You are what you wear

I was walking back to my office after lunch today balancing a copy of the Straits Times under one arm and typing a sms with the other hand with my staff pass swinging gaily from my neck (much like a dog-lease) and a pensive look on my face (from over-eating). I was walking behind two teenage girls in low slung jeans and short bangs, spooning ice cream into their painted mouth. Aware that I am gravely late, I pushed past them and headed off first. That is when I heard THE remark:

"Who wears like that to work?"

Ouch!!

Later at work, I took a good look at myself in the mirror to see what those girls have seen:
- Stringy hair all over the place (bed hair is SO in!)
- Black cotton tee I got from a climbing shop in Krabi with hand-drawn picture of a climber behind (much like one of those t-shirts your PE teacher make you wear that have your team name on it).
- Orange belt (someone told me to inject a flash of colour somewhere)
- Low-rise blue jeans with the hem folded up (my market research reveals that this is the COOL way to wear them), and
- Grey platform maryjanes (work shoes!)

I suddenly became accurately aware that I do look an ambigous sight. I dressed like a college kid except I read the papers like old folks do. My staff pass is a dead giveaway although it's way pass normal office lunchtime (flexi-hour lunch benefits!). To a complete stranger, what do I look like? An intern? A salesperson? Someone from advertising?

Five years ago, I wore a leather skirt to work. Incidentally we have a department meeting that day and my annoying boss raised his hands and asked the partner, "Are we allowed to wear leather to office?". The partner boomed, "WHO IS WEARING LEATHER?". I defended my case by replying, "It's PVC, lar! You don't pay me enough to buy leather!" I lost my case. He banned leather as well as coloured hair that day.

What you wear to work: is that an indication of your professionalism? Looks over comfort. If I have to sit in my little cubicle all day and bark orders down the phone and draft complicated contracts, will wearing a suit give me more credibility? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Accordingly to my image consultant (I have to sit through a course!), the way you protray yourself lends a lot of weight to your work. If you are not already known for your skills, a new client would definitely give business to dumbass in a sharp clean suit rather than a sloppy genius in khakis.

I rather like to think myself as a sloppy genius. If the CEO can wear bermudas to work, why can't I?