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25 Things a Professional Woman Should Never Wear

Kayla Baxter, Anna Hennings, and Alice Handley | Excelle

May 26, 2009

We hate to admit it, because we personally feel that clothes shouldn’t matter. In a perfect world, a person would be judged at their workplace based solely on the caliber of their work. Unfortunately, that’s not how the world works.

How you choose to dress each morning reflects how you feel about your job – that you take your position seriously, that you are ready to work and that you pay attention to detail and know what you expect to encounter that day. You wouldn’t go to a construction site in your favorite four-inch stilletos, right? Of course not, you’d go in a hard hat, because it’s appropriate for the situation. Appearances matter!

We’ve all been there, though. The days you wake up feeling sick, but still have to make it into the office, so you throw on any old thing that’s (kind of) clean. The office where you never see anyone but your hated boss and your frumpy coworkers. The jobs you work from home in your pajamas and no makeup.

Regardless of the excuses, there are some things that professionals should just never wear. Ever.

We’ll show you what these things are, why they’re a terrible wardrobe choice and if you’re guilty of having one in your closet – or (gasp!) in your daily rotation – we’ll give you a much better alternative.

The First Fashion Faux Pas →


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  • Sassy_4-15-08_max50

    cfulghum37

    4 months ago

    428 comments

    I hate to say it but I am guilty of a few of these at times. Karoline - I agree!!! If my manager complimented me on an outfit, I would definitely wear it again. Where I work we wear business casual and we know our dress code and do adhere to it.

  • Richard_max50

    ricki

    5 months ago

    13298 comments

    I agree to these rules! Even with working in manufacturing, you see people abuse these rules alot. When you go to college/universities, you would want to follow these same rules. You may want an instructor for an reference! So please take these seriously!

  • Englebreit_max50

    Karoline

    5 months ago

    22 comments

    This was great. LOL But, I disagree with the UGGS, flip flops and scrunchies. Many of us wear these items at work and with no adverse reactions! This was so funny! But, if my manager complimented me on an outfit, I'd definitely wear it again...and again.

  • Jfloyd1_max50

    jennie1

    5 months ago

    6 comments

    If you are an actor, like me, it is okay to wear Uggs on set, between takes, to rest your feet. We do it all the time.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    SMEILSTRUP

    5 months ago

    18 comments

    iI just got around to reading it again, but DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Jane_max50

    AJaneChambers

    5 months ago

    440 comments

    At the first law firm my manager let me know what not to wear - if he complimented something I wore, then I never wore it again.

  • Lorem_max50

    LoremIpsum

    5 months ago

    2 comments

    Hahaha! I really loved reading this article! The exceptions were particularly funny!

    Some people think Im pretty uptight about what and what not to wear at work, but Im surprised to find out that Im actually guilty of 1 thing! I still wear a small plain scrunchie every once in a blue moon. Maybe Ill just opt to wear that at home then. Hehe!!

  • My_picture2_max50

    bonnieppi

    5 months ago

    32 comments

    This was a really fun article. You would think that most of it goes without saying, but I have seen all of the above in the workplace. It's not that you can't wear any of the aforementioned to the office (if you can put it on, you can wear it), but you shouldn't wear it to the office if you don't want to jeopardize your professional image.

  • Belkis_ar02_max50

    Belkis

    5 months ago

    152 comments

    I agree with all of them and it was pretty funny to see some of them.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    Kwarning

    5 months ago

    2 comments

    I wear fashion hats every day as a finishing touch to my outfit. I take if off in the office but wear it when I leave the building. I have had men tell me I got a favorable decision because they found the hat as a show of confidence. There is a difference between sport hats and fashion hats that compliment outfits.

  • Book_max50

    reneelkw

    5 months ago

    46 comments

    This is a fun article but... it does amaze me that there are 50,000+ visits to this article, more than anything else I have seen Excelle post. What does that say about today's woman? Are clothes too important and are we judging each other too much on appearance?

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    Arika27

    5 months ago

    2 comments

    It was obvious to me why some of those things were,metioned, I truly do not wear about any thing that was in the list. Jewelry wise I wear a necklace, watch and earrings.

  • Hpim1902_max50

    kbtordai

    5 months ago

    708 comments

    Great advice and funny too! Thumbs up...

  • Audrey_max50

    RedHorse7

    5 months ago

    24 comments

    Common sense should dictate your office style. Look for the most successful woman in the workplace and mirror her sense of fashion. As for the looooong nails, I can't imagine how anyone could type, write, or do any kind of data entry with those claws. I'm especially puzzled as to how she can perform basic bathroom etiquette.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    mlneuman

    5 months ago

    2 comments

    I don't believe in make up and I think to tell women they must wear it is wrong. What is so wrong with being yourself?

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