Do you work in an office where jeans are acceptable? Me too – and at first, I hated it. I like getting dressed up for work. But now I’m getting used to it, and I’m seeing all the benefits that allowing your employees to wear what makes them comfortable brings. I actually see a difference – they feel like their choices are respected, that their requests were heard, and they act more confident with their peers. It’s so cool! SO – I’m on board. For the most part…
There was a while where I rejected wearing jeans and decided I was going to keep doing it my way – traditional business casual yet fashion-foward(ish). But I started to realize over time that I was setting myself apart from the rest of the people at work – and not in a good way. It was as if I was putting a wall between us, or rejecting their way of doing things. When I’m trying to build trust as an HR professional, that wasn’t going to cut it.
So, I’ve found a way to mix my love of getting dressed up with wearing the jeans – by choosing pieces that are still like my traditional business casual outfits that are made from denim! Blazers, skirts, chambray button downs, dresses, and even trouser-cut pants are all out there on the racks these days. Why not try one of these options? This denim dress is one of my recent Rent the Runway Unlimited items, and I loved wearing it to work. It’s super-structured and has some military vibes, so it telegraphed power and confidence while still being jeans-y. I added the boots and belt to coordinate with the buttons and to add a little Elise-ness to it, as well. Next week I’m going to pair a chambray button down with cropped black pants and loafers.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE DENIM PIECES TO WEAR? DO YOU WEAR DENIM TO WORK?
