To think that you 'get on better' in work/ life

[Elfina]

...if you dress up more?

Slightly disingenuous post as I'm not sure.

Obviously, it depends on your context. I work in the NHS,and although I feel like being comfy, I wonder whether I'd get more respect etc if I wore heels and make up.

What do you all think?

I think that brushed hair, clean nails and ironed clothes are more important than lack of make-up. I guess I'd only notice lack of make-up if it meant you looked "tired" or unprofessional.

Looking presentable doesn't come naturally to me, so I've had times when I didn't make an effort. I can tell you that things go far, far better when I have made the effort with a hair cut and smart clothes. Whether that's down to confidence and feeling the part though, I couldn't tell you.

I think the main thing that gets women judged badly (and to a lesser extent men) is being over-weight.

I have done both smart & non-smart for jobs in this manner, I used to work with young people as a careers adviser going into schools, the expectation was smart / casual, no denim or trainers to teach teenagers about professional work attire but dressing in a glam fashion (skirt, heels, low cut top, lots make up) was considered frowned upon as not appropriate when working with teenagers. I also had a boyish figure not hour glass so trousers & smart blouses / tops suit me more. Since changing jobs to work as HE Admissions Adviser, again dress code is smart / casual, but some of my colleagues (mostly female) wear dresses or skirts & long cardigan combinations and this is accepted as we don't have a student facing role. Our recruitment colleagues who work on campus & travel the UK and World to promote the university are expected to be much more smart (& glamourous if female) and as such are people with different dress code & personalities to us as have been hired to promote reputation of the university. I joined a year ago and am now 37 weeks pregnant - since being pregnant I have mostly looked like a bag lady as I have stuck to trousers, top and baggy jumpers to cover the bump & fit my waist & hips, which are now a completely shape to my old size 8 boyish figure. I hate it, but have no choice and have found it impossible to find smart work clothes to fit as most shops only sell online these days so you can't try anything on, most things I bought have fitted for approx 2 / 3 weeks, then I've to buy more, other than one pair of linen trousers from Next, the jumpers & some t-shirt tops to go under them; blousers are out as anything that would fit is just too expensive. I know for a fact this has impacted on managers perception of me & may harm my career; roll on birth & losing some baby weight I say!!

I think the perception by society is that women in the workplace shouldn't look like a bag lady, even if role is not glamourous or customer facing, but that there is pressure to look appropriately dressed from employers whatever the weather or glamourous by the magazines, who pressume everyone else also works in a magazine office in london. Sometimes real people have to be more practical. Whereas for men it is easier as can do suited and booted or smart casual with trousers, top/shirt jumper very easily depending on their job role.

I agree with Vivicia that weight is a factor in people's perception of an individual (for women & men) though as with all things of that nature (looks, make up etc.) It shouldn't be; it should be can they do the job?

Vivacia - apologies.