This recent article in the WSJ (by Suzanne Kapner) was fun to read, but boy oh boy did it rile me up! Some of the points that annoyed me:

• “Dressing for success is at odds with our growing desire for comfort.” Comfortable, comfortable, comfortable! Were we all really so uncomfortable pre-pandemic??? Maybe people were buying the wrong sizes!
• “No one is tucking in their shirts.” Baloney and hogwash! Men of all ages absolutely are still tucking in their shirts in the office and for social events – untucked shirts sometimes look good when wearing very casual styles and/or with resort wear, but never for business. Heaven help us, and put on a belt.
• The retailer, Birkenstocks, has made a metallic style dubbed “The Work Birk”. Birkenstocks in a business setting??? NO WAY. AWFUL IDEA.
• Even in fields ranging from law to finance, “expectations have changed”. Puh-leez. With all the money a consumer spends on a legal or finance professional, you don’t think we should expect someone who is well-groomed and professionally dressed??? You would be ok with a guy wearing a fleece vest and New Balance sneakers??? (Maybe you would, but I certainly would not.)

Deciding on what to wear to work in 2021 really isn’t that difficult, nor is it that different than pre-pandemic…has your dress code at work changed? What is the culture of your business? We recently updated our dress code to be more current and flexible, yet we always expect a professional appearance, even on Fridays.

Keep in mind – and I can’t stress this enough: How we dress affects how people perceive us. At work it is likely that you want to be taken seriously and respected for your talent/skill. This does not require a high-priced designer wardrobe whatsoever, but it does require time, effort, attention to detail, and a desire to dress to portray a certain image.

Here are a few Candy Costas tips as you consider revamping your work attire for 2021:

• Dressing well will never go out of style.
• It’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
• To portray a serious image, stick to neutral colors and basic, classic styles.
• Styles do change over time; if you never adjust your personal style you can look outdated.
• If wearing a fashion sneaker to work is new for you, be sure the rest of your outfit is all business; such as a blazer with a slim skirt.
• Alternatively, try wearing a tee-shirt with a blazer and a skirt, but with a dressier shoe.
• Adjust your outfit (dressier or more casual) depending on what’s on your agenda for the day.
• Remember, it’s about casual vs dressier – not comfortable vs dressier. ALL YOUR CLOTHES SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE! (Sweatpants and pajamas don’t count!!!)

Are ya with me ladies????

Work hard. Play hard. Enjoy every day.