I used to be majorly into pink. Pink walls, pink dresses, pink pens, pink jackets. Everything pink. Like…borderline Elle Woods in Legally Blond. I’ve graduated from that stage of my life, but I’ll never quite let go of my love for pink here and there. And when I saw this tie-neck MSGM lovely ($345), I had to fight some major urges to buy it on the spot. Now I’m debating it, because I LOVE the shape so much but don’t know that I’d wear it in a work setting — too loud and too “hi, I’m a chick!” Speaking of, I’ve spent a lot of time over the last few months thinking about my professional wardrobe. I recently left my full-time job at an edtech start-up to launch my own tech business. What I’m finding is that a lot of the entrepreneurs I’ve been networking with are a) almost all men and b) almost all men that wear the same thing: jeans, button-down, possibly blazer, nice loafers. Now, riddle me this: will a fashion-forward outfit detract from the seriousness of my message and the intelligence I believe I bring to the table? Or should I follow suit and wear the girl version of the male entrepreneur get-up? Should I dial up my femininity — “play up the politics of being a female entrepreneur,” as one mentor encouraged me? Or should I dial it down — “don’t wear anything the calls attention to your gender,” as another mentor suggested.
Or just. Get out of my head. Wear what I want to wear. Approach it with the sense that — “if people are judging me by my clothing, I’m in the wrong group.” But then again…first impressions…
So, you can see the sort of useless and inane internal debate raging inside now and then. Especially when a hot ticket item like this MSGM darling ($345) entices me over to the ladylike side.
But then again. Who says I need to wear this to work?!?!
I like to tone down the brightness of it with these gorgeous suede pumps (on sale for $199 — great value):
And while we’re on the topic of pink dresses, I mean…this style ($395)?! With its drop-waist ruffle skirt? C’mon. Puhleeez. So cute.
So fun with these amazing Alexandre Birman tootsies ($695):
Or, go for a touch of pink in a print — I’ve been seriously eyeballing this gorgeous MSGM gown ($1,140) for an upcoming rehearsal dinner:
Finish with a classic Manolo BB ($595):
Thoughts?!
Sad truth, you have to dress up more than the guys. Especially with your being petite. There’s a prevailing prejudice that women are not good at business, you need to look like the boss out of the gate.
You could play up your femininity, but do you want to be the booth babe or the CEO?
It’s not fair, but it is the truth.
What kind of tech company are you starting?
-Sarah
Hi Sarah! I’ve started a company to streamline the performance review process, which is painful and outmoded for so many of us. More info here: http://www.gofizzgo.com/. Thanks for asking 🙂
OMG that Opening Ceremony dress is to die for! but its final sale what ifit doesnt fit! ahhhh! any advice??
I know! They also sell it at Barney’s, so you can return: http://rstyle.me/n/bb2efsyjd. But, then it’s full-price…could you order it on Barney’s for size and then ship it back and buy at MO??
Congrats on the new company – that is very exciting! I think you should wear what you want to wear. If you look put together (which you always do) then people will take you seriously.
Thanks, Alli! Agree with this. Just own yourself, right?