The Casual Friday Dilemma

(image courtesy of [and made by me!] at polyvore.com)

Casual Fridays are hailed at offices as a wonderful convocation into the weekend. While I love Casual Friday just as much as the next twenty-something stuck in corporate America, I feel the need to set a few guidelines for those choosing to follow suit. In the above image I have created a Polyvore set (my new obsession) with a representation of the Casual Friday outfit I am wearing today (right now! as I type this!).

Firstly, Casual Friday should be called denim Friday. Casual Friday is not meant to be interpreted as pajama Friday, Juicy Couture tracksuit Friday or scrubby college clothes from the early 2000's Friday. Basically, everyone's goal on a Casual Friday is to wear normal work appropriate attire, only with denim as a pant. Today, I chose a pair of pencil cut Habitual jeans. Paired with a pair of brown ballet flats, a C&C California basic white tee and a preppy blazer (I'm wearing one by Pink by Victoria's Secret, the above shown is by Ralph Lauren), it creates a perfect work (and age) appropriate look. For added style, throw on a pair of aviators (I chose a large pair by Free People) during your walk to the subway.

Still confused as to what is Casual Friday appropriate? Keep the t-shirts by Junk Food (although so comfortable), Juicy Couture velour pants and flip-flops (yes, even if they're leather and cost a fortune) at home. That part of your wardrobe is what Saturday and Sundays are for!

-M

Cracking the code...the dress code

(image courtesy of: http://static.my-wardrobe.com, http://www.purepearls.com, http://www.kfgoldsmith.com, photobucket.com, http://www.la-story.com & my Paint program)

P: lol wtf kinda dress code is upscale casual
M: lol uhhhh
what does that MEAN
lol
that's a oxymoron right there
P: lol yeah i just googled it
and app its a q thats on EVERYONES mind
like there are a million results lol

Upscale casual? Yeah, it's probably one of the more random dress codes I've heard in a while...and Google revealed that most people had exactly the same reaction as I did..."WTF?"

As strange as 'upscale casual' might sound the first time around, it pretty perfectly captures the kind of look that we at Pop Culture Paradox go for and highly recommend!

What NOT to Wear:

- Your fav. Little Miss T-shirt (as many as we have between the two of us, these would not fly at the work place or the newest swanky lounge...some people just dont need to know you're Lil Miss alter ego!)
- Converse sneakers/pumas/Havianas/Tevas/any other kinda beachy flipflops
- VS sweats/your worn out college sweatshirt


P: lol ok upscale casual is basically the antithesis of what we used to wear in college
M: yes
because in college, we wore...
well
scrub casual
BUT
there are some crossover pieces
dark seven for all mankind jeans
jersey dresses we'd wear out
cute jackets

What to Wear:

- A cute summer dress/dressed down LBD/jersey dress
- Heels! Or Tory Burch flats
- A string of pearls/diamond studs in your ears
- Accessorize with a classic tote
- A cardigan/classic cut blazer when its chillier out...dress it up with a scarf

Most importantly, when thinking 'upscale casual,' one needs to think of occasion, since, yes, 'upscale casual' is kind-of the broadest clothing category possible. Yes, upscale casual can be a pleated skirt, some turtleneck top by Theory, tights and heels. Yes, upscale casual can be a pair of dark denim jeans and a nice (not wrinkled!) C&C California top. Above all, cost does not make an outfit 'upscale casual.' I do not care how much your Juicy Couture tracksuit cost (I know, they're so comfortable), do not wear it to the office. We have covered this topic time and time again.

Still confused by the 'upscale casual' trend? Rest assured. The style actually makes life easier for us Pop Culture Paradox readers. It shows age appropriateness for twenty-somethings. It means an office without the power suit. Dates without overcoats. Club nights without too much skin (hallelujah). We're able to maintain trendyness (being "in" instead of in the dreaded "out" list"), and still be presentable without looking fifty years old (no offense to any fifty year old readers!). Just be your stylish selves, look at the contemporary sections of any Neimans or Saks (or Forever 21 for bargains!) and walk confidently knowing that age-appropriateness is always an "in."

-P & M (our first collaborative post!)

On why it is unacceptable to wear sweats to a job interview...

So I can't actually believe that I am writing this...but after seeing a young woman walk in for an interview with our newspaper...IN A JUICY SWEATSUIT (it wasn't even one of the cute ones)...I really just felt the need to state the obvious...please don't wear freakin sweats to an interivew...I don't care even if you are applying for the post of a gym instructor...WEAR PROPER INTERVIEW ATTIRE! We aren't even living in the 80s anymore where you would've had to don manly pantsuits with ginormo shoulder pads...at a time when chic pencil skirts, cute frilly blouses and ladylike clutches are all the rage...there is really NO excuse not to dress well for an interview. Ladies (and gentlemen) get with it!

College vs. Real Life

Being a recent college graduate, I was left with the storybook ending of starting my "professional, adult" life -- while still having a boyfriend in college. This poses my life revolving around wearing high waisted skirts, Lacoste polos and Rebecca Beeson tops on Monday-Friday. Saturday and Sunday I reintroduce myself to Juicy Couture hoodies, flip flops and collegiate tees. I feel the blending of these two styles on any given day. No one at work bats an eye if I stroll into work wearing my twentysomething Hollywood starlet styled aviators, or one of my many graphic tees during casual Fridays (the best thing to occur in offices since paychecks). However, I find my style increasingly more off-color in the college atmosphere.

Case in point. Last night, I pulled out my inappropriate camo mini for an army themed party. Paired with a brown babydoll top, I tossed a black Juicy zip-up over to shield myself from the New England wind. I stroll into the party to find multitudes of amazingly younger looking girls (since when do they allow 16 year olds in college?) all looking like they stepped out of Miley Cyrus' music video for '7 Things.' One girl strolled into the party wearing what looked like a camo sarong, which was really just a piece of scrap fabric. I saw American Eagle (ew) jeans with buttoned over back pockets. I saw so many off-the-shoulder army tees that I thought that Jessica Simpson circa 2000 had come back to western Massachusetts.

Me? My feet were screaming for designer shoes and my legs felt exposed and all I wanted was a Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dress on. I think this means that I've officially grown up, and I think that should be a good thing, but, rather, it's left me confused. In a few years, when these little girls enter the workforce, will their style evolve too into the more subdued shades of black and designer, or will I be looking at them from my office shaking my head? Regardless, this weekend I am walking amongst Bratz dolls. Any readers in the Amherst area? Feel free to find me, I'm easily recognizable in my conservative and modest Seven for all Mankind jeans. Heaven forbid my legs are covered up on a Saturday night.