At home, I'm one of those no-make-up, pulled-whatever-I-found-out-of-the-closet, no-jewelry, wearing-my-grandma-slippers types. When I go to events or go out, I try to at least cover the black and bags under my eyes, and check that my clothes are neat and match. And not surprisingly, wearing my "work armor" (some makeup, jewelry, a suit, a nice scarf) makes me feel more comfortable in my "work" role.
A friend of mine who used to work from home once told me that she learned to go into "work mode" by getting dressed properly and working in a designated "work space" in her home. Before she'd been working in her PJs, and work and other life had gotten mixed up. I feel that way with being dressed for work. I don't overdress, nor do I wear fancy, expensive clothes or jewelry, but it's a symbolic change - and I change back when I get back home (also because I feel sweaty in suit jackets, and having three young kids would end in daily trips to the dry-cleaner…).
My husband, who works in the private sector, tells me how "work armor" plays a large role among his colleagues. It's not only about looking neat, but having polished, expensive shoes (think House of Cards), a flashy watch (perhaps not a Rolex, but also not a Swatch), and well-fitting suit. He's thankfully more like me - trying to look neat and fit into client expectations, but not really caring about whether something is expensive (and finding such expenditure slightly or very useless).
Clothes may provide that first-second impression, but after that first second, any well-dressed woman needs to open her mouth and prove that there's content behind the shell. Dress to impress may only take you as far as becoming a nice receptionist, but what really impresses is beyond any watch, shoeshine and LV-scarf….
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