Alice Vol. 3 No. 3

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Jacket: Pause Boutique open-toed shoes just because your boss does. Don’t wear skirts shorter than an inch above your knee just because the girl in the other cubicle does. Your coworkers will absolutely break professional attire standards. That is absolutely not an excuse for you to do the same. What rules are they breaking exactly? A big one is shoes. Shoes Heels are always appropriate in the work environment, but not all heels are appropriate. They should never exceed 2.5 inches. 2.5 inches is the maximum heel height. Do not exceed 2.5 inches. Just don’t do it. I don’t care how cute they are. I don’t care how comfortable they are. 2.5 inches is the maximum heel height and the maximum heel height is 2.5 inches. Be cautious with open-back or sling-back heels. This is going to depend entirely on your office environment and standards. In a hospital, for example, you cannot wear shoes with an open heel for safety reasons. One of the largest complaints about heels is that they are not comfortable. There are a few ways to get around this. First, wear a lower heel. Higher heels put more pressure on your feet. Second, invest in some shoe inserts. They are miracle workers. Blisters are a bad time. Third, chunky heels are going to be more comfortable than stiletto heels. If you have the option to wear open-toed heels, go for it. However, 26 Alice Summer 2018 most offices do not allow open-toed shoes so proceed with caution. Tip: When you try on heels (you should never buy heels without trying them on), do so at the end of the day, especially if you have been walking around a lot. You want to try on shoes when your feet are swollen and sweaty. Sounds gross, but that’s when you will find out if your shoes are too small (pinch) or too large (you’re slipping around in them). Flats are allowed at every level of attire except for Business Formal. Do not give a presentation in flats. If you can’t wear heels due to pain or preference, explore other options. Cute loafers do exist. Mules may be acceptable. Even kitten heels can work (although personally I do not understand why you would choose to be .5 inches off the ground and find them very difficult to walk in). Note: If you are at a conference or professional event where you will be on your feet all day, feel free to bring shoes to change into in between sessions. Just make sure that they are also professional. There is nothing more heartbreaking than a woman in line for lunch wearing a fantastic suit with flip flops. Please, in the name of everything glorious and good in this world, don’t ever be the girl at the conference in flip flops. Oh, right. I almost forgot wedges. Yeah, no. Skirts
Skirts are also an area of contention for many a working woman. Many women are under the misconception that any professional-looking skirt is a “pencil skirt.” A pencil skirt actually has a fairly strict definition. A pencil skirt is high-waisted (should reach the top of your hips), made of lightweight wool or cotton with stretch, tapers at the thigh, has a subtle slit in the back and hits mid- or below the knee. Mid- or below the knee. Not one inch above the knee. Not three inches above the knee. Mid- or below the knee. If the skirt hits higher than mid-knee, it is not a pencil skirt. That isn’t to say that all skirts above the knee are inappropriate. Many shorter skirts are quite appropriate for the office. The distinction is an important one to make, however, as more formal work environments will only allow for pencil skirts. The more formal the office, the longer the skirt length. You do not want to show up to an investment firm in a work skirt that doesn’t make the length requirement for a pencil. I’m looking at you, J. Crew. Also important to note is the distinction between pencil skirts and bodycon skirts. Some girls are blessed with a little more booty and struggle to find a skirt that doesn’t create those tense lines across the thigh. I get it. But that’s why tailors exist. Just because that skirt at Forever 21 is midi, high-waisted and clings all the way down does NOT mean it is a pencil skirt or that it is appropriate for work. Note: Please do not buy professional attire at Forever 21. H&M offers a range of professional attire for affordable prices. You will not find pencil skirts at Forever 21. It is a bodycon wasteland. Be wary of slits. As a general rule, do not buy work skirts with slits in the front or side. Don’t do it. It is dangerous territory. If you buy a wrap skirt, make sure that at no point does it rise higher than two inches above the knee. Pro tip: only buy midi-length wrap skirts to avoid that issue. Work skirts should only have slits in the back for increased mobility and breathability. They shouldn’t gap open to reveal your bee-hind. Make sure to remove the thread in the back before wearing. It is impossible to set guidelines for appropriate skirts without running into the fact that women face many more clothing restrictions in the workplace due to the sexualization of women. These guidelines are for meeting professional workplace standards, not for “covering you up.” If your skirt is too short, that is not an excuse for someone to sexualize you. If your top is sleeveless, that is not an excuse for someone to sexualize you. If you show up to work in a bikini, that is not an excuse for someone to sexualize you. Harassment is not and never will be excusable or tolerable, regardless of your attire. If you are being harassed, contact Human Resources. You are not being unprofessional; your harasser is. Alice Summer 2018 27
Page 1 and 2: SUMMER 2018 LOOKBOOK First day, rig
Page 3 and 4: Letter from the Editor On the web:
Page 5 and 6: Table of Contents About the cover:
Page 7 and 8: Alice Summer 2018 5
Page 15 and 16: Jeans: SOCA Alice Summer 2018 13
Page 17 and 18: None of the images of None of the i
Page 27: All clothes: Crimson Closet Alice S

Alice Vol. 3 No. 3

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?