Here's a little background: for two years, I served an education focused organization powered by national service. In layman's terms, AmeriCorps gave me a small stipend for serving (intensive, work-like, semi-paid volunteering) in an urban school. For two years, wearing a uniform was part of the job. A uniform with absolutely no flexibility: the only thing I got to any say in was the watch I wore, two pieces of jewelry, and the things I put in my hair, so long as they were only black. Not a lot of choice in the morning.
At first it was crippling and I felt like my creativity was being crushed, but by the end of it, boy let me tell you, I was content. I saved my best clothes for the weekend. It took me all of 20 minutes to get from my bed to walking to the bus. No thought necessary. I couldn't wear the uniform wrongly once I knew the few simple rules, like: tuck in your shirt. Don't unbutton your button-up past the second button. Always wear the belt.
That was it. No room to mess up. No thought. No worries about if you were being too provocative or not professionally "feminine" enough.
However, now I've graduated from the service position into one of the few open jobs at the same organization. A real job that pays more than poverty wages and has real benefits and requires the deceivingly simple stipulation that I wear "business casual" attire.
Business casual: a way to dress that is simple for men, the only drawback the one type of shirt and one type of pants required have to be ironed. But you know what? I'd take a few minutes of ironing in the morning over the endless worry, second-guessing, shade-throwing, gossiping, double standard that women in the business world deal with.
I have never had trouble dressing myself before I got my first "real" job. I'm mature and confident. And here's a sample of the things that run through my head about my professional attire any given day:
