Casual Friday is NOT the same as "Don't give AF Friday"

Believe it or not, causal Friday is not actually meant to be reward OR a party. It is an opportunity for managers and colleagues to get a sense of how you present yourself to others outside of the office. Managers assume you "get ready" for work and that you have specific clothing for the weekdays you are in attendance. Casual Friday is their way to see if you are the kind of person that is making a career with their company, or just playing the part to collect a paycheck.

Stop acting casual on casual Friday. It is a test. Pass it if you intend to move up in your industry.

Here are some winning style choices for casual Friday:

A cropped/ankle navy or charcoal grey pant, a tailored top that is a little more flirty and deconstructed than a button up blouse or the (snooze) "cardigan over a camisole", finished with ankle bootie - keep in mind if you wear navy or heather grey, your shoes can be a whiskey brown color - very sharp when worn with a cream or light colored top. If your pants are black or dark grey, pair them with a black bootie (NOT SUEDE). Only those that can adhere to the clean soft leather rule need apply.

YES! :

NOPE :

pppppplease, never wear open-toed shoes to the office. EVEN in the summer. yuck.

Not All Wolves Need Sheep's Clothing

So, according to Wikipedia - your thoughts on it's credibility as a source of truth aside - the saying "A Wolf in sheep's clothing" is an idiom of Biblical origin. It is used in common vernacular to describe a person who is pretending to be something contrary to their real character, (their real character being someone with whom contact is considered ill advised). 

I am not certain why being a wolf is such a bad thing. Being assertive and bold and even a little bitchy can do wonders for a person'a career. I know it has for mine. This does not mean that I am always this way - just that when the time is right there is nothing wrong with standing up to be heard and asking for the things (and respect) we deserve in the workplace and at home.
So, what's the point? 

The point is if you dress the part, you only have to work half as hard at being hear and taken seriously. People respect those that seem to respect themselves. If you dress like you give a shit about yourself - and your kids are dressed like you give a shit about them there is automatically a different response to you in the office and at home/out in the world in your personal life.

For a point of reference, look at the images of women below and answer the following questions:

1. Who looks like more of a bitch?
2. Who looks more knowledgeable?
3. Who do you feel you trust more (gut reaction)?
4. Who would you rather be seen at lunch with?
5. Whose children do you think look better cared for?
6. Whose husband is more handsome?
7. Would a haircut&dye, better fitted and more professional looking clothes and shoes, the right make-up and posture change your opinion of the second woman? (if you know the character the second one is playing, try and ignore that for a moment).

So, should women dress in a way that makes them seem "comfortable, approachable, innocent, and young - with no regard for professional attire simply because it makes them look more headstrong and self-sufficient?

Image Isn't Everything...Except When It Is.

I am starting B-school in the Fall. I have "un-followed" all posts unrelated to business or headline news on all of my social networking sites, and polished my LinkedIn profile. As I have made this transition several themes have been unavoidable - the most potent of which is that 'Image is Everything' and it can be re-invented over and over again. I have not decided if this is a good thing or not.

I started thinking about what is at the core of the concept of image and landed on the age-old concept of the "first impression". But, this is obviously too simplified for the times we are living in where re-invention, staying ahead of the next big idea, and liberation of style and expectations is ever-present.

So, I am starting a blog about dressing the part. Making the great first impression, and maintaing the illusion. How to stay current with fashion, corporate attire, and trends in different fields (although predominately business) with regard to the dress code of the professional world without seeming old, outdated, or "stuffy". After all, the days of wearing a pant-suit and white shirt to every interview across disciplines is dead. No wants to hang out with that person - let alone hire them and take them to meetings or conferences- dressing for corporate travel comes later.

No one wants to buy anything from the guy wearing this: