By: Rebeca Garcia
Just like everything else in New Orleans, fashion in the city’s professional sphere is very unique. Especially after Katrina, it seems like a wave of young professionals has taken over along with their eclectic sense of fashion. The one thing in common? While we can’t look like corporate New Yorkers (let’s face it, Saks on Canal Place is our only ‘high end’ store, unless you can afford Ermenegildo Zegna), we really do not want to.
I work for one of the largest law firms in the South. I believe our great success and the fact that 22 of the 25 employees are female are not pure coincidence. Yes, cattiness is a reality, but something in progesterone must give you the ability of doing your job in a timely manner. The greatest side of working in a female-ruled environment, however, is that you finally get the freedom to develop and improve your fashion style. “Oh, I get it! –said my friend- Since there are very few men, competition increases, right?” I didn’t blame her for her assumption. After all, the concept of dressing up for oneself was foreign to me for a long time as well, when most of what I wore was meant for others to notice, and by ‘others’ I mean men. Although that changed over the years as my professional life started, it was not until I took my current job that I was able to bottle the essence of ‘selfish’ dress-up: when the male factor does not virtually exist, you either dress up for your own enjoyment or look like shit while doing your job. Your appearance should not only be the way you want others to see you as but the way you want to look when you leave home and every time you bump into a mirror.
Although a few fundamental rules must be followed to keep your look appropriate (right above the knee skirts or longer, no overdone cleavage, and limiting animal print to one accessory per outfit), you must get creative to avoid sinking into the monotony, stress, and carelessness that professional life may offer it you allow it. It is true that when you have more work than normal the last thing you are thinking about is tomorrow’s outfit, if you do invest the time to arrive in your office looking sharp, your day will run smoothly, or at least you will look good when it doesn’t. Your favorite colorful pumps to start the week; let it be accessory day on Tuesday, your power suit for that client meeting on Wednesday; wear the pants on Thursday, and make sure to cover your happy hour outfit with a jacket or sweater on Friday. The possibilities are endless and this is the best city to show your own style.
