HELLO, YEAH WHAT AM I WEARING FOR...?

Hello company!

Today I'd like to talk about what to wear to work! Remember I said I'd never really asked myself the question in this article? I've always had a very easy relationship with my wardrobe. I rarely ask myself questions about what I should and shouldn't wear on a date. I'm a pretty free spirit, and all I remember is my mother screaming at the sight of me going out with my belly button out in the middle of winter, but what teenager didn't do that in the 2000s? Apart from that episode, I've never been censored in my fashionable impulses, apart from the bank episode I told you about here, nothing serious.

Today, to bring a touch of fashion to these business week articles, I've tried to analyze and bring ideas for outfits for different professional situations. Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list. After all, I haven't done any silhouettes for site managers or medical assistants, as I don't have a very good grasp of the subject and don't want to venture too far afield. So you'll see, I did it very simply, trying to put myself in someone else's shoes for the duration of an illustration photo.

And I have to admit that at the moment, I'm dealing with things that are a bit beyond me, like signing commercial leases, going to the bank, meeting investors, speaking in public about my career... And in those moments, I'm sitting cross-legged on my bed, with chaos all around me, (understand a nuclear explosion of clothes in my room), and I have the stress of a first date with a hot guy on the way up, I call my buddies, in crisis mode with these words coming out of my mouth: BUT P**** WHAT ARE WE WEARING TO ASK FOR A LOAN? Oh my! "Jeune et Jolie" never mentioned it at the time.

For this look, I'm wearing a jacket navy blue and a nude bodysuit Wear Lemonade, a pair of jeans and velvet booties Asos, and an adorable leather bag Tammy and Benjamin.

Anyway, in this article, there will be 3 main families. The "creative" jobs, the "classic" jobs, the "freelance" jobs, interviews, pro appointments etc... Once again, nothing is set in stone, it all depends on the environment in which you evolve. I think it's enough to do a little research on the internet to sound out the spirit of the company, something you've been advised to do anyway to prepare for your interview, or if your research hasn't been fruitful and you're still in the dark, I'd advise you to go and hang out at lunchtime downstairs from that potential job to sniff out the trend...

This look, I think, is good for working in a press office, advertising agency, in a young environment, where everyone is in Stan smith... But for a job in a fashion house, I think you'd have to forget the jeans and go for a beautiful dress, with nice colors but not too flash, with either clothes whose cut suits you perfectly or with the style (below) for which I'd change the bag for something more chic, or the look (below) with the green jacket!

I'm wearing an old pink trench coat Asosa sweater Monoprixa sautoir Argument x Chacoka pair of pants Julietta pants and a Wear Lemonade tote bag, as well as a pair of made in Sarenza.

For this look, it's not really a game, because it's what I'm wearing every day at the moment. I find that brown cameos are a safe bet, and a flowing trench coat is always a guarantee of efficiency for an interview or a business meeting, as it gives you seriousness and allure. And I insist on clothes that fit you well, it's important. So how do you recognize a perfectly cut garment? If it's not obvious when you're wearing it, it's because it's not. But more seriously, it's when, once you've put it on, nothing wrinkles, nothing yawns, nothing tucks in anywhere, and you feel as comfortable as if you were in a second skin, and that's a winner! When you find the perfect garment, it's one less thing to think about, and you're already a little more sure of yourself... If you've never pulled on your skirt in the reception hall before an interview, throw the first stone at me!

I'm wearing a shirt Simona Wear Lemonade, a jacket Comptoir des cotonniersstraight pants La Redoute shoes and bag Tila March.

This one's a bit of a "disguise" look for me, the perilous exercise for classic work, as if tomorrow I had to go back to the bank. I think it's just a matter of habit, because as I'm writing these lines, I'm thinking: but I should have worn rust-colored high-waisted pants with a cream silk blouse and the black jacket and it would have been hot. I'd almost have ideas about what to wear to work in a more conventional environment than my own...

So as I read your comments, I regret that mores are stuck in a distant decade. The lengths of skirts and dresses, the sequins on shoes, the bright color of a jacket or the patterns on a shirt shouldn't make you doubt the competence and seriousness of the people who wear them. But hey, I guess that's the way it is and there are two ways to live it. You can either make fun of it and accept it as a form of resistance, or you can fit into the mold, tone down your outfits and wear all your fantasy on your days off and weekends, but it's a shame to turn off a little so as not to make waves. I'd make color storms and fracture my colleagues' retinas by mixing patterns if I could... Well, I can, but at the studio we all have our own little follies, so I'm not at war with anyone... Head-scratching in front of my dressing room is just an occasional exercise from now on, which actually amuses me a lot.

I'm wearing a dress Dita velvet Wear Lemonade, a jacket Zaraboots Maje boots and a vintage bag.

Variation on the same theme. But here's the reality and how I dress to go and do serious things. It may change a little over time, depending on whether I've done my laundry or not... But pretty much, when I've got a serious appointment, here's my uniform! It's true that I've noticed that the attitude of my interlocutors changes according to the outfit I'm wearing. I'm not even talking about necklines or skirt lengths, I wouldn't even risk it, but rather colors and patterns. Dark pieces help me to gain authority, and my interlocutor no longer has to be distracted by the patterns of my dresses but rather by what I'm telling him... So sober but colorful.

Don't laugh. That's how it goes, jogging may be an option, as I've spent many a weekday without wearing pants before 5pm. So there you have it, this isn't a general rule, but let's face it, working from home isn't easy. One of the reasons I started looking for an office was to stop procrastinating at home, and wear real clothes to get off the couch... And then sometimes, there are customer meetings that take place at home via screens... It's the "interaction with others" moment of the day, but you're not really used to it anymore, so you do the bare minimum, you dress just the top! This is no good! Get moving and go to a co-working space!

All this to say that, whatever your choices, you need to keep in mind moderation in all these key moments. If you only knew how much it hurts me to write this to you... In any case, the clothes you wear won't be decisive in the final decision of the human resources manager you'll have in front of you. What's important is that you feel comfortable and that your outfit is only there to give you the confidence you need to rock your interview...

The idea is not for you to dress up, but if you have a tendency towards extravagance, to try to tone things down a bit. The important thing is that people remember you rather than the outfit you wore. And conversely, if you're lost in clothes that are too big and a bit sad, it won't necessarily send the right signal. It's not fundamental, but it's an important one: breathe, everything's going to be fine.

Love you!