Experiencing Occasional Difficulties - Part One

Work Christmas parties can be a fashion minefield.  On one hand, they can be a stirling opportunity to allow your boss to get to know and appreciate you on a social level, on the other hand, they can also be a great time to flirt with the cute guy in Accounts.

The key to dressing successfully for the office Christmas party (or indeed, any work related function) is to break up the words ‘office’ and ‘party’.  You want to look relaxed and attractive, but you need to keep in mind what the basis of your relationship with your co-revellers is! The presence of managers, board members or customers means that you need to remember that, no matter what the context of the celebration, you really are still at work, and that holds true even if you work in an informal environment.

Obviously, if your one of those lucky folk who’s been blessed with an enjoyably friendly working environment, and colleagues who you can share a laugh and a drink or three after work with, it’s fine to let your personality shine through a bit more when you’re socialising together. But once anybody from higher up in the food chain comes along, things need to change a little.

If you’re unsure about how to judge this, think of it in these terms. If there is going to be anybody present who:
1. Signs your pay cheque
2. Contributes to your performance appraisals
3. Has a name matching the signage on the building and the letterhead on the stationery
4. Has a  permanent, allocated  parking spot
Or
5. makes a direct contribution to the company’s profits (and in turn, your wages) in return for goods or services.

Then it’s a really good idea to ditch the thigh high patent leather lace-up boots and matching leather mini skirt and bustier ensemble in favour of something a little more demure.

I once worked with a woman who was extremely well respected, very efficient, and certainly on her way to bigger and better things within the company.  Until an office ‘End of Financial Year’ (the Christmas of the corporate world)) party.  For some bizarre reason, she seemed to be wearing some sort of a tabletop dance costume.  Skintight, sequinned lycra micro-mini dress (with push-up bra, of course) and platform stilettos.

Come July 1st, the promotion that was almost in the bag was given to somebody else.  Turns out, in her new role there would have been a lot of travelling to meet suppliers and customers, as well as all the associated wining and dining that goes with it.  The board just wasn’t sure if she was the best person to represent the company in social situations.

Cruel but true.  And so the moral here is, save your ‘come get me’ clothes for your own time, or risk being the girl who slides a few rungs down the corporate ladder within a few short (or, more accurately, short skirt wearing) hours. Oh, and make every second drink a soft one. I really do hate to be a party pooper, but like wearing overly flirtatious clothing, throwing up on the company CEO’s shoes can really be the fast track to involuntary redundancy!

So if you’re unsure, just remember the ‘nothing too’ rule.  That is:

- nothing too short
- nothing too tight
- nothing too see-through
- nothing too low-cut
- nothing too revealing of underwear (no matter how pretty your special bra or g-string may be),
- nothing too OTT, ie: anything like Miss Venezuela would wear for a night on the town

And don’t forget, you can always Ask Bronny if you have any doubts or fashion questions!