Week 4: The Winter Woman

Baby, it’s cold outside.

On Tuesday morning, the frigid wind whipping through my open window was a rude wake-up call. Gone were the days of jean shorts and tank tops; this was sweater weather.

This rapid change in the weather added a new element to my foray into the fashion world. I could no longer simply focus on looking put together, but rather I needed to make sure I could stay warm on my long treks to class. My ensembles could not just be flirty and fun, they needed to be functional too.

Unfortunately, I had to learn this lesson the hard way.

I opted for a flowy pink sweater and tight black leggings.  However, as I opened the door to my dorm and stepped out into the elements, the crisp, cold air tore through my outfit. Within seconds, I was shivering. My sweater was more stylish than warm, and the cutouts along the sides of my leggings left me exposed to the cold morning breeze.

In my battle to look the feminine ideal, I had met with an unexpected enemy: the early whispers of winter.

As has happened quite frequently throughout my experiences for this blog, I was met with a question this blustery October morning while freezing on my way to class. How is a professional woman supposed to dress to impress in the cold weather? Does she change her attire, or simply bare the elements?

A woman is typically expected to don an outfit along the lines of a modest dress and tights, but at what point, or temperature, can this uniform be changed? But in changing her clothes, does a woman lose her professional reputation?

This seems to be the burning question for many women, according to the Boston Globe’s article “A steady flurry of fashion statements.”

Barbara Moran, a senior science writer at Boston University Research News, said, “Do I need to carry clothes and shoes to work every day for the next three months? Or do I just accept that I will look like a slob for the next three months?”

When asked about her winter work attire, Lauren Beckham Falcone, an on-air personality for the Loren and Wally Show, said, “I’m wondering how little I can get away with before I am ‘spoken to.’”

Ellie Foster, a student and employee at the Berklee College of Music, summed up the feelings of all women debating their winter clothing when she said simply, “I want to be taken seriously.”

Foster highlights one of the biggest hurtles women face in the workplace. Many women already struggle to feel equal to their male counterparts, and having to wear clothes that do not match the caliber of their positions may make women feel even less valued. If they appear to others to be a “slob” or like they need to be “spoken to,” how will they garner the respect of their peers?

What’s a girl to do in the winter? Wear her puffy L.L. Bean coat and snow boats, only to be perceived as unprofessional? Or nearly freeze to death in her subtle pea coat and sky-high stilettos?

It’s not just the cold outside a woman has to dress for, but the frigid judgement of the workplace as well.

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