AIBU to wear bright colours at work?

[Whatsnewwithyou]

I work in a conservative male-dominated field and everyone in my office seems to wear navy or grey almost every day or at most some women wear forest green. It's not super formal though - so some women wear jackets but not suits, others cardigans and trousers. I sometimes break out of this and wear for example an ochre yellow cardigan or a cream coloured dress with black and coral stripes. Usually when I do I get some compliments but also someone will say "wow that's bright!"

So AIBU to wear bright colours? I'm.not talking about fluorescents here just say a bright cobalt instead of dark navy. Or does it look less professional and I should stick to the darker shades? What would you do?

I love my job (just dont quite know how to dress for it, and I've never been good with clothes) and am a fortysomething middle manager.

Definitely the colours, I bet you look fab!

My boss does. She has very dark hair and looks very striking with her bright coloured jackets.

Do it.

Another vote for DO IT!

Not unreasonable provided you aren't wearing an array of clashing colours and look like Timmy Mallet or something.

But it doesn't sounds like anybody at your workplace has even suggested you might be dressing inappropriately (or "unreasonably") so i don't know why you're worried.

I personally loathe wearing bright colours but I don't care/mind what anybody else does.

Definitely wear colours! And maybe other people will start to realise that they can too and the world will be a better, brighter place.

I wear bright colours, high heels and bright lippy at work, and noone has EVER said i am unprofessional. I am very dark and i look good in bright and jewel colours. Tbh its the style and cut of your clothes that makes you look professional or otherwise, not the colour.

If you are an undertaker, though, yes, bright clothes DO look odd and unprofessional!

Hahaha I'm not an undertaker! 🤣

Thanks, all. I can be quite an anxious person and while no one has said my clothes are too bright I do get told that they're bright!

Is your role customer-facing, and if so do you think they'd have any issue with it? (I can't imagine why tbh but who knows). If it's really just your co-workers, I can't imagine why any colour would matter.

Well assuming you're not an undertaker or something where dark colours are expected, I'd say go for a splash of colour. Maybe keep the dress colour conservative to begin with and colour it up with a bright jacket or scarf.

I work in a male dominated field where most people wear a charcoal grey suit. I often wear jewel colours and have blonde hair (just to point out the contrast with PPs who say it's ok as they have dark hair). I think that it makes me look more awake, and I don't have a problem with people not taking me seriously. The only person who has ever objected to my work clothes is my Dad!

My past supervisor wears incredibly bright colours head to toe when she has big meetings. She is very high up in a male dominated industry. I once asked her why. She said, as a woman in a sea of men in grey suits people notice me. It has totally worked for her, she couldn't possibly get higher than she is now. Do it. I wore red trousers with bright pink roses on them to a conference this summer, all I got were compliments and ice breaker to talk to me - those trousers networked better than I did!

Unless you're having to appear in court bright colours are great!

I am similarly in a male dominated industry and have never had any issues - though like you, it does sometimes attract comment. I love bright colours and they make me look awake and suit my colouring.

Pfffft. Look at the Prime Minister and the First Minister. Neither of them are afraid of wearing bright colours in a sea of boring male grey.

Angela Merkel too - always wears bright colours.

Always wear bright colours! I will share with you the example of my dear Nan who always wears brights (esp Purple) and my dear Gran who always wears greys and browns. Growing up I always resolved to dress like my Nan and not my Gran!

Go for it! I used to work with someone who had a wonderful array of colourful outfits even down to the shoes. It makes a change from the drabness.

I'm another one who wears a lot of colour. For work wear I'd always usually wear black/navy/grey/brown trousers or skirt with a bright coloured or a patterned top. I feel miserable in boring colours and look like crap as well because I'm pale. They just drain all the colour out of me!

Don't see why you shouldn't. I once went into work on a high level project wearing a bright red jumper and fuchsia cardigan.

I quite enjoyed the amount of winces I got that day when people clocked my colour scheme (OK, maybe it was painful on the eye).

I work in a male dominated industry and I wear bright colours. My favourite outfit is a tonal orange blouse and skirt and I have auburn hair. Am mid-senior level and I think it also helps me stand out (I like to think in a good way) so go ahead!