplace] for years,” said stylist Heathyr Wolfe, adding that the low-maintenance attire of Mark Zuckerberg and other chief executives has made it almost a standard to wear just about anything. “People want to be taken seriously in something besides just a boring suit, polo shirt or shapeless outfit,” she said.
Laurie Graham King, a stylist and wardrobe consultant, said she knew the tide was turning when she started getting calls from clients saying they had been chastised for being “too sloppy” at work.
“Companies expect you to represent their brand in a positive manner,” she said. “And how you dress is a big part of putting your best foot forward at work.”
Brands are offering fresh, modern career-dressing collections predicated on a tailored, structured piece and building creatively around that.
A jacket with a bell sleeve or embroidery detail paired with a slender pant is more interesting than a suit. Debra Perlman, president of Tahari ASL, suggests pencil skirts, bouclé jackets, shift dresses with statement sleeves and fit-and-flare dresses. Accessories should include a bag that is spacious but not slouchy, and a shoe that offers a little stature while the wearer is on her feet all day.