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We’ve all seen it, at some point or another. The rising associate with the latest Tory Burch bag, the newly promoted lawyer sporting her brand-spankin’ new Birkin bag as a sign of achievement, the CEO with the sparkling Rolex watch…
Fashion, and clothing especially, have become a way to celebrate our achievements, especially in the professional realm. Just look at celebrities vying for the New York FashionWeek shows’ front rows! Especially for the few women who are able to stand out from the crowd and break their own professional glass ceiling, haven’t they earned the right to display their bigger status? The higher the status, the more abundant the signs of prosperity. Hence the rationale, the better I dress, the more credibility I can buy myself, right? Does this mean we are expected to dress in expensive clothing to make it at work?
My $0.05: I think being well dressed at work is important. Not only does it increase your confidence, but it also projects a positive professional image. Yet, sporting $1, 200 Louboutins as an entry-level associate may raise a few eyebrows among your peers and even management. Although what you wear is really your business, the workplace is filled with subjective perceptions, of which you should be aware.
Truth is, very often, expensive clothing and fashion accessories are worn as a symbol of professional status, whether it reflects your title or the type of company you work in. At the end of the day, you need to know your workplace culture and adapt to it. Expensive clothing will buy you a certain image to a certain extent, however the only thing that will guarantee continued credibility is the quality of your work!
Thoughts? Do you think expensive clothing can buy you credibility at work?
The Corporate Sis.
