Although this post was penned specifically for my blog on my company's intranet, I thought I would generously share share share. (Note, it's lovingly titled, "Encyclopedia [and Fashion] Editing). Enjoy.
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This morning, my human resources department announced an adjustment to the dress code (also referred to here as a "Professional Appearance Policy") for the Legal division.
Here's a snippet:
Legal is implementing a new dress code. Beginning immediately, all of Legal will adopt a “workplace casual” dress code. This means that you are welcome to wear casual clothing to work, including jeans, on days when you don’t have customer meetings or other important events where business attire is more appropriate. Some parts of our organization have already gone to this dress code; this change is simply to make it available across our entire business.
I know that there is a wide range of casual attire, and I trust you to use good judgment when it comes to choosing your attire. We’re calling it “workplace casual” because the way you dress should reflect the care and professionalism with which you approach your work.
I'm a traditionalist through and through, so I was a bit saddened by it all. My most difficult morning for getting dressed is Friday. While in law school, most of our professors encouraged us to dress like lawyers, and due to my involvement in many organizations, and the short-notice invitations to exciting lunches and cocktail hours, I donned business attire or dresses most days. For years now, I have limited nearly all of my clothing-related spending to business attire. If something wasn't work-worthy, it didn't make it into the cart. I just didn't have the funds for a fabulous casual wardrobe, and an equally wonderful work one. My first job, as an Assistant Marketing Manager for a major cosmetics company, (unofficially) required us to be dressed to the nines, or nine-point-fives, and there was no "casual Friday." Dresses were the norm, and life would be less than worth living if you were caught in the elevator with the CEO without a shade of our company's lipstick or nail polish on. And you had better know the shade name.. At least, this is the way I remembered it. 
Obviously, the legal world is a different place, and it took some time to figure out how to find my sense of style among the charcoal pinstripes. I will never claim to be the "best dressed," or the most put-together person around, but what Ican say is that I firmly believe you work your best when you feel your best, which is usually when you look your best. My work-style reflects the pride I have in myself, and in my job at this company. I'm sure many can relate.
My Friday gear usually consists of dark jeans and a blazer. The closest I'll ever get to sweatshirts at work is a cotton blazer. And as I'll elaborate in a later post, dressing well doesn't have any relationship with your bank account. Nearly everything I own was purchased on sale, or at a thrift store. My prized oxblood tasseled loafers (which I happen to be wearing today --pictured--) were fifty whole cents at the salvation army. There's a sticker inside that says, "property of such-and-such golf club." I like to imagine some fabulous old man (maybe even a lawyer) drank a gin martini in the clubhouse in these, after a nice round of 18 played with his lucky irons. Lest we forget, when people leave their dry cleaning too long without paying and picking it up, it ends up at Goodwill. You didn't think all my Brooks Brothers non-iron button-downs were from the outlet, did you? Seven dollars later..
So obviously, this post is my measly two cents. But I've included, below, some of my favorite images of outfits, incorporating casual denim for the workplace. The first one is me, today. Yes, that was taken in the employee bathroom. I keep a collection of my favorite style images on my pinterest board: My Style
It's all in the details. Opt for colored or dark jeans, trouser or skinny styles, metallic or patent accessories and lots of jewelry. Layer a sweater, or toss on a scarf. Voila! "Workplace casual," as easy as that. Thoughts?
