All Articles Tagged "business women"
Are Networking Events and Fashion Shows Synonymous?
By Charlotte Young
When junior-level business women in New York go to a networking event, they’ve come to expect that career advice and card exchanges aren’t the only thing that awaits them. Much to the disapproval of many of these women, they also get a bonus fashion show.
The Jane Dough reports that just this fall, one of the top investment banks held one such event at Saks Fifth Avenue. After the run-of-the-mill career tips and pointers given by some of the bank’s senior women on staff, the discussion then made way for the fashion show. Models appeared wearing supposedly work-appropriate outfits on a makeshift-runway. As each one sported the high class suits, the women were told not to worry about the short length of the skirts because the models were very tall.
One can only imagine that an event featuring older women advising against wearing high fashion business wear to work followed by a show of high fashion suits available for purchase, was a bit of a mixed message.
Some women see these events as “behind the times,” playing off old stereotypes of the working woman’s purpose and expected appearance in the office. One woman disclosed that not only do these conflicting and borderline offensive events occur often; she even gets some flak from male co-workers about her attendance. The men want to know why they aren’t invited to networking events held at Saks Fifth Avenue.
“The feminism of female bankers today is that we aren’t there to prove ourselves as men, but to make money,” she tells the Jane Dough. “You’re not there because you want to be the breadwinner in order to prove a point. So putting us in Saks Fifth Avenue as a way to bond with other women is just a little warped.”
Jane Newton, an experienced financial advisor, tells The Jane Dough that while younger women may be skeptical of the events, she’s heard many senior women express their belief that women new to the working world don’t know how to dress for the job.
So what is a business-minded, focused young woman of today to do amidst such fashion networking events? Newton says that these budding women professionals need to “pick their battles.” Young women should take any opportunity to network and if they find the fashion show networking events offensive, they should try to find another workplace-sponsor event as a networking opportunity.
“She’s The Boss” Episode 4 – Monif Clarke, Co-Founder & Designer of Monif C. Plus Sizes
About This Episode
Monif Clarke has an open heart, a big smile and she make clothes for curvy women. As the co-founder and owner of Monif C., Ms. Clarke was inspired by a European vacation to create a clothing line for full-figured women that was just as fabulous as the collections for women with more modest curves.
Watch and listen as Ms. Clarke dispenses priceless jewels about what it takes to make it in the fashion industry and how and where she gets her inspiration. Find out why she’s the boss!
Want More She’s The Boss? Check out these other episodes:
What Every Career Woman Should Carry in Her Purse
Have you ever found yourself shuffling through the contents of your Louis Vuitton canvas bucket bag for your keys, your cell phone or an abandoned stick of gum while cursing yourself for having so much unneeded junk? Give your shoulder a break by narrowing down the essentials that all professional women should carry on a daily basis:
