What Do I Wear to the Office?
Bow ties for work days
40 years ago, I wore a uniform: blue suit, white shirt, heels, and little bow ties (see photo). Every day.
Last week I attended a video meeting in a great looking shirt, a skort, and flip-flops…..much more comfortable! No one was the wiser, until I got up to get a glass of water (the meeting was 4 hours long) and realized on the way back to my desk that everyone could see my skort and flip-flops. Good for a laugh.
But that got me thinking: Is there a new business attire model? Please not a T-Shirt! What is casual business attire now? Gym clothes.
For me, the answer is a Great Shirt! Doesn’t matter the color, although taking the time to look at your virtual office background could be a key to the color.
How do you get a great shirt? You learn to sew one, then two, or three. (It took me awhile to mentioning a class, but I did it.) After making quite a few different shirt patterns, my favorite classic is Vogue #8772. It’s available in sizes 6-22, instructions are well done and the fit is really nice. Many variations are included. You just can not go wrong with this pattern. It does have bust and waist darts, so getting fitted correctly is a must, and that is included in the class.
Making a shirt is also a way to elevate your skill set: creating a collar with a stand with outstanding points, cuffs, 6 darts, front plackets with buttonholes, a set in sleeve. Topstitching! (You most likely have a machine foot that will make topstitching easy and professional looking).
If you need a face to face meeting, pop on a ponte knit skirt ( 3” contour waistband, straight skirt) and a nice pair of shoes….when it gets colder, pants and boots.
When clients say they want to sew better garments and they have the basics: I say, learn to make a shirt, https://www.sewinghive.com/all-classes/buttoned-up-shirt-skill-builder , then learn to fit and sew a great fitting pair of pants (class by Martha West)https://www.sewinghive.com/all-classes/pants-fitting-and-sewing-techniques and you really will have the workplace basics covered. Oh, and if you would like to make the skirt, email me and we will set you up for that also…….best,
Gail