So, a question for the ages, what do I wear for my first day in the office tomorrow?

[Soph0571]

New job starts tomorrow and I have wardrobe conflictions. It looks like the COO does full on corporate. But everyone else is semi formal. I have the choice of suit dress and jacket, or trousers, professional top and a more relaxed Ralph Lauren jacket. I need to get everyone's buy in because I am about to shake up their world, so being too pins and stripes might get create barriers. On the other hand my COO is my COO. I think I might be over thinking this.

[LakeArenal]

1. Semi formal to me means trousers with the Ralph Lauren jacket.

FWIW.

[Lars39]

2. What can you still fit in?

I know I’ve been stress eating a bit.
Congrats on your new job!

[Soph0571]

5. LOL the last few weeks have been a bit of stretch

luckily everything still fits if only just. I have been trying on both to try and make my decision. *sigh*

[Lars39]

10. If this is the first face to face, dress as far up the food chain as you want to go. :)

[Soph0571]

12. Oh you make a really good point.

Of course I want to be back on a board asap. hhhhmmm

[mitch96]

17. Exactly, dress like the boss until your totally in the door... nt

[Siwsan]

3. Congrats!!

I'd vote for the trouser outfit.

[Soph0571]

6. So looking forward to getting out the house

it has been a long 2020! It is a very nice outfit. Going back into my wardrobe to my work clothes is like soooo 2019.

[spooky3]

4. I think you should start dressed up; you can always dress down

later. And, you can always take a jacket off on that first day. If someone were to give you a hard time in the event that you seem overdressed, you can just say you need time to learn the norms.

[Major Nikon]

21. Not wearing underwear would limit your options

[Dream Girl]

7. Wat industry are you in?

I would opt for pants vs. a dress. I don’t see many women wearing dresses or skirts these days. But it varies so much by where you live. On the west coast tech sector, we are super casual. I say try to appear buttoned up but relaxed. Not trying too hard.

[Soph0571]

8. I am in London which by nature is more formal

I am in a sector you will never heard of in the states. The Independent Learning Provider sector.

[alittlelark]

9. Simple basic dark knee length skirt, simple shirt w/good collar

CASUAL jacket - and a piece of casual statement jewelry.

Make sure u r not 'one of them' - the bosses. U r u and u r accessible.

U will have MINIONS.

[Sanity Claws]

11. The second outfit, if limited to picking between the two outfits.

I don't know what kind of office you will be working in but in my world, that first outfit would be appropriate only if meeting with clients or otherwise have a formal meeting.

My advice is based on my work in law firms in Seattle and NYC.

[Soph0571]

13. Well not limited exactly

I have many formal suits and many semi-formal outfits. I have a creaking room of doom from spending far too much money over the years on these things,

[Sanity Claws]

14. How long have you been in London?

Can you gauge how people dress in an office by looking at how people dress in the Tube or in the area around the office? For example, in NYC, you would definitely see a different dress code around Wall Street than you would around the Flat Iron district.

[pnwest]

15. If it were me - I'd dress pretty formally

the first day - let the COO and everyone else know that things are going to be serious. Then after that, go semi, so as to be approachable.

[PJMcK]

16. Congratulations on your new job!

Best of luck, Soph.

My suggestion is to dress formally at first since that's how the COO dresses. At least at first. Once you've settled in, you can probably lighten up a bit.

I hope this works well for you!

[AmyStrange]

18. Hopefully, clothes...

-

Sorry, but I couldn't resist.
=========

[flamin lib]

19. What Lars39 said in post #10.

Make a first impression and soften it later if need be. You only get one first impression.

Feel like doing a happy dance for ya'.

[Tribalceltic]

20. You will look great!

And you will Rock them, I can feel it!

[Fla Dem]

22. Good luck in your new job! You'll be fabulous whatever you wear!

[Niagara]

23. Good luck, Soph.

I'm sure you'll do great no matter what you choose to wear.

[GemDigger]

24. Your day should be just about done now,

I hope you had a great first day back at the grind.

[Soph0571]

25. 11 hour day! Just in the door

And it was great. I fitted right in. And now I am off to do some financial profiling. LOL

[GemDigger]

26. To you on your first day!