| By :
William Gabriel
For decades, the professional world was "a man's world"; with men running companies and women running households. Femininity had no place in this world, even into the 80's, when fashion trends edged onto the masculine side. Professional women donned suits and sometimes even ties as they went about their work week. Today, much has changed, and women are thriving in the professional arena. While work attire for women still holds a masculine edge, the rules have loosened up to the point where every woman who desires to do so can show off more of her feminine side without being deemed "too girly". The professional dress code has long been that of white shirt, black or blue suit, and tie of red or some other powerful color. This code still holds mostly true for men. If a male colleague were to walk into the office tomorrow wearing a nice red suit, heads would definitely turn. Women, on the other hand, have far more leniency when it comes to color in the workplace. However, in bringing in a feminine flair, one might consider a suit with a decorative ruffle or in a softer shade of color rather than bright prints. A good rule of thumb when dealing with color is to keep brighter colors under a jacket. For instance, a hot pink shell beautifully compliments a dark blue suit or cardigan. Accessories are a great way to show your feminine side; but need to be approached with care. A tough business suit can be softened with a colorful scarf. Scarves liven up drab colors and can bring a nice change into the professional wardrobe. Jewelry is acceptable in any professional workplace, but should be kept simple and understated. Large necklaces or earrings can overwhelm a professional look and detract from it rather than enhance it. Because many professional people must display employee identification at all times, lanyards are yet another way to show off personal style at work. Lanyards are typically worn around the neck and offer a nice alternative to the standard metal badge clip. With a little searching, professionals can find decorative lanyards displaying sophisticated beaded designs. In this way, a functional piece looks more like jewelry than anything else. Some of these smart tools even feature motifs for specific situations or times of year. Holiday lanyards may not work in every professional situation; but there are many instances where sophisticated holiday lanyards can show just the right touch of holiday spirit in the workplace. Appearance is just as much about hair and makeup as it is about clothing. In the professional world, we have moved past the standard look of minimal makeup and hair tied into a knot. If you are stuck in old styles where your makeup is concerned, visit your local beauty store for some updated makeup tips using trendy but professional colors. Color is everything, and in the professional area, a woman has ample opportunity to look and feel feminine using muted colors that compliment skin tone. Companies all over the world are filled with women in a variety of positions. No longer do women have to fight for respect in the workplace. Today, it is not only possible but very acceptable for any woman to show her feminine side at work.
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