Wearing luxury to work? Would you do it? Does it depend?

[lill_canele]

So I believe this has been discussed here and there on some threads or asking for advice from TPF going in for an interview or a new job etc. But I'm not sure if an official thread or a more encompassing thread was made.

Would you wear designer accessories: bags, shoes, scarves, etc to work?
How about RTW?
How about jewelry?

Does it depend on the field/job?
Does it depend on your job title/status?
Does it depend on the generation? (older vs newer)
What do you see in your work environment? Any stories?

I understand many may have strong opinions this (I know I do), but let's just have a discussion, see how people feel and what they see at work? And how do their co-worker's see or judge?

 

[lill_canele]

I'll go first.

I've been seeing a new trend among the younger generation at work. They love to wear their luxury and love their logos.

I've seen 2 new hires at work.
One wearing an LV neverfull sunset pastel bag, and a burberry scarf.
Another one wearing Valentino rockstud heels, and an LV monogram backpack.

Personally, for the most part, I don't think it is appropriate to wear very flashy or logo-heavy accessories to work, but that's just me.
Perhaps if my work environment was in the field of makeup, fashion, or some kind of business, but I work in healthcare, and the older generation definitely do not wear designer to work, nor do they seem to care much about it either.

I recall co-workers joking about the one with the LV monogram backpack after her interview. Not really laughing at her, but poking a bit of fun (or what they think is fun). And I can tell it made some kind of impression on them.

Have any of you seen the younger generation come in wearing designer to an interview or their first days at work? I'm curious, like to know what is happening elsewhere.

 

[mktlim]

I work in fintech so everyone wears casual clothes but I only see one or two people in my office wear/use their designer items.

I mostly wear my Hermes scarves because no one can tell there's even a logo. I've used my Givenchy bags as work bags and no one's really said anything....I think it's also partly on which designer and if the pieces are recognisable.

 

[papertiger]

So I believe this has been discussed here and there on some threads or asking for advice from TPF going in for an interview or a new job etc. But I'm not sure if an official thread or a more encompassing thread was made.

Would you wear designer accessories: bags, shoes, scarves, etc to work?
How about RTW?
How about jewelry?

Does it depend on the field/job?
Does it depend on your job title/status?
Does it depend on the generation? (older vs newer)
What do you see in your work environment? Any stories?

I understand many may have strong opinions this (I know I do), but let's just have a discussion, see how people feel and what they see at work? And how do their co-worker's see or judge?

Would you wear designer accessories: bags, shoes, scarves, etc to work?

I'll wear anything - but we post-Covid, have a floating desk, general office, no personal desk/space to put things anymore except for a communal coat stand. In addition, I'm moving between rooms/meetings rooms all day, so I have to conscious not to leave anything behind. I work 5 days a week so there is not much point to buying anything unless I can wear it for work (minus full-length, formal evening gown - perhaps).

Shoes/boots have to be comfortable.
Scarves, hats etc have to be able to fit in my bag so I don't lose them.
Logos, if worn, get talked about, but not in a bad way. Mostly, people like to see themselves above fashion though. I am in the perfect place for luxury, but in a role I shouldn't show bias towards one brand.

How about RTW?

Yup, whatever. No one has ever been able to tell me what I can wear - and when I was young I left jobs because of it. I just can't not be me, I'd literally go mad.

How about jewelry?

There are women who wear a whole lot of bling. That's not my thing, so no big diamonds, or any noticeable gems, but usually the same (4 Cartier + 1 Jessica McCormack) rings I don't take off, and then perhaps add more if I remember including thumb rings. Occasionally bangles/bracelets (fine, silver or fashion). I usually wear scarves rather than necklaces - and I can't fiddle with clasps 5am so no fussy anything.

Does it depend on the field/job?

Maybe, probably. We are a creative business team.
I have had jobs where the dress-code was incredibly strict, but that was more as recognition in a role. If someone is in the army or a firefighter they are going to be in uniform or wearing equipment.
I have had jobs where we were not allowed to wear trousers (even though went up and down ladders and stairs)
I've had jobs when we'd worn strictly show-blacks
I've had jobs of the usual no jeans (even black) no sneakers

For a long time, I've not had a job that someone told me what I could wear. However, in my last role I was put down/looked down upon for dressing-up. It just made me want to dress-up more (formal work attire) and if I didn't bother I would regret.

Does it depend on your job title/status?

Yes, maybe, I can't tell myself off and my line manager is more 'way out' than me. There is a perception though. Men seem to get more casual as they go up the ladder, whereas women make more an effort (to look smart) - IME.

Does it depend on the generation? (older vs newer)

Not at my place of work, it's a total mix and not dependant on age/wages. However, we are a creative business team.

What do you see in your work environment? Any stories?

