Comments on: Stiletto’s, Merrell’s & Power Suits http://imsocorporate.com/2010/01/27/stilettos-merrells-power-suits/ Human Resource, Recruitment, Social Media & Technology Evangelism Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:11:06 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Laura Vezer http://imsocorporate.com/2010/01/27/stilettos-merrells-power-suits/#comment-958 Laura Vezer Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:35:22 +0000 http://imsocorporate.com/?p=566#comment-958 Hi Sarah! I'll be the first to admit that I loathe and despise corporate attire. I hate wearing high heels. They hurt my ankles. I hate wearing suits. I feel they, in a way, don't accentuate my unique personality, and individualism that makes me DIFFERENT from other stereotypical recruiters and sales people in this city. However. When my client is looking for candidates who are in fact, corporately presented and "client facing" (ie, those ridiculous thousand dollar suits and and accessories) and they have charged me with screening for those candidates, how can I tell a person that they have to dress the part when I don't? I'm ALL FOR jeans every day. If I could wear my Converse all stars with work clothes like Ellen Degeneres so successfully and stylishly does, I would. In fact, I've pushed the envelope many times, only to have my boss merely look at me and shake his head. But I think if I am to be taken seriously by my candidates, who have to wear the monkey suit to get work, then I should return the respect by trying to dress up for them too. I'm still working on this challenge. It's a slow evolution for me. But I still won't wear the heels. I value my ankles too much :) Great post, have a great day! @LauraVezer Hi Sarah!

I’ll be the first to admit that I loathe and despise corporate attire. I hate wearing high heels. They hurt my ankles. I hate wearing suits. I feel they, in a way, don’t accentuate my unique personality, and individualism that makes me DIFFERENT from other stereotypical recruiters and sales people in this city.

However.

When my client is looking for candidates who are in fact, corporately presented and “client facing” (ie, those ridiculous thousand dollar suits and and accessories) and they have charged me with screening for those candidates, how can I tell a person that they have to dress the part when I don’t?

I’m ALL FOR jeans every day. If I could wear my Converse all stars with work clothes like Ellen Degeneres so successfully and stylishly does, I would. In fact, I’ve pushed the envelope many times, only to have my boss merely look at me and shake his head. But I think if I am to be taken seriously by my candidates, who have to wear the monkey suit to get work, then I should return the respect by trying to dress up for them too.

I’m still working on this challenge. It’s a slow evolution for me. But I still won’t wear the heels. I value my ankles too much :)

Great post, have a great day!

@LauraVezer

]]> By: Sarah White http://imsocorporate.com/2010/01/27/stilettos-merrells-power-suits/#comment-718 Sarah White Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:05:17 +0000 http://imsocorporate.com/?p=566#comment-718 @Kim - I am sorry, but I just can't disagree more. There is obviously a level of standard you have to work with in - but someone's quality of work is based on their work ethic and not their clothes. I have worked in a corporate environment where we had to wear a suit every day and directly with an executive team where we wore jeans to work everyday. Guess what - the jeans company was equally profitable, successful, etc - but had lower turnover, higher employee morale, etc. @Travis - HAHA - Obviously there is a line. (Says me as I type this in my pajamas - but no bunny slippers!) @Mel - Isn't that the truth! At least you are in Miami = no pantyhose @Kim – I am sorry, but I just can’t disagree more. There is obviously a level of standard you have to work with in – but someone’s quality of work is based on their work ethic and not their clothes. I have worked in a corporate environment where we had to wear a suit every day and directly with an executive team where we wore jeans to work everyday. Guess what – the jeans company was equally profitable, successful, etc – but had lower turnover, higher employee morale, etc.

@Travis – HAHA – Obviously there is a line. (Says me as I type this in my pajamas – but no bunny slippers!)

@Mel – Isn’t that the truth! At least you are in Miami = no pantyhose

]]> By: Jonathan Hyland http://imsocorporate.com/2010/01/27/stilettos-merrells-power-suits/#comment-717 Jonathan Hyland Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:43:43 +0000 http://imsocorporate.com/?p=566#comment-717 Fortunately, where I work right now is pretty casual, so I can rock my faux skater/punk looks. I put the 'faux' there as a qualifier that I don't skate anything worth a damn. I just find skaters attractive. I think people get too worked up over what to wear. If I had to wear a shirt and tie everyday in this environment, I might start to think of alternative uses of my neck-tie. So long as it's not some ratty, tacky garment I think you're good. And when I own my very own company, there will be PJ Fridays. I <3 my sweatpants. Fortunately, where I work right now is pretty casual, so I can rock my faux skater/punk looks. I put the ‘faux’ there as a qualifier that I don’t skate anything worth a damn. I just find skaters attractive.

I think people get too worked up over what to wear. If I had to wear a shirt and tie everyday in this environment, I might start to think of alternative uses of my neck-tie. So long as it’s not some ratty, tacky garment I think you’re good.

And when I own my very own company, there will be PJ Fridays. I <3 my sweatpants.

]]> By: Melyssa Bernstein http://imsocorporate.com/2010/01/27/stilettos-merrells-power-suits/#comment-716 Melyssa Bernstein Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:00:28 +0000 http://imsocorporate.com/?p=566#comment-716 I know we've spoken about this before but I couldn't agree more. I love my heels, don't get me wrong I wear them on my off hours pretty much all the time but having to wear them to work just doesn’t feel right. Let's just be happy we only have to play "I'm So Corporate" periodically throughout the year….phew! I know we’ve spoken about this before but I couldn’t agree more. I love my heels, don’t get me wrong I wear them on my off hours pretty much all the time but having to wear them to work just doesn’t feel right. Let’s just be happy we only have to play “I’m So Corporate” periodically throughout the year….phew!

]]> By: Travis Blythe http://imsocorporate.com/2010/01/27/stilettos-merrells-power-suits/#comment-714 Travis Blythe Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:51:01 +0000 http://imsocorporate.com/?p=566#comment-714 There have actually been studies done which indicate people are more productive on "casual" day then when they are in the "business" atire. I am all for people being comfy in the office, but pajama bottoms and bunny slippers maybe a bit too much. Go to this site for careerbuilder and watch the casual friday commericial...too funny. http://www.careerbuilder.com/tv/default.aspx?cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=ce0c1d9645fd46b789d6f68c22ea1c67-317987394-wd-6&ns_siteid=ns_us_g_careerbuilder_commerc_ There have actually been studies done which indicate people are more productive on “casual” day then when they are in the “business” atire. I am all for people being comfy in the office, but pajama bottoms and bunny slippers maybe a bit too much.

Go to this site for careerbuilder and watch the casual friday commericial…too funny. http://www.careerbuilder.com/tv/default.aspx?cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=ce0c1d9645fd46b789d6f68c22ea1c67-317987394-wd-6&ns_siteid=ns_us_g_careerbuilder_commerc_

]]> By: Kim E. Williams http://imsocorporate.com/2010/01/27/stilettos-merrells-power-suits/#comment-710 Kim E. Williams Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:18:57 +0000 http://imsocorporate.com/?p=566#comment-710 "Does the guy at McDonalds flip better burgers because of his starched button up short sleeve shirt instead of a t-shirt with the company logo? " Actually, the truth is "yes." I'm with you that we can perform well no matter what we are wearing (within reason), but the reality is that our dress does affect how we perform - and perhaps as important for business - how we are perceived. Still - I'm with you. ditch the heels and i'll ditch the neck ties! “Does the guy at McDonalds flip better burgers because of his starched button up short sleeve shirt instead of a t-shirt with the company logo? ” Actually, the truth is “yes.” I’m with you that we can perform well no matter what we are wearing (within reason), but the reality is that our dress does affect how we perform – and perhaps as important for business – how we are perceived. Still – I’m with you. ditch the heels and i’ll ditch the neck ties!

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