Dressing for a promotion

[glideandglint]

I've recently had a promotion which will involve going from a largely desk-bound job to being in more senior meetings and giving presentations (eek, what have I done?!) and I have a touch of the old imposter syndrome.

I work in higher education, so it's very much anything goes sartorially, from scruffy t-shirts to business suits. I tend to strike a happy medium of smart/casual; in winter, boots, black tights, fitted dress and warmer layer if needed, in summer, smart top and trousers or skirt and usually flat shoes.

I remember a thread on here ages ago about dressing like a secretary vs a manager (not my words) and it stuck with me that there is a certain unspoken expectation of how you should dress for your seniority.

I'm conscious of not wanting to come across as a) a junior member of staff who dresses that way b) someone who has got ideas above their station and has suddenly started power dressing.

Am I overthinking this?

Would you expect a 'manager' or 'secretary' to dress differently? Are we a bit beyond this in 2018 or does it still matter? If it does matter what would you expect a manager to avoid? (Nb I have already ruled out crop tops, leisure wear and pyjamas )

Good question.

You want to avoid nylon for a start off. It's a bit different in academia because the 'code' tends to be a bit unique anyway.

I'd say it depends too on which faculty I. E. Faculty of Arts and Science would be different to a business/ economics department. For a business role I'd wear a traditional suit, for a more arty role something more 'accessible' I. E. A blazer, but maybe in velvet, for example. Could be worn with dark cigarette trousers and a silk shirt underneath, for example.

Does that sound like a good place to start?

Would you expect a 'manager' or 'secretary' to dress differently? Are we a bit beyond this in 2018 or does it still matter?

^^

To answer your questions....

Yes, and
Yes.

I’m an executive assistant and work for a woman who sits on our company’s board. We actually have a lot of the same clothes and have on more than one occasion worn the same thing to work in different colours... So no I wouldn’t expect a manager and a secretary to dress differently for day to day work, excluding scenarios where the manager would be dressed to see a client. And it’s 2018, many offices are casual or semi casual anyway. Obviously academia is a bit different though! But most importantly congrats on the promotion.

Good jacket. Hair up.

Avoid nylon? I've been in many a board meeting, with variously dressed people, and not once have I thought 'hmm...wearing nylon...must be the secretary'. Mad comment.

I think academia is fairly relaxed, isn't it?

I'm quite senior (in commerce), I wear dresses all the time. Rules - I always wear tights; flat shoes; dresses always have sleeves and some structure (so not too fitted, not clingy jersey/knit) and no cleavage (that can be harder than you'd think if you have boobage).

I find silk really horrible for work, it's too warm, it marks really easily, plus it's a pain to launder. So, oh horror, I and many other people wear nylon/raylon/polyester etc which needs only a quick cool wash, spin and can hang to dry, no ironing.

Life is too short to be laundering silk.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

I've been doing a lot of people watching this week, there really does seem to be no code in the university environment, which is a bit bufuddling. I'll also be meeting with staff from academic and central depts, arts, sciences, business... and each of those is different.

Then there are the different campus buildings with air con, full blast heating or ancient leaky windows, so I'll need layers too.

I think as long as I have a fairly structured jacket I'll feel mentally more managerial. Silly really but it's a bit like putting armour on!

I forgot to add, because the range of clothing is so diverse, I've got used to not prejudging people by their appearance so hopefully they'll do me the same courtesy.

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