Good job selling out, poser! Now you're one of the sheeple, working for the Man. You're just proving your parents right that the goth thing was just a phase. Too bad you've colored your hair and had gotten those piercings and tattoos! Should have listened to your high school dean about all those dress code violations...they really WERE trying just to prepare you for the working world.
Of course, that's all bullshit. I think the whole "selling out" stigma was more a thing in my age group--people starting their careers now are a lot more worldly about this sort of thing. But obvs, having a career and supporting yourself are wonderful things. Changing yourself for the company you work for is also bullshit. Having virgin skin and hair is also not a stigma. And your high school dean was probably a pedophile.
workwear by featuring a slim-fit shirt
Congrats on the new job. Now it's time to get dressed for it. Despite whatever HR told you, you don't know what the office culture is really like yet. Unless your entire wardrobe is pentagrams and pot leafs, I suggest you wait until you buy work clothes. HR tells you it's "business casual" but in your particular department, everyone wears suits. HR tells you jeans only on casual fridays, but it's monday and everyone's in denim, and you're the weird one in a suit. Or you buy conservative officewear, and everyone at work dresses like a chic gallery owner, and you end up being the frumpy one.
So, don't waste your money beforehand. Sorry, you're going to have to go through some "baby office bat" days. Look inside your closet. These are ok:
- that really subdued piece you never wore because it was too boring
- black stuff with zero embellishments (like skull buttons or other stupid bullshit.)
- jewelry made with real stones, real metals.
- Basically, the plainer, the better.
- cotton, cotton blends, linen, wool, suede
- color: sorry, but people respond well to color. (Don't know how to incorporate color without losing your soul? I've written a number of posts on colors)
It's the first week. Don't let people judge you for what you're wearing. Let them know you for you.
DO NOT WEAR
- any taxidermy stuff. People are grossed out by this, and they'll be grossed out by you.
- lace or anything else romantic-looking: the opposite of casual isn't formal. Don't look like a total noob by wearing a cocktail dress to work. You don't want everyone to know this is your first job.
- goth brand versions of workwear. OMG no. Save that Lip Service pencil skirt for the club.
- Vinyl, PVC, pleather, vegan leather. You want to be comfortable at work.
- no licensed gear ever. ever ever. Let them know you for your professionalism and competencies, not your fandoms.
- T-shirts with slogans or ironic stuff on them. This is usually on the dress code. You don't want your first impression to be that you think this job is a joke.
- If you have gauged piercings, do not wear anything in a clashing color (this usually means acrylics). One person said she was "grossed out" by my tunnels, so I don't recommend tunnels for the first week either. If you have nontraditional piercings, wear retainers or nothing if you can.
The first week:
- First day, get a sense of what people wear in your department. Wear something similar the rest of the week.
- Pay attention to the color palette your manager wears. It's a weird subliminal trick to wear what your manager wears (in your style of course) so they like you more. It's probably going to happen anyway--Lol there was one day in the office when everyone in my dept wore maroon.
- Let your work ethic shine, not your wardrobe.
- Do your best to make a good impression. Once you've made your first good impression, then you can express yourself a bit more.
- Don't apologize for things you can't or won't change about your body. Don't be combative or mean if someone makes a comment--this isn't a random person on the street...this is a colleague--but don't apologize. Ever. Offices have a pecking order, and if you let them push you around over your hair, your tattoos, your whatever, they're going to think they can push you around during your day-to-day tasks as well.
Anyone want to share tips for the new grads getting their first job?
