Beyond the Blazer: Reimagining Professionalism Through Fashion in Higher Education

From the moment I got my first internship, I knew I was showing up on my first day in style. I went out a bought a whole new wardrobe: slacks, blazers, heels, blouses, you name it. Walking into the office on my first day, I was a ball of nerves. The thing that didn’t help was what I was wearing. I walked in and everyone was just in jeans and a t-shirt and some sneakers while I was dressed head to toe in office professional clothing.

The story above isn’t to scare you into not “dressing professionally”, but rather re-examining the culture of where you work. Growing up, my mom would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I would reply, “Just a job where I get to dress up every day!” Not everyone grows up thinking that, and not to mention, not everyone has access to “dressing up”. Yet, I’m here to explain ways in which fashion and higher education fuse together and can even be seen as a form of resistance.

Throughout my higher education journey, I’ve seen many variations of fashion and will be speaking through my own experiences. For some background, I worked with fashion influencers and blogs before I made my move to higher education and could never really part ways with fashion. I decided to blend the two together in my work.

Fashion is much more than mixing and matching; it’s an artwork. To piece together an outfit for the right event, in the right season, with the right crowd can be a fun challenge to work with. I started my fashion journey very young (as most womxn do) and would play dress up with anything and everything around the house. This helped me express my creativity (as crazy as some of the outfits were) and have a sense of individuality.

Fast forward a few years, and I still try to combine my love for fashion with the daily work I do. For me, fashion is a form of expression and resistance. Of course, most institutions have dress codes for professionalism. Yet, when thinking about who institutions were created for, it’s hard to ignore the fact that traditional professional clothing was meant for white men. This ignores a huge population for marginalized communities and those alike.

When thinking about fashion, cultural dress is something that is just starting to make an appearance in the workplace. Yet, it seems that from my experience, cultural wear is only allowed at certain celebrations, not in everyday workwear. This again begs the question: When can fashion be a form of resistance instead of one of conformity?

Showing up as myself at the workplace has been its own form of resistance and has built my confidence. When I feel as though I dress good, I feel good. I will normally do this strategically, like when I know I am presenting or have a big meeting in front of all my colleagues. The most important thing about fashion is that you are comfortable in the clothes you wear. The “worst” outfits that I’ve worn have been the ones that don’t make me feel confident.

The need for access to fashionable clothing can be another barrier for those who feel that they can’t dress the way they want. Institutions need to ensure that if they are setting standards, then they should be realistic and equitable for all.

I am constantly looking for new ways to enhance my fashion and use many different forms of media, such as Pinterest, blogs, social media, and magazines. In fact, I even get inspiration from my co-workers and what they wear every day. I also don’t break the bank with my clothes (contrary to the short story in the beginning), but rather try to find second-hand thrift stores that have unique finds or apps such as Depop. This inspires my creativity and allows me to show up as my most authentic self to work. Fashion doesn’t have to be saved for the weekends; it can be a runway every day at work.

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