I'll definitely do this again

I had a client meeting yesterday and wanted to at least appear professional. I thought it was funny that everyone thought I was dressed up. However because I'm just getting started in my profession I think it's important show people what they expect to see when they're paying for advice and guidance from a lawyer. I certainly don't want people devaluing my services simply because I look like my advice should be free and rendered out the back of a van. But I think that's the subject of a completely different thread and how today's society sees very little reason to put any effort at all into self presentation. (I'm putting away my portable soap box).

Any way. I am wearing a sweater and ponte knit dress from Banana Republic (no maternity clothes in sight). I really like the tights and shoes with this dress I've never worn them together before. I just like how the violet is enhanced by the soft gray tones in the sweater and tights. I think the houndstooth print and oversized bow on the flats are both modern and playfully professional. I will definitely do this again.

Sadly I think it was ridiculous that I had to reach for a wool sweater AND rain coat in mid may because temperatures yesterday topped out in the upper 40's and low 50's! (Our never ending winter continues -- it actually SNOWED yesterday morning north of the city).

1
2
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

34 Comments

  • pil replied 9 years ago

    The glasses are a nice finishing touch - I think you look perfect.

  • Beth Ann replied 9 years ago

    You can be my counsel any day!

    Love this color combination, and ponte is such an amazing fabric -- holds great color and has a fab balance of structure and stretch. 

    And I can vouch for that snow.  Saw it with my own eyes!

  • lyn* replied 9 years ago

    I agree with you in terms of professional appearance - I was once told by a staff member that it's not only about respecting yourself, but also about respecting those you work with (coworkers, patients/clients), and the art of your craft. I try to impress this upon others, but they shrug and say they prefer to wear rumpled surgical scrubs (in a specialty where you have no need to wear rumpled surgical scrubs). One thing I really liked about ex-Boy's dad was that he dressed up even though he didn't have to (surgical specialty).

    Your ponte dress is such a stunning column of colour :) I have had some bad luck with the weather around here too - it was quite chilly the other day, but I had to do the bare leg thing anyway! Rebel!

  • Susie replied 9 years ago

    Such a pretty color combination! I like this look because it looks professional yet approachable. It's polished without being cookie cutter.

  • dustt replied 9 years ago

    great job Counselor!! love those pale grey hose!! - and of course the specs!! I'm with you on that soapbox!!!

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    (GO AWAY SNOW. YOU ARE NOT WELCOME). 

    Yes. Repeat your gorgeous outfit, DV. The colour is magnificent against your complexion, and the specs are a fun touch. xo

  • rachylou replied 9 years ago

    Zoom! Gorgeous!

    The weather is apocalyptic.

  • Day Vies replied 9 years ago

    Lyn* - That was a very smart staff member you worked with and exactly my sentiments it shows respect for everyone involved, me the client and the work I do.
    I never understood why EVERYONE I encounter in a hospital including support staff wear scrubs when it's clear their job function has nothing to do with direct patient care. Taking a name and phone number along with data entry does not warrant scrubs. And you're right why are the scrubs always looking like they JUST came out the dryer 3 weeks ago with permanently set in wrinkles. Can you tell the pervasiveness of scrubs irritates me?

  • Zibbets replied 9 years ago

    Perfect color combo for a cool spring day! You look modern, fresh, professional and polished. Well played.

  • Adelfa replied 9 years ago

    Lovely, that violet and gray is one of my all-time faves. Did you weigh in on the pretty thread? Because you're definitely not afraid of pretty, and I love it!

  • Day Vies replied 9 years ago

    Adelfa - there's another pretty thread? I'll have to look into that. And no, I have I'm not afraid of pretty especially since my definition has expanded since joining the forum.

  • Ginkgo replied 9 years ago

    Oh my goodness, you look gorgeous and professional!

  • Nebraskim replied 9 years ago

    Beautiful. I agree with Lyn on the scrubs. My late father, an anesthesiologist, would do nightly rounds in suit and tie. He would meet immediately pre or post-op in greens but always dressed in street clothes otherwise. Four years ago my mother needed mastectomy (she is fine now) and I was impressed by how impeccably and professionally dressed her surgeon was when we met for the first consultation in his office, and also in subsequent meetings. That's an important impression. Professionals need to look the part. And both of you, Lyn and Day Vies, always favorably impress.

  • JAileen replied 9 years ago

    I love those colors together! You look great!

  • Helena replied 9 years ago

    Very pretty with a touch of retro chic ... Love it! We too are dealing with first warnings ... Will it never end!!!!

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    Beautiful and professional. You are dressed to install confidence. You can't be wrong doing that.

  • Deborah replied 9 years ago

    Gorgeous! And I love your glasses. I think you have our winter. Send it over and I will see what I can do about getting Spring to you;)

  • jackiec replied 9 years ago

    You look professional but approachable. I love that colour on you. It's so pretty with the soft grays.

