<p>Just checked in with my D1 for her blazer comments. She said she wears a blazer or jacketed suit literally once a year for a big client meeting. She also says be careful shopping at Express – a lot of the stuff is too lowcut (looks like business attire on the hanger, but is not when you get it on). She recommends a site with a lot of good discussion and tips on corporate fashion, etc. (hope this is okay to post):</p>
<p>I completely agree about Express. They used to have really nice business stuff. I have a cotton circle skirt I got there for college interviews close to ten years ago that I still wear. I feel like they’ve slipped into going for sexy since then, though. I used to shop there a lot and I haven’t in a few a years at least.</p>
<p>If your daughter is in IT, I think that’s one of the more relaxed departments for dress codes often.</p>
<p>“A shoe with a well-positioned kitten heel with arch support and a wide toebox is much better for the foot than a completely flat shoe.” - Trye. But you can get good support without high heels. You don’t often see high heels for men…</p>
<p>I work at corporate headquarters for a major corporation- in the south. I am a lawyer. I wear cardigans, flats, blazers, casual dresses from REI, khakis, bright JCrew ankle pants, whatever. Our other female senior people dress similarly, depending on their personal style. I like bright colors, and get a lot of compliments. Others stick more to the neutrals. I have good luck at Limited for trousers and tops and there is ALWAYS a huge discount going on. Quality is decent and fit is good. I love JCrew and have found some great pieces at Gap- colored lightweight blazers etc. I roll my jacket sleeves up a couple of turns for a less fussy look. Agree with Pizzagirl- the anti-cardigan advice is outdated. There are lots of cute light sweater/wrap things that can add to an outfit and provide a little warmth. In the south office buildings can be very over air conditioned. </p>
<p>I don’t think a pair of nude pumps has ever entered our corporate HQ, except maybe when someone was interviewing! I’m just trying to point out that there are a lot of different cultures. Ours is not sloppy, by any means (jeans only on Friday) but a young intern would look just fine in a fitted button down shirt and nice trousers with either wedge sandals or flats.</p>
<p>I want to see an office dress code where the men have to wear some male equivalent of “kitten heels” instead of flats to be considered professional. They were very “in” about 1790.</p>
<p>Feet need to be protected. Millions of women have bunions and foot problems because they had to wear heels or other “stylish” shoes for their jobs.</p>
<p>Another vote for the blazer as an updated alternative to cardigans. J. Crew makes them with four buttons on the cuff that can be undone to roll up the sleeves. I find the blazer a more finished look than a cardigan and simply another option for variety.</p>
<p>Have also never seen nude pumps other than in patent with sky-high heels. Tod’s makes very comfortable loafers but they are not on the cutting edge of style. The rubber sole versions are much more comfortable than the leather sole pairs.</p>
<p>I echo Momofwildchild, I also work in a corporate setting in the South, a high tech company,and business casual is the norm which means khakis, slacks, pencil skirts, cardigans and any comfortable shoe, no flip flops of course. It gets awfully hot here come summer, and stormy so we dress accordingly. I dress more formally when in meetings with VPs or when conducting trainings, or conferences, but in the day to day world, neat and simple is key. </p>
<p>while it may make sense to “invest” in a wardrobe, I’d also be realistic, her attire may change a bit as she matures in her career, and spending a large amount on expensive clothing particularly for an internship is not necessary. Brooks Bros perhaps on Wall st, but not in a business casual southern setting.</p>
<p>My mom said just a few days ago that her generation ruined their feet with high heels. She is in her 80s and has terrible foot problems (can barely walk now). I told her my girls very rarely wear heels, and I don’t wear them more than a couple of times a year any more either. Twenty years ago when I was a young professional she would have hassled me about wearing flats, but she has come to her senses given the health problems heels have caused for her.</p>
<p>This is a common misconception that a kitten heel is a spiky stiletto about 3" high. A kitten heel is any heel that is 1"'or less (wedges included). Modern men do wear equivalents of such heels - they are just built into the sole so you don’t see them. Take a sneaker and examine it closely - the sole is not flat, the heel is higher than the toe area. Really flat shoes (flipflops and most cheap ballet flats sold at stores geared towards teens) cause a lot of damage to the wearer’s feet. Shoes is not something I would skimp on - well made shoes that do not hurt the feet are worth their price. D departed to her Central Asian destination with a couple of pairs of Tod’s wegde flats bought on sale at Nordstrom’s - she thanked me (but we got her shirts and pants at the outlet mall dirt cheap). Toms shoes pass the test because they have wider toe box and some arch cushioning.</p>
<p>The flattest shoe is no shoe at all, which humans were using for millenia before inventing shoes, and which some humans use today (including some champion distance runners).</p>
<p>Various sources on the web do not seem to agree on the definition of “kitten heel”, but all include shoes with heels significantly higher than 1".</p>
<p>I feel as if Michelle Obama has somewhat redefined acceptable clothing styles for corporate offices ( as opposed to the stodgy styles of Hilary Clinton). Obama has demonstrated very successfully that “power” outfits do not have to consist only of blazers and muted colors. Women can wear bright colors, fun shoes, and current styles without losing that edge. My daughters would not go near a blue blazer and a khaki skirt with a 10 ’ pole. I feel as if that look is severely outdated</p>
<p>ucb, you should try walking or better yet running in some of the flats I mentioned in my post. They make walking absolutely unnatural.</p>
<p>Sure, if a retailer can call a grey dress “manatee” colored, a 3" heel can be sold as a kitten heel shoe. An inch or less, which is the correct definition, and that’s what I meant in my post. I stand by my advice: kitten heel (an inch or less), wider toe box, and arch support.</p>
<p>Be sure to check your local Goodwill or Salvation Army for good deals on high quality things! I don’t know if its just the Goodwills in my area but I am always finding good quality Ann Taylor and Limited professional clothing.
I’m in involved in a lot of activities that require me to dress professionally and while I love the Loft and personally shop there all the time, I don’t think it’s a great idea if the environment is more conservative. I would say buy classic items (black blazer, black skirt, black pants, etc) build outfits around those for the first week THEN feel out what seems to appropriate in this office.
Best of luck!</p>
<p>BB - interesting, I never heard of a wedge being included in the definition of a kitten heel. I come from a family in the shoe business, my father designed shoes for major retailers, and a kitten heel was an actual heel.</p>
<p>I think a wedge is a nice way for a young girl to get some height without the fussiness of heels.</p>
They make walking absolutely unnatural.</p>