Black to Work

October 25, 2017

Fashion blogger Cee Fardoe of Coco & Vera wears a Lovers + Friends Rebecca top and carries an APC halfmoon bag at Saint-Boniface CathedralPortrait of Canadian fashion blogger Cee Fardoe of Coco & Vera wearing a Lovers + Friends black Rebecca top and Celine Audrey sunglassesWinnipeg fashion blogger Cee Fardoe of Coco & Vera wearing a Lovers + Friends Rebecca top and Diane Von Furstenburg lace pencil skirtOutfit details on Canadian fashion blogger Cee Fardoe of Coco & Vera, including Aldo over the knee boots and an APC halfmoon bagFashion blogger Cee Fardoe of Coco Vera wears a DVF lace pensil skirt, Aldo OTK boots and a Lovers + Friends Rebecca topLovers + Friends top (c/o)
Diane von Furstenburg skirt
Aldo boots
APC bag
Celine sunglasses
& Other Stories earrings

(I’m so punny, I know.)

Work outfits aren’t a subject that I talk much about, which seems unusual since I have held corporate jobs for a variety of insurance companies since I graduated from university in 2007. The reason, though, is a simple one: I hate dressing for work. After ten years in the corporate world, you might expect that I would have accepted dress codes and blazers as part of my reality, but I haven’t. When I left the office to work from home in 2015, I was most excited about slowly divesting myself of all my pencil skirts.

There are so many reasons that corporate dress codes irk me, from their inherent sexism to the fact that they are applied to all employees of a given organisation, regardless of their role. My jobs have rarely involved regular meetings with clients, but I had to dress for client interaction every day, anyway. And beyond that, it always bothered me that I had to take my personality out of the equation when choosing clothes for the workday. My personal style is a reflection of who I am. And I am not conservative or preppy. And yet, that is exactly what corporate dress codes dictated I must be.

It took years for me to strike a balance between wearing clothes I love while adhering to company dress policies. And although I eventually did, putting together work outfits remained a daily struggle until the end. These days, I own only one pencil skirt – the one I’m wearing in these photos, which I last sported in 2015. After an unexpected meeting recently, I looked back through the remaining work clothes in my wardrobe. I had to admit that I own some beautiful pieces that don’t get enough wear. I will never love pencil skirts or blazers. But I will grant that a good pencil skirt, worn well, does not have to make you look like you’re on your way to a meeting.

When I put this outfit on, it felt like me. A little more dressed up than I usually am these days, I admit, but still. That said, I think that despite the bare shoulders, it could also be work appropriate. (With a strategically placed scarf, if necessary.) This is the look I’ll be reaching for the next time I find myself in receipt of a meeting invitation. And yet, it worked just as well for a Saturday afternoon coffee and pastry date.

What does your daily work uniform look like?

9 comments so far.

9 responses to “Black to Work”

  1. Good morning, Cee! And my gosh, this outfit, so breathtaking. I LOVE all black and this weeks series is proving why… so darn striking. When it comes to office attire? Secretly, I love it and always have. In fact, it was one of the main reasons I loved stepping into the corporate world after I completed my business degree. The clothes, it’s always about the clothes!! 😉 Hope you’re having a wonderful week loves! xo

    http://www.girlandcloset.com

  2. I love this – I wish I could recreate it with pieces from my closet. I consider myself really fortunate to not work in an environment with a dress code. Except on days when I know I have scheduled meetings with various University administration members (I always dress up a bit more for those), I dress like myself for work and don’t have to worry too much about what I wear. I honestly think that might be one of the reasons I enjoy my job as much as I do.

    Courtney ~ Sartorial Sidelines

  3. Lorena says:

    Oh, dress codes. I have a hard time with dress codes. For example a the “tropical chic” for a recent wedding or the “formal” one to a product presentation where it was just me in a long gown. I usually overdress.
    I think this look rocks.

  4. Melanie says:

    All Black is always a great idea :-*

  5. Gwen says:

    The dress code at my current work would make you laugh! Or cringe, possibly. On my first day, a guy walked past me wearing a banana yellow track suit! I dress down as much as possible, but the other women there still give me side eye and most of them won’t talk to me because I don’t wear a Darth Vader T-shirt with the sleeves cut off, or shorts with fishnet tights… the list goes on. One girl wore the same striped shirt for six days straight – one whole week, then again on the Monday. So I dress as casually as I can manage while still taking myself seriously.

    • Cee Fardoe says:

      Yep, I’m definitely somewhere between laughing and cringing – and also now very curious where you work that it’s considered acceptable not to launder your clothes for more than a full week!
      xox,
      Cee

  6. My work uniform is leggings and an over sized tee since I work form home, but I have my pencil skirt days too! You look lovely.

  7. Cee, you look like a masterpiece painting! So gorgeous. Oh gosh! I know what you’re talking about when it comes to office dress codes. It can be so boring. Through blogging, I’ve learned to add a little spice to my conservative wear. HaHaHa It helps.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

Cee Fardoe is a thirty-something Canadian blogger who splits her time between Winnipeg and Paris. She is a voracious reader, avid tea-drinker, insatiable wanderer and fashion lover who prefers to dress in black, white and gray.

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