Vintage Clothes, Modern Jobs?

[Valhson]

Naval Architect/Marine Engineer (big words for ship designer). And I am currently contracting for the Navy. This gives me all kinds of freedom in my dress. I find that I can play two cards, the quirky architect type and the slovenly engineer type. Mix, match and arrange; you get quite a range of wardrobes around the office.

Though I don't claim to dress in all vintage head to two, I do incorporate articles here and there. I must admit that I mostly dress in sack suits and the like, keeping with the more conservative tie styles.

 

[Ecuador Jim]

Isn't that the truth!

Me too, I'm a trainer and consultant so tend to wear reasonably interesting cuts. The other problem I have is an inability to keep flip chart pen off otf me so on training days I tend to go for dark colours. Comments regaarding wear and tear ring true also - when setting up equptment, climbing to open windows and throwing tables around a room I tend to wear stuff that is replacable!

Those flip chart pens always seem to have my slacks and shirts in their sights! And, I'm amazed that when you send seating charts ahead, they never seem to get them right.

I was in South Dakota, where the catering folks had repaired one of the chairs in the seminar room with a sheet-rock screw. It was partially exposed, and when went to sit down to work with a group, the tip of the screw ripped my khakis from mid thigh to my belt line. Replaceable clothing has been my mantra since! In this case, it was Nordstrom to the rescue; they air-expressed another pair to me overnight from Seattle.

Always good to meet a fellow road-warrior!
Cheers!

 

[pigeon toe]

Right now I work in an office at my unversity, so I can basically wear whatever I want since I come in during the school day and am only a "student employee" (even though I work just as hard as the regular employees!). So when I wear vintage to school, I wear vintage to work, seamed stockings and all.

I was applying to retail stores (J. Crew, Banana Republic and Anthropologie) in August for a seasonal job over winter break and the dress codes are freaking me out a bit. If Anthro offers me a job I'm definitely going to take it because that store seems like it would appreciate me wearing vintage, since the clothing they carry is often very eclectic and sometimes vintage inspired.

I know for sure that J. Crew has a very strict dress code, and I wouldn't be able to wear vintage. A lot of the blouses I buy are from BR, but I still feel like vintage wouldn't be appropriate. I don't fancy the idea of buying a whole lot of conservative black slacks and preppy stuff, so let's hope I can work for Anthro.

 

[The Shirt]

I work as an Interior Designer/architect. I can play the quircky card somedays but have actually gotten a review which stated that I need to watch it around clients. I think it's odd because is in this field people typical trust the artsy people in the office more than the conservative ones. I guess I consider dressing vintage as artsy though.
I usually always have at least one item of vintage on every day. Don't have to worry so much about ruining any items as I am generally on office type.

BTW such interesting vocations everyone has.

 

[epr25]

Well I am a large format printer. I guess a modern version of all the talented people that had to do it by hand before. But I wear vintage everyday. I do have to asemble things so it's mostly 50's shirtwaist dresses. I do cheat and wear flats that are modern. Every once and awhile I will wear heels but short ones. I just can't hang with walking around in pain all day. Other then thtat i am totally vintage. I am licky from the sounds of it. I have been this way for quite awhile now and I find that when I am not dresses vintage I feel a bit lost as what to wear.

 

[cassylynn]

I have been in the banking industry for 10 years now so I would say by nature it falls into the vintage category. Clerical jobs prior to WWII were what young women looked for and was considered the ideal job. I do wear my vintage clothing to work, along with my shoes and my hairstyle is even 40's-50's. All the women adore it and say I remind them of a Hedy Lamar or some other Hollywood lady that first comes to mind

 

[CherryCake]

Well, I'm a nurse and everyday I wish we could wear classic style nurse uniforms instead of these unflattering scrubs (and 90% of my co workers wear crocs!!:rage: ).

I try my best to dress vintage at work. I often wear a white or light pink scrubs dress that I have taken in a little bit in the waist area for a more flattering fit, and I have my hair in some simple vintage style.
I also wear my vintage nurse pin from the WWII just for a little fun nostalgia

 

[Edward]

I teach law at a University - which either, depending upon who you ask, makes me better than the regular "evil lawyer" because I'm doing something beneficial, or worse because I'm teaching the next generation of those *&^%"£$s. lol Actually, I teach only postgraduate students, and my area of specialism would only have part-existed in the Golden Era. I am a media law speciailist, with particular emphasis on content regulation - obscenity, pornography, copyright, defamation.... and so on. Those things were issues back when, though of course the domineering effect of the internet on new developments in the law, its globalising effect and the consequent new challenges to regulation would have been unforeseen back then. Dress wise, I would wear a suit on certain occasions, meetings, teaching etc - otherwise, it's a mostly casual place. I myself prefer to dress smartly for the offcie rather than completely casual; typical office-casual wear for me will be leather shoes, some form of slacks (occasionally jeans, but only very tidy denim, and more often black than not), shirt (often with double ciffs and links), cravat, waistcoat, blazer / sports coat. As a fairly new convert to the idea of dressing vintage in daily life, I'm still working on the wardrobe, but I'm evolving towards a sort of 30s / 40s casual look for the office whe it's not a suit day, and the idea of the same period for suits when it is. My preference for regular wear would be a quality repro, as that way I'm not worried about ruining a "piece of history" with everyday wear. When I can afford it, I want to have a whole bunch of suits made.

