Dread Dress-For-Your-Day Days?

TIP – If you are in that dress-down-Friday-fug, and you seriously don’t know what to wear, don’t worry, listen up…

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For some brilliant tips on HOW TO DRESS DOWN and remain stylish, dignified, cool and charismatic as a leader in a professional environment listen to this “piccolo podcast” I recorded with the famous Secret Stylist Natasha Musson (pictured). It makes me laugh.

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Click here to listen (audio clip – just 3 mins)

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Didn’t Get the Dress Down Memo?

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My client, Ms P, tells me how frustrating it is when she walks into her office and people comment on her smart appearance.

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“Ooh, do you have a job interview or something?”

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they only ask because she happens to be wearing a blazer.

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She doesn’t have a job interview; she simply wants to look professional at work.? She leads a team and feels she wants to get on with her job and look respectable. It’s not too much to ask right?? If clients visit the office she’s ready to go. She wants to look and feel dignified and respected and feels many of her colleagues have taken this “dress for your day” policy too far.? Quite frankly she’s fed up with it.

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I had a similar experience when I turned up to run a session at one of the big four accountancy firms in London, and the team leader remarked on my dress ..

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“Are you going to an award ceremony?” he beamed. LOL

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“Oh, you didn’t get the dress down Friday memo”.? To my surprise,? they were all in jeans.

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I wasn’t worried about being overdressed or offended by his comments because I think life’s too short not to wear ‘nice’ clothes all the time, why not? Why leave your Sunday best to Sunday? (That’s what my grandma used to say)

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Hoodies have become ‘normal’, and people are seen slouching around in joggers and un-ironed (polo) shirts. And let’s face it there are “trainers” and …..there are “trainers”.? If you look scruffy, it doesn’t say much for your “personal brand” does it?

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Where do you stand on “dress for your day days?”

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Do you dread wardrobe decision time?? Perhaps you are a pyjama-style comfy type, or you go the extra mile and wear your on-trend trainers that cost three times more than your best shoes?? My expert, secret stylist Natasha Musson would recommend trendy snickers rather than cheapo runners you’d use for walking the dog.

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According to Natasha (listen to our piccolo podcast above) if you are a professional – you might as well LOOK like one!? She tells me if you need to look casual at work, you need to consider your wardrobe VERY carefully.? Casual doesn’t actually mean NO EFFORT. If anything, it means dress UP, and at the same time be comfortable.? Oh, it’s a difficult one.

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Her advice? ?Wear something that suits YOU, something stylist, that doesn’t say “I don’t care”.? It might mean you need to get a few key pieces for your wardrobe. Yippee, I feel a shopping spree coming on.? Seriously though, many of my clients DREAD this whole chino, jeans or playsuit decision on a Friday. And what about the office off-site arrhhh! How do you choose?

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When I was at school in west London in the 80’s, I remember non-uniform day was our chance to strut our stuff.? You’d be able to express yourself and wear COLOUR or even a “RELAX” t-shirt, rather than navy and sky-blue.? It was a chance to show off (within reason) pile on accessories and be yourself.? In other words, dressing down was more like, dressing UP!

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What will you be wearing next time you’re allowed to go ‘casual’?? I’d love your take on the whole dress down concept.

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Would you be happy to drop “dress down Fridays” altogether?

Let me know, I’d love to hear from you….

#dressdownfriday #confidence #stylist