If a guy is very fashion-forward, he gets a lot of praise, a woman seems to get a mixed-response. Obviously, there's a lot of complex emotional cr*p that goes on in every office s it's hard to tell if it's actually about clothes or something 'else'.

For some reason BV gets a lot of kudos points.

If anyone wears cos, everyone knows every piece

 

[JenJBS]

I'm an executive assistant. On the days boss is traveling, and I'm the only one in the office, comfy clothes. But business lunches and dinners, certain meetings, certain people coming by the office, running specific errands - for those luxury stuff is great. But nothing logo-mania.

Years ago when I worked a government job helping low income / homeless people get housing, I would never dream of wearing luxury around the clients, since I wouldn't want them to feel bad.

 

[Christofle]

I work in fashion so it is par for the course for both me and my clients to wear nice clothes/have nice shoes/watches.

It would very much depend on one's field of work and possibly just general dynamic within the work place.

I honestly don't think many jobs outside of fashion allow you to dress as boldly as I enjoy to. I do however tone it done for certain clients who tend to dress more casually.

As for bags; I don't wear any of my bags to work.

 

[leechiyong]

Would you wear designer _______ to work?
Yes, and have, though it depends on the piece.

Does it depend on the field/job?
Somewhat, but in my opinion, not to the extent to which I've seen it used. I work in IT where I've been scrutinized for what I'm wearing even though it has zero bearing on my ability to code, but acknowledge attire should be practical for the position and if client-facing, should imbue trust.
Does it depend on your job title/status?
In my experience, it does, but I disagree with it. No one knows the back story and quite frankly, it's not their business.
Does it depend on the generation? (older vs newer)
In the vein of title/status, no. I do think younger generations have a lot less rigid social mores when it comes to what one can wear when.
What do you see in your work environment? Any stories?
My work environments have varied vastly. At my last company, the people at HQ were very image-focused. My attire was perceived as unassuming and even thrifty because it wasn't obviously branded.

Prior to that, I worked at a healthcare company. Within IT, those who were into designer items would acknowledge others' items with positivity, but outside, there was a lot more scrutiny. I remember getting called into a project kick-off meeting at the last minute with the medical staff offices. While I was dressed nicely by IT standards, I was made acutely aware that I did not fit in with the other attendees. It took me a long time to overcome that perception, to the detriment of the project timeline. While I absolutely would have dressed differently had I been aware, I question why what I wore once mattered more than the solution I was presenting.

 

[Amazona]

I carry luxury bags when and where I want. For work at my previous employer I would choose something very subtly branded when meeting customers or partners, but otherwise I just carried whatever I wanted to carry that day. My bags are very subtly branded anyway and most of my colleagues didn't know a Mulberry from a Guess.

 

[Amazona]

Adding that now I work in in-house CS and I only see our own employees and affiliates. Sometimes representatives from our suppliers but always at our own office so I don't have to think what kind of bag I carry.

 

[ChampagneandChakras]

I carry luxury bags when and where I want. For work at my previous employer I would choose something very subtly branded when meeting customers or partners, but otherwise I just carried whatever I wanted to carry that day. My bags are very subtly branded anyway and most of my colleagues didn't know a Mulberry from a Guess.

I wear black scrubs every day and I wear my LV bags everyday. The bag sits in my office on it's little box (so not to touch the floor) I get in at 6:45 am so people only see me/my bag if I leave from the main door at 4pm and I don't care if they do.

 

[Amazona]

I wear black scrubs every day and I wear my LV bags everyday. The bag sits in my office on it's little box (so not to touch the floor) I get in at 6:45 am so people only see me/my bag if I leave from the main door at 4pm and I don't care if they do.

Oh, the important box! My bag sits on a tiny filing cabinet so I don't have to keep it on my desk and DEFINITELY not put it on the floor!

 

[bagshopr]

I work for the government, in a business casual office, and I carry my designer (LV, Chanel) bags every day. My clothes are definitely not designer- they are middle of the road Talbots, JJill, etc. My friends and I love nice bags and we love to see each other's bags of the day. I do not deal with the public face to face.

 

[mandy nicole]

I need a “No, because of my field of work” option in the poll

I love my job, but it is not ideal for anything too precious… plus, I’m in a male-dominated industry, so I’m a bit of an outlier, because generally a backpack is much more practical for day-to-day. (I am a structural engineer for heavy machinery, which means being on, in, or around the machines and in the field). I have to wear clothing that I don’t care about, because they are bound to get dirty, stained, damaged… so, by proxy, I would never carry a purse that cost over $30, and it has to deal with being stuffed into a backpack occasionally.

My current work purse of “choice” (read: necessity, functionality) is a small canvas Travelon cross-body I picked up off Amazon. It is hideous, not at all to my personal taste, but the key is that I would not lose any sleep if it got banged up, covered in machine grease, or set on fire.