 

[Ms. McGraw]

By day I work at a law firm, so any vintage or repop that I want to wear is just peachy. By night I work as a Nail Tech so I try not to wear anything vintage into work there...nailpolish, pedi scrub, or toe cheese NEVER needs to touch any of my collection.

 

[pennycarrol]

Well I'm still a student so wearing vintage is not a problem at all!! It's just that people look at you a lot!! I'm older than the other students, so the difference become more obvious!! Plus, I don't wear vintage everyday... But I always have something vintage on me (a brooch, a bag...)!

 

[Decodence]

I manage a team of business analysts. Vintage would probably not fly for the most part. I do wear the requiset suit/tie/accoutrements my position demands, but nothing beyond that.

 

[nyx]

I'm a corporate slave. If I showed up in vintage to work, I'd probably get pulled into HR. They probably would think I had lost it and was coming to work in costume. Which is odd, because you would think that the demure length of skirts and dresses would be MORE corporate friendly than what a lot of women wear these days.

One thing I have noticed though is that I rarely see a woman in my office wearing a skirt suit. Pant suits, yes, and the occasional long skirt here and there (usually by the same women), but no skirt suits. The few women who do wear skirts all seem to have administrative roles. I know that seems like a generalization, but it's true. It seems like in order to be accepted into the corporate culture as a manager and a woman, you have to "dress like a man," ie. wear pants. Which is a darn shame, because I'd feel better about myself at work if I felt prettier. But I don't want to stand out. Anyone else have this problem?

 

[Decodence]

One thing I have noticed though is that I rarely see a woman in my office wearing a skirt suit. Pant suits, yes, and the occasional long skirt here and there (usually by the same women), but no skirt suits. The few women who do wear skirts all seem to have administrative roles. I know that seems like a generalization, but it's true. It seems like in order to be accepted into the corporate culture as a manager and a woman, you have to "dress like a man," ie. wear pants. Which is a darn shame, because I'd feel better about myself at work if I felt prettier. But I don't want to stand out. Anyone else have this problem?

One the new project managers wears skirt suits all the time. She's actually the best and most professional dressed out of the sorry lot.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

I'm a corporate slave. If I showed up in vintage to work, I'd probably get pulled into HR. They probably would think I had lost it and was coming to work in costume. Which is odd, because you would think that the demure length of skirts and dresses would be MORE corporate friendly than what a lot of women wear these days.

One thing I have noticed though is that I rarely see a woman in my office wearing a skirt suit. Pant suits, yes, and the occasional long skirt here and there (usually by the same women), but no skirt suits. The few women who do wear skirts all seem to have administrative roles. I know that seems like a generalization, but it's true. It seems like in order to be accepted into the corporate culture as a manager and a woman, you have to "dress like a man," ie. wear pants. Which is a darn shame, because I'd feel better about myself at work if I felt prettier. But I don't want to stand out. Anyone else have this problem?

Oh I know exactly what you are talking about. I work in aerospace. With engineers, although I am not one. If I wore a skirt, more then occaisionally, people would beleive I was interviewing for a new job, as an administrative person.

And as a tech....who spent years and money trying -not- to be an admin....

Lets just say I dress for my job...not for -me- at work.

There are things in life more important then dressing how I want to at work...remaining employed and respected in my field ranks up there...after all..can't buy vintage stuff on a Starbucks barista salary..let alone pay rent.

 

[nyx]

One the new project managers wears skirt suits all the time. She's actually the best and most professional dressed out of the sorry lot.

Good for her is all I can say. She is lucky. (Are you hiring???) As Miss Neecerie mentioned, I guess I'm more concerned about keeping in the company's good graces than fulfilling my vintage itch at work, so I wear the pant suits and power walk with the rest of the female managers here and continue paying the mortgage.

 

[nubsnubs]

I suppose my job doesnt only fit the bill, it is recognized for it. I am a federal agent and criminal investigator. Unfortunately, I only wear suits on occassion, and when I am in casual attire it is a bit more modern. I love the idea of an Elliot Ness appearance...

 

[Eliza]

I was a Cosmetologist, then I was in Retail Management, now I am in Finance. There was freedom of dress in both cosmetology and retail, not so much so in finance.

 

[deadpandiva]

I work for a large Financial Company. I am a phone rep. I dress vintage often, The phone headset interferes with my wearing flowers and rolls in my hair. I dress vintage all the time and haven't had any problems.

 

[LizzieMaine]

It's been a long time since I worked in any kind of a corporate environment, it's true, but I'm surprised that the idea of a good conservative skirt seems to be frowned on. I was always taught that a dark, little-below-the-knee skirt was proper dress for any kind of professional environment -- when did that change?

 

[Decodence]

It's been a long time since I worked in any kind of a corporate environment, it's true, but I'm surprised that the idea of a good conservative skirt seems to be frowned on. I was always taught that a dark, little-below-the-knee skirt was proper dress for any kind of professional environment -- when did that change?

It hasn't here. Shame that very few wear said attire. Quite frankly, the dress code has been very diluted, and some of the stuff which passes for appropriate is not.