Fitting the workplace

It's not surprising that most women who participated in a recent survey on workplace style said how they dress relates to their professional success.

But it might be jarring to learn that some responders acknowledged that they withheld an employee's promotion or raise because of that person's appearance.

"It's because of that immediate first impression," said Carrie Leum, founder of Corset Personal Styling, which conducted the nationwide survey with Pink magazine.

"The more professional you appear on the outside, the more serious you seem on the inside," Leum said. "If your shirt wasn't ironed or you didn't suit up, how am I supposed to trust you with my money?"

Working Wardrobes in Costa Mesa, which prepares women and men in life crises for the workplace, understands the difference the right outfit can make. It provides clients three to five complete outfits each.

"It's absolutely critical to people's success for the basic reason that if you look good, you feel good," said Megan Harless, vice president of client services. "We don't want an image to be a reason why they don't get a job."

Some businesses are changing to conform to today's casual norm.

Like financial institutions, law firms have been dependable places to find suits. But that's not necessarily the case at Carlton DiSante & Freudenberger in Irvine. For attorneys at the labor law firm, it's about fitting in.

Managing partner Marie DiSante, 46, said she'll wear a suit to meet a new client, to develop new clients and to court. On other days, business casual is the way to go.

The culture changed about 15 years ago, DiSante said, when young entrepreneurs were gaining success and doing big business without wearing suits. Because so many companies are casual these days, lawyers might dress down to fit in.

"It is often beneficial not to wear a suit, so you're approachable and not intimidating," said DiSante, who wore a blouse, slacks and boots during the interview.

But there are still rules, even if they're unspoken. The skirt suit, for example, still holds weight as the most conservative choice for women.

"Unless I know the judge, I won't wear a pantsuit to court," DiSante said. "I don't need a judge holding that against me."

Associate lawyer Sarah Drechsler, 32, said she only wears pantsuits to court because she doesn't want to have to wear stockings, which are expected for skirt suits.

Drechsler, who likes being allowed to wear jeans on Fridays and flats to the office, will still make a special effort when meeting clients and put on a suit.

"They're paying you a lot of money," she said. "You don't want to look sloppy."

For those at Restaurants on the Run in Aliso Viejo, a congenial and comfortable work environment is a high priority. Except for salespeople going on calls, many in the office wear jeans, and some men wear polo shirts. One male employee sports a short mohawk, and another has a visible tattoo on his arm.

The business casual dress code "bubbled up from the culture. We've always had that kind of get-down-and-work-hard mentality," said Michael Caito, CEO for Restaurants on the Run, which provides food delivery services.

That culture has appeal to its employees.

Bookkeeper Kara Sandoval, 54, said she has avoided jobs in dressier places like the "high-rises in Irvine."

"I tend to choose occupations that don't require business dress every day," she said. "I'd rather focus on my work than on what I'm wearing."

Sporting khakis, a beige sweater and Clarks mules, Sandoval said her casual style hasn't impeded her professional success.

Sales manager Shannon Pearce, 30, will wear jeans and a blouse to work, but pulls out her suits (perhaps her "lucky suit," a pinstripe style) for important occasions.

Having come from a big firm that required a minimum heel height, Pearce said she wouldn't want to work in that type of environment again.

Restaurants on the Run, which instituted flip-flop Fridays over the summer, emphasizes the opposite. A co-worker, Pearce said, once went home to change into sandals and shorts on one of the themed days.

Still, she sometimes has to coach her employees about dressing for sales calls and once bought oxford shirts with the company logo for them.

CEO Caito put the matter into perspective: "If you have a good set of values, it doesn't matter what the dress code is. If you're focused, working as a good team and pleasing the customer, then what's the difference if it's business casual?"

But the rules for women in the workplace have evolved as women have grown in leadership and entrepreneurial roles, said Cynthia Good, editor of Atlanta-based Pink, which targets women in business.

"To play the game with men, you had to look and act like them. But increasingly, women are succeeding because of their differences," Good said. "Fashion is one of the ways to differentiate ourselves and make a statement."

With more wardrobe choices, women have an advantage over men, but they also have to work harder to stand out, she said.