But that’s my work purse… which I consider totally separate entity from my “personal” purse collection, which is a whole different story

Edit to add: if I were to wear very nice clothing, fine jewelry (actually not allowed to wear any jewelry for safety reasons), or carry my luxury purses into work, I know that I would not be taken seriously. The impression that would leave on my colleagues would be: that I must be unaware of what we do if this is how I showed up to work , that I am not a person willing to get dirty and be hands-on(therefore not going to work as hard), I am likely not qualified or not a right fit for what my role entails, etc…

I hate that how we choose to dress makes such a large impact on people’s perception of our skill level, capabilities, or respectability in the workplace, but I think for many that it’s an ugly truth no matter what field you find yourself in, and such judgment is often very subtle (but is there regardless). Although I do find it a little funny to think that if I were to dress nicer and present “better”, that it it would actually have a negative impact on how people view me within my workplace.

 

[jen_sparro]

So I believe this has been discussed here and there on some threads or asking for advice from TPF going in for an interview or a new job etc. But I'm not sure if an official thread or a more encompassing thread was made.

I understand many may have strong opinions this (I know I do), but let's just have a discussion, see how people feel and what they see at work? And how do their co-worker's see or judge?

Would you wear designer accessories: bags, shoes, scarves, etc to work?
Yes I have and I do currently. I've only ever had one person comment (surprisingly a straight male colleague), and he just said he liked my Gucci shoes.

How about RTW?
I don't wear RTW but as long as it wasn't logo-centric I would.

How about jewellery?
Yes I would, again only if it didn't scream designer/I wouldn't wear my designer costume jewellery... jewellery like Tiffany, Cartier etc. I wouldn't mind wearing (not that I own any Cartier...yet ).

Does it depend on the field/job?
I think it does depend; I work in healthcare but not patient facing so I have more latitude. When I was in a patient-forward role I wouldn't wear anything that was easily identifiable. I think the more formal the industry, the more subtlety is preferred.

Does it depend on your job title/status?
I don't think so, but it is generally more acceptable for the higher-ups to be wearing 'luxury' items.

Does it depend on the generation? (older vs newer)
I think the trend to show your wealth is more prevalent among the younger generations (I'm a 1990 baby, so I feel like I'm in between), in saying that, I have a European boss, he wears his D&G belt and Rolex watch, he's in his 60s. His Australian counterparts aren't as chicly dressed as he is generally, but I think that's a cultural thing. I really don't think wearing your designer goods (as long as they are not logo heavy) should be cause for judgement, you should be judged on how well you do your job.

What do you see in your work environment? Any stories?
Being in a hospital setting, I've seen accessories (particularly the male doctors and their watches), but most of my colleagues aren't wearing anything designer at work like RTW or shoes.

Regarding my colleagues, I've only ever had one person point out my shoes... and they were pretty obvious. I have worn designer bags to work though none of my LV monogram bags. I've never had anyone comment. I also don't throw it in people's faces, my bag gets put away in my office.

 

[IOSCHA]

I work in the media and have been in two different roles, a reporter on the field and as an editor mostly confined to a cubicle. I can say that I've worn designer items throughout my career there, though mostly accessories since I'm not too keen on RTW and jewelry in the first place.

Does it depend on the field/job?

In my opinion, yes. As a reporter (not the on-camera type), practicality trumps style on many occasions so others will quickly take notice if you dress up even the slightest bit, both on the field and in the office. I still carry designer bags, but mostly subtler styles like the Proenza Schouler PS1 as I'd rather not draw attention to myself while on the clock and in public.

Does it depend on your job title/status?

I am inclined to think so. A new hire who was assigned under my supervision told me that she didn't know what bag was appropriate to bring to the office, so she carried a Kate Spade tote to be on the safe side. After she noticed my Balenciaga, only then did her premier designer bags start coming out

Does it depend on the generation? (older vs newer)

In regards to personal style, I think that the younger generation tend to be more expressive in their work clothes, whether RTW, designer accessories, or even regular brands and fast fashion. The older generation are more subtle, but I'm not sure if it's a generational thing or an industry quirk.

What do you see in your work environment? Any stories?

From where I'm sitting, I can see my own regular rotation of former IT bags from the '00s and '10s (YSL Oversized Muse for today), a Saint Laurent Shopping N/S tote in the next cubicle, and a vintage pre-Phoebe Celine Macadam tote further down the line.

Just the other day I've noticed a reporter coming in with a Chanel Boy, and she has carried a Givenchy Antigona and a croc-embossed Balenciaga City in the past. With the C-levels, I've seen Goyards and Guccis, but overt logos are generally rare. For the most part, contemporary designers and labels are the norm.