I remember when I first began working. That was in the year 19 something. My mother was my tailor at that time. She couldn't be happier to sew clothes for her daughter to go to work. In those days after selecting your style from a fashion book, you would go to fabric stores like, Jimmy Aboud and Classy Fabrics to purchase suiting material.

I had a pants suit in every possible colour; Sober colours of course. They included shoulder pads and buttons covered in the same material as the cloth and weren't the most figure flattering. Kinda similar to this photo.
I guess the boxy look was in back then or was it because my mother made them like that intentionally.
Back then the most colourful piece of clothing was the inner shirt. I had colours such as neon green and fuschia pink underneath there. My dress code for Friday would be a pair of trousers from one of those suits and a button down shirt. Yep I only wore pants!!! I have what trini’s call “tin foot” and was veryyyyy insecure about them. People called me names like mop leg and bird leg in secondary school. Someone even told me that if I ran to fast I might take up flight. Steups
But I’m over it and I have embraced my legs to the point that I mainly wear skirts and dresses.
As a became a ‘Big Girl Now’ and was no longer about the suit life, unless it was for an interview or presentation. Having mummy design my clothes was a thing of the past as websites like Forever 21, Charlotte Russe and Amazon became my best friends. Ok enough about me ……. Sorry…. I strayed for a bit there.
Remember starching your shirts so much so that the crease in your collar was so stiff that it can cause you personal damage. Or calf length skirts with short slits that did not allow long strides or a wide leg trouser with that seam cutting straight down the legs that at times you would lose the original seam of the pants and end up with 2 or more seams or a shiny pants from the constant ironing. Don’t get me wrong, these items are still in use but they no longer form part of the mandatory work wear ensemble.
That dominant dress code has been abolished like slavery; women have definitely loosened up and office rules have relaxed somewhat. We now wear multi-coloured dresses, skirts and shirts. A full matching suit is no longer a big deal as we can experiment with separates. Cardigans, blazers, pencil skirts, crop pants, wrap and sheath dresses are now the pieces in our wardrobe.
The working women in 2017 is Fashionably Professional. It’s about striking that delicate balance between being “in-style” or “trendy” and work-wear. I mean why must we wait til weekend or when taking a lil lime to dress up.
Regardless of your style, your choice in what you wear to work is a representation of you as an individual, personally and professionally. It's about your comfort, confidence, style and how you feel.
Please Remember........
Please Remember........
Have a great day ladies
Love this! Personal stylist ��
ReplyDeleteAwww....thanks :)
ReplyDeleteGreat walk through history! I definitely agree that today's working woman is more bold and fashionable.
ReplyDeleteYep. Gone are the days when you look regular to go to work and fashionable to go out. We wanna look hot all the time man. lol
DeleteLoving the post!!! Good job Hun��
ReplyDeleteThank you Nadia
DeleteLove this piece ! Very representative and realistic ! Let's not talk about some of the necklace pieces that are worn to compliment the office wear ensemble.
ReplyDeleteTrina.
Yessss. That's most definitely an important aspect. I will be doing a post on accessories soon. Thanks for the comment
Deletewell if they used to call you bird leg and what not, wah yuh would imagine dey used to call me gyul??? Buttttt, like you said, time to embrace them and move with the trendy and fashionable times!!!
ReplyDeleteWell said indeed!!!
Hahahaa.yeah girl.
DeleteLove this!! Takes me back to the shiny pants days lol. Now we can actually wash and wear our clothes. Forget about that back then
ReplyDeleteLol@shinny pants
ReplyDeleteGreat piece. Reminiscent of my own style journey into the career world.
ReplyDeleteThanks 😌
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ReplyDeleteI remember those pants suits and colourful shirts, but you were always fashionably cute in them and always had a great sense of style. This was a great trip down memory lane. An excellent depiction of fashion being what you make it and women not being afraid to own thier professional style. Great read! Loved it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback Feemie :)
DeleteGreat blog! Totally agree on striking a balance...fashioable yet prefessional look. Who says business wear has to be boring. Don't violate the dress code now. ��
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Avelon. Please check out the next post on Women wearing ties. Would love to hear your thoughts on it.
DeleteVery relevant topic. Personal style and fashion as a form of self expression without losing the importance of comfort and utility.
ReplyDeleteIt very much is Allison. :)
DeleteThanks for sharing your personal story. I really enjoyed this post as you give encouragement to women to embrace themselves.
ReplyDeleteAaaawww...thanks for the feedback hun
ReplyDelete