  • Ornella replied 9 years ago

    Definitely do this again. You are right, the violet is beautifully enhanced.

  • ManidipaM replied 9 years ago

    Loving the grey and purple combo especially the hose. way to keep the colours right for summer without seasonal confusion for actual warmth. that hose is a great idea there.

    ps: one reason for scrubs may be to make it easier to separate staff and patients or visitors at a glance in an emergency situation?

  • Day Vies replied 9 years ago

    ManidipaM -- I think that's a fair observation. Scrubs make it easy to tell whose staff and who is not at a glance. However the support staff to which I am referring have no medical training and their primary function is to take information and answer the phone among other purely administrative functions. It is unlikely that they would be called upon to help out in a medical emergency. As a result their position doesn't warrant scrubs.

  • Isabel replied 9 years ago

    Day, you look fantastic.  The glasses and the color of the dress are really great.  I couldn't agree more that it is a matter of respect and decency for everyone involved.

    Regarding the scrubs ...and lab coats and gloves and the plastic booties ....the thing that bugs me is that people wear them outside !  I am not a germaphobe, but I worked in a research lab for quite some time and it made uber aware.  The clothes were mainly meant to keep us from contaminating our clothes and the environment around us.  It really irked me when I would go grab lunch and people would still be in the clothes or shoes or ( worst ) wearing the laytex gloves, that we used for working with radiation or cancer cells or blood. It DROVE ME nuts.  It also set up situations where people could bring contaminants back to the lab and easily kill off every cell culture we had.  I feel the same way with patient care. I believe that someone in an ER, not matter what they do there, should do everything possible to minimize exposure and contamination outside that area.  It is really not managed well. 

     One time, one of the researchers that I worked with ran around on a small wing of a major Boston hospital with the lab gloves she was using to run some radioactive experiments with me.  I literally followed her trail with a geiger counter...hand rails in stair wells, the buttons on the patient elevator- all radioactive...I had to report it and then 3 floors had to be shut down and decontaminated.  Of course, she was furious with me because she got a very strict warning from the hospital. All because she found it "cumbersome" to take her gloves on and off.  She did the same with her contaminated lab coat.

  • Day Vies replied 9 years ago

    Isabel -- you bring up an excellent point about research. I had a really good friend right out of college who worked in brain research. She definitely wore the lab coat (with cute outfits underneath). To your point, it certainly makes sense that the lab coat, gloves, booties, etc. have a specific purpose other than to say "look @ me I work in the medical field". I'm glad there's someone as conscientious as you around who doesn't think the rules are simply there as an oppressive tool, but to protect the research and the public. That woman needed to be called on her bad behavior because it puts everyone at risk. It's that kind of thinking that spreads contagions and aids in the creation of super bugs (Can you tell I'm a stickler for rules and the policies that support them?).

  • MsLuna replied 9 years ago

    This is such an amazing outfit! I love the ponte dress with the pearls!

  • Catnip replied 9 years ago

    This is a beautiful, flattering and very professional outfit.  The violet and light gray are perfect together, and the specs add a touch of drama.  I love it!

  • Aubergine replied 9 years ago

    The purple is gorgeous on you and you certainly look polished and professional!

  • Janet replied 9 years ago

    How did I miss this until now? What a gorgeous color combination, and yes, you absolutely convey professionalism with personality. You and MaryK are masters of that!

  • cheryl replied 9 years ago

    You look beautiful!

  • Ledonna N. replied 9 years ago

    You are really a lovely glowing professional. When we look our best and put in the effort I think it is well worth it.

  • lyn* replied 9 years ago

    Isabel - That's nuts! Man, that's probably why my ovaries don't work; all the radioactivity at work!

  • kkards replied 9 years ago

    Oh my, somehow I missed this one. You look fab in that color. And I love how well it plays with the grey. Great colors and outfit for the spring that doesn't seem to have sprung.

  • CocoLion replied 9 years ago

    Definitely an 11 out of 10.  Love the color scheme, and your glasses perfect the outfit.

  • Gaylene replied 9 years ago

    Lovely outfit and very professional. And I totally agree with the idea of professional dress. The last time I visited my mum in the hospital it was hard to distinguish the nursing staff from the cleaners. Everyone from the doctors to the floor moppers were in scrubs.

  • Isabel replied 9 years ago

    Day, LOL ! Yeah, I am a bit of a "procedure" kinda gal too!

    Lyn, it is particularly tough in research and teaching hospitals. But the same goes for dealing with patients or being in a room with someone who has contagions. You should switch to clean clothes or take off lab coat before going anywhere. People have forgotten the original purpose of scrubs, IMO.

    Oh and day looks AH MAZING !

You need to be logged in to comment