Let me start by saying that the work place is probably the most unforgiving,
judgmental place when it comes to what people wear and how they look. This
is because the office is a competitive environment -- you pretty much have
a conflict of interest with everybody around you. Everyone is consciously
or unconsciously trying to influence/manipulate others. And learning about
them through what they wear and how they carry themselves is a critical part
of the game.
A person who is put together and takes care of herself automatically gives
the impression that she is disciplined, pays attention to the details, and
has sufficient EQ to understand the social implications of how she looks.
Yes, you can say but our CEO comes to work in t-shirts and shorts -- well,
the CEO has already paid his dues and can afford not caring about how others
judge him by his looks, not you.
So, here are a few things that come to mind:
Being physically fit trumps everything. If you are a marathon runner and
regularly logs 25+ miles per week (which means you are probably an ace at
work too), you can pretty much get away with anything you feel like wearing
and still have respect from all the men and women.
Dress to your job and rank. The right to wear certain clothes in a work
environment has to be earned. For example, a high-end suit, expensive
designer shoes/bags/jewelry, etc., can only be worn after you've achieved a
certain status in the pyramid. You can only wear the "fuck-you" look after
you have attained the "fuck-you" money/power. Otherwise, you'll be seen as
a fake, and you'll have a big bull's eye on your back and suffer from
ridicule and resentment, especially from other women.
However, dressing appropriately doesn't mean dressing down. A safe rule is
to dress 10% better than other women in the same rank, but not so much
better to turn heads. (It's less risky, however, to dress significantly
better than men.) Also, find a style that fits your physique and
personality, and stick with it. Don't carry out fashion experiment at work.
If you want to change your style, do it gradually. In general, don't wear
jeans -- they tend to make people forget that you are a woman; unless you
wear them in such a way that it's part of an overall chic, feminine look (
for example, slim, straight jeans, fitted tweed jacket, and elegant high
heels -- for a casual Friday).
BTW, here is a simple way to always dress 10% better than others, even when
you are wearing exactly the same thing -- make everything FIT! Very rarely,
the ready-to-wear stuff you get in stores would fit you 100%. Pants,
jackets, shirts, skirts, you name it, everything can be altered. Get in the
habit of making alterations so that everything you wear (including jeans)
achieves the perfect fit you want. Get to know your tailor in town -- you
could have a brand new wardrobe without spending a lot of money if you give
all the clothes you have a proper alteration.
The bottom line: you want to dress just well enough to maximize all your
social advantages with men, without making other women your enemy.