What to Wear to Work: Creatives Edition

May 4, 2009 by Rita Marshall 

photo by Cameron Gaut

There’s rarely a dress code when you’re a designer, writer, photographer or any other kind of creative professional. If you’re working at home, you can be decked out in pajama pants and a ratty hooded sweatshirt. If you’re partial to quirky clothing, people will cut you slack — by god, you’re a creative professional!

Once an interview or client is scheduled for the day, however, things change. You need to dress for a delicate balancing act that will convince the other person that yes, you are creative, and yes, you can meet deadlines.

What to Wear: Suggestions for Creatives

So you shouldn’t look like a banker about to foreclose or like you’ve just come back from Burning Man and the peyote isn’t out of your system just yet.The general consensus is to buy some flattering suits and separates and customize them with creative accessories. Here are some specific ideas:

- “Go “casual creative.” Explore with color or with volume.” EmilyStyle blog suggests wide leg trousers, a sharp neutral handbag and wedges for women.

- “Make your workplace wardrobe consistently stylish with dark denim trousers, fitted jackets, cool sweaters, a sweater dress belted at the waist, wrap dresses or comfy jersey styles and add a tweed pair of pants as well.”  (StyleBakery)

More Suggestions on “Casual Creative” or “Creative Professional”

The Salesperson’s Guide may have a mundane name, but the website put a lot of thought into dressing creative professional, for both men and women. Their tips include:

- Try “normal flamboyant”– a skirt/top/cords combo instead of a dark suit
- Women can combine a classic suit with funky shoes, brooch or nail detailing
- Men can wear a suit with an unusual cut or suit lining
- Chunky rings
- Messenger bags
- Sneakers
- A printed tee-shirt under a suit jacket

Er, On Second Thought…

I’m actually not sure about the printed tee-shirts. I had a whole lot of clothes from my early 20s that still fit me, so I was wearing army surplus combat pants and ironic Smurfette tees way too far into my grown-up years. They’re mostly gone now, and I couldn’t ever see myself wearing Smurfette when meeting with a client.

What do you think? Designers, writers, photographers…how do you dress with creative flair AND professional assurance when you’re meeting with a client? If you’re in a firm, how does the office try to maintain that balance?

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