It’s no secret that I love fashion. Hip, fashionable clothing and accessories make me feel like I’m on top of the world. I feel better about myself when I’m confident in my looks, and staying in fashion always helps me in this regard. Yep, nothing like a new pair of shoes, a new outfit or some new bling to make this girl feel great.
I’ve learned a lot about fashion over the years, especially what works for me and what doesn’t. Things like proper fit, accessorizing in proportion to my size and what constitutes a great handbag. Success, when it comes to fashion, means understanding that while something may be “in” and look great on others, if it doesn’t look good or work for me, then it’s not going to do one thing for me confidence-wise. Not to mention the stares I would receive walking down the street. Nicki Minaj is willing to go where no person should go when it comes to fashion, but for most of us that kind of styling is just wrong on so many levels.
It’s amazing how this can be applied to my job search/career.
- Shoes – For me, shoes can be summed up in one word: fit. Despite what many will tell you, most shoes will not magically “stretch” to fit better. If they are not comfortable in the store, they will not get better at home. My feet have experienced enough blisters trying this. With narrow feet I have difficulty finding stylish (read “hip”) shoes that will stay on my feet. Oh, I can find narrow shoes – as long as I don’t mind plain, utilitarian, granny shoes. Ick! When I do find shoes that are both stylish and stay on my feet, I will pay almost any price for them – and purchase them in multiple colors.
- Handbags – Architects tend to argue “form over function”. So do fashion designers. Yet those of us who must schlep our necessities, including 3 shades of lipstick need more than good form. When it comes to handbags there should be a balance; the bag must look good but also be functional, with enough pockets and zippers as well as a comfortable handle/strap.
- Clothing – So much to say here. Let’s start with overall fit – with everything from petite to plus sizes; juniors, slim fit, low rise, etc. – there is almost enough variety to make things work right off the rack. I’m not a fan of alterations, which in some cases means almost remaking the item entirely. If it doesn’t fit properly to begin with, why try to force it? Same thing with the styles. Runway fashion is not for the masses. Not to mention that those six foot tall, 90 lb models could wear a trash bag and make it look great. For the rest of us, we have to work with our body type. Age-appropriate clothing is another thing. While I don’t 100% agree that I need to dress a certain way because I’m slightly older than fresh out of college, there are some styles that are just plain wrong for anyone over the age of 35. Yes, I can still shop at Forever 21. I just make sure to put my age-filter glasses on to avoid choosing the wrong pieces. I certainly don’t want to show up wearing the exact same outfit as my college-aged nieces.
So what does any of this have to do with my career?
- The company and job have to be right for me. Just like shoes, fit is everything. If anything – company culture, job responsibilities, commute – is not a fit, then it’s not the right opportunity. As with my quest for stylish shoes in my size, it may take time to find the right job, but when I do, it’s worth the effort.
- Like a great handbag, there has to be the right mix of “form and function”: the right blend of opportunity, responsibilities and benefits that work for me as well as the company.
- Unlike clothing, companies cannot be altered to fit my needs. None of us should expect the company or boss to suddenly change because we’ve been hired. If the culture is not something I feel comfortable in, that’s not a good sign – almost as much as the type of work I’ll be doing. Just like fashion, I can try to be “one of them” by wearing the same styles, yet it probably won’t work in the long run.
Who knew that all that time spent at the mall was actually good for my career? Remember: good fit applies to work as well as a great outfit.
Like Tami, I was terminated once (By my best friend, BTW – he is now on the board of the agency I lead, so I got him back – ha!), but you don’t have to be unemployed to learn something from this book. 
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