Work wear - fun in the wearing or just plain wearying?

There was a time when getting ready for work was a considered event...

Look, I'm not saying I was working during the "Mad Men" era.  I'm not quite that old. Though sometimes, when it comes to fashion, I do feel that I was born in the wrong time.  I did love the way they dressed in the 50's and 60's .  Now that was an art form!  However, when I did enter the work force in the mid 80's there was still a certain expectation, a certain formality that was required in the office.  The Clerical Union even had a little code of conduct book on the expectations of dress in the workplace.  And I followed it to the "t".

I would never have dreamed of turning up to work with wet hair, without wearing pantyhose or a slash of bright lippie.  That was just not the done thing.  Plus this was the 80's - I mean if there was ever a time for excess, this was it.  If it didn't have a bow, shiny coloured plastic, stiletto heels, sparkles or you couldn't slap a Suzanne clip onto it (kiwi flashback) then it wasn't worth wearing.

I loved my snoods, scrunchies and diamante broaches. I loved my multi-coloured metal, bling and plastic earrings. I've kept a few of those sparkly, dynasty inspired and plastic numbers. As I embark on my spiritual journey of minimalism, I just can't throw them out because of the fantastic memories they evoke.  Plus, surely this is one fashion trend that just has to make a comeback...surely?  And when it does...well, I will be more than prepared.

Way to jazz up an outfit!

Certainly fashion has become a little more lax these days, a little less formal, and i have to say, a little more boring.  

Now it's hard to stop the blending of my casual wardrobe into my work wardrobe.  Back in the days of yore!!! there was a distinct demarcation line in my wardrobe.  This was for work, and that was for play.  My first thought after my long bus-ride home from the inner city, was to walk in the door, and remove my work-clothes.  These were to be kept in pristine condition and never to be worn around the house.  

I had my party clothes and they were sacrosanct.  And probably, on occasion, a little indecent so they had they own wee space in my wardrobe and my heart.  The world of day-light hours just wasn't ready for my leatherette skirt!  As for my office clothes?  As soon as I grew sick of a work item, or it was looking a little worse for wear, then it could migrate into my casual wardrobe.  I still do this now.  If my clothes are for "best" then I hate wearing them to the office, because suddenly they loose that sparkle, that feeling of occasion. Which is kind of crazy when I'm working out of a capsule wardrobe.  And that is the reason that one of my stipulations to myself was that special occasions would not count and that I could dip back into the sparkle if required.  

As for the advent of lycra (or spandex - depending where in the world you live), I blame this for my ever growing waistline.  Back then there was no such thing as give in the fabric of the clothing in my wardrobe.  Most suit items I owned were cotton or linen.  Clothes were firm and, yes it must be said, sometimes not that comfortable to wear.  But if it looked good, who cared?  With a firm waistband, you felt that muffin or extra sandwich as effectively as a corset.  So while my non-forgiving waistbands kept my waistline in check, now that I'm older ...well, thank goodness for two way stretch.

But there is a hint of nostalgia for those power shoulder pads, so wide that I would have to turn sideways to pass through a door frame, and I am sure they were so flattering for my 5 foot 2 inch frame (that's 159 cm for those who can work out height metrically - I'm still not there yet).  But who cared.  Working Girl was the movie to watch, and the inspiration for many an office worker's wardrobe choices.

Office Look circa late 80's - not too much bling.  I was told to remove my oversized earrings for this formal office photo.
Probably a good thing as there might have been too much competition with my hair and eyeliner

Nowadays, I look at the way women dress for work in New Zealand and find it hard to distinguish between corporate and casual Friday.  

For me I still have four distinct looks for my job.  The first is a uniform that I am required to wear occasionally.  As i have no say or input into this, I wear it as required, and always ensure my hair is professionally styled in a bun or such.  Then there is the corporate wardrobe, when I am required to dress a little more formally.  This is my favourite look.  And does incorporate a whole lot of monochromatic!

Bursting with colour - a week's worth of corporate wardrobe

The third is my every day office wear - usually skirts and trousers with cardigans and jerseys. Finally is my casual Friday look which I can only wear once or twice a month depending on what is required of me in my job.  Black or dark blue jeans with a jersey, or jacket and flats or boots.  A great way to head home at the end of the day, ready to start the weekend.  But it still feels a little strange to me...wearing jeans in the office, though a lot of younger women and men feel that a pair of jeans is a piece of clothing that can be worn any day of the week.  Is it me that is holding onto this old fashioned sense of how to dress for the office?  I am now surprised to see a male colleague wear a tie these days.  

What's your look for the office?  Have we got too relaxed in our style of dressing, or are we exactly where we are meant to be with our freedom of dress?