Previous Entry | Next Entry

I am a sheep

  • Mar. 23rd, 2007 at 11:02 AM
pepper: Pepperpot (Still hot)
I went to a meeting yesterday which showed me how very much I'm conforming to a type. To explain briefly, we were meeting to discuss setting up a PA / EA network, to share knowledge, exchange information, and generally take over the company. So it was a roomful of PAs, basically.
 
All women (working for men, of course – that glass ceiling still alive and well). Generally fairly short. The majority in their early 30s... And all wearing black. It looked like a funeral. Black trousers or skirt, black jacket or cardigan, black shirt – the only exceptions being the odd one or two who'd chosen to wear green tops with their black trousers/skirt. It was like there was a frickin' uniform. I was no exception. And I had a flashback to my getting dressed in the morning. "Hm, my green top is in the wash – I guess I'll wear the black shirt."
 
Well, hell. *g*

And it's not as though the whole company dresses like that. I had a walk around the offices afterwards - plenty of variety of the usual officewear.
 
I wonder if it's because the people doing the hiring have a certain image in their head as to what a good PA would be like, and they're more likely to hire someone who fits that image – or is it that the job attracts a certain kind of person? My wardrobe certainly changed slightly once I became an EA (Executive Assistant) - it's very different from what I wore when I was a student, for instance. (Art student uniform? DMs and combats, tie-dyed T-shirts and any hair colour so long as it's not natural. Everything covered in paint as a matter of honour.) Sheesh, though - I thought I was buying clothes that I liked. 

Tags:

Comments

[identity profile] fearless-leader.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 11:24 am (UTC)
your icon made me smile and chuckle - very nice
ext_3314: Woman writing (Default)
[identity profile] pepper-field.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 11:38 am (UTC)
*g* I don't know how he does it. I mean, the things he wears! Does he dress in the dark? Does he shop only at places that sell things several sizes too large? And yet - hot. *shrugs* It's baffling.
[identity profile] crazedturkey.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 01:23 pm (UTC)
heee

I'm not even sure we can blame the costumers, because RDA was an exec producer, and he dresses like an absolute slob in RL too! I just think the man lacks dress sense (been a bachelor too long methinks)

*looks around in shock at the line of women willing to fix that suddenly forms*

Sorry guys....*elbows her way to the front of the line* :D
ext_3314: Woman writing (Default)
[identity profile] pepper-field.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 02:15 pm (UTC)
I think it's adorably terrible. Still, I'll fight ya for first place in that line. *g*
[identity profile] crazedturkey.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 02:24 pm (UTC)
Is ok. No need for violence. I'll happily take second place.

Given RDA's track record with women, he'll be on to me soon enough!

(oooo i'm terrible!! *slaps wrist*)

ext_3314: Woman writing (Default)
[identity profile] pepper-field.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 02:45 pm (UTC)
Hahahahaha! *g*

*whiney voice* But I can change him! I will fix him! (And my name is Mary-Sue!)

;)
[identity profile] vickyocean.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 02:11 pm (UTC)
I just wonder where he gets pants and jeans that are long enough to role up. He's what? 6'3"? Just to wear pants without a cuff he'd have to get at least a 34" inseam, 36" if he likes a good bit of break.

I've always rather liked the way Jack dressed. He usually looks way better than Daniel. Talk about someone dressing in the dark.

I've always figured the baggy clothes were something of a camouflage. Hiding his warrior's body and allowing people to underestimate him in yet another away.
ext_3314: Woman writing (Default)
[identity profile] pepper-field.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 02:26 pm (UTC)
I just wonder where he gets pants and jeans that are long enough to role up.

Yes! Who are these trousers made for?!? lol

I like some of the things he wears. It's a very endearing dress sense - and confident, I feel. It takes a certain type of person to wear those bright colours. In fairness, I guess that - like everyone - he has some things that work and some that don't. I'm sure I have things that make my loved ones want to take me aside and go, "NO! Don't wear that!!!" *g*

And yeah - camouflage. That's one way of thinking about it. Like the 'I'm just a funny guy, don't mind me' act.
[identity profile] vickyocean.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 05:39 pm (UTC)
Now you've got me thinking back to Jack's wardrobe. He seems to pull off most stuff without looking completely ridiculous. I wouldn't have put him in that peachy/orange-y shirt in Point of No Return, but it wasn't bad. The worst outfit that comes to mind is the in The Curse when he and Teal'c are leaving to go fishing and he had on those long baggy shorts, it was like "Dude, Jack aren't you a little old to be a skate rat or are those man capris?"

Okay, I got it. Window of Opportunity was the low point of Jack fashion. He took no consequences to heart.

I really wish he wouldn't wear that black skully either. I looks like a black condom on his head.

I think the high point of Jack fashion was season 8. He went on a shopping spree when he got that raise. I loved the black shirt and khakis he had on in the beginning of Full Alert. And the black leather bracelet thing he had on too. Jack knows how to accessorize. I also like the outfit he had on in the ill-fated barbecue scene in Threads.

I feel like need to the picspam of Jack's fashion like someone did for Daniel.
ext_3314: Woman writing (Default)
[identity profile] pepper-field.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 26th, 2007 09:52 am (UTC)
I feel like need to the picspam of Jack's fashion like someone did for Daniel.

Oh god yes, I wish someone would. I'm tempted to do it myself, but it really wouldn't be that funny if I did. *stares hopefully in the direction of niamaea and Rigel*

I think my least favourite Jack outfit is the one in this icon. It's just so... boring. And baggy, and unflattering. The long shorts, on the other hand, made me laugh. As did most of his civvies in Window of Opportunity - so they've got that going for them. *g*

Ah, this is fun to spend time thinking on...
[identity profile] crazedturkey.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 01:26 pm (UTC)
Oh goodness don't I know it. I looked round the lecture theatre the other day and there was one woman "out of uniform" in a spaghetti-strap top.

My immediate thought? That inappropriately dressed skankho.

*is ashamed*

I get annoyed all the time at the perception of doctors that makes people consider it ok to criticise my weight, despite my overall competence in other areas. And yet, I do it too.

I don't know if it's being a sheep, or being a human.
ext_3314: Woman writing (Default)
[identity profile] pepper-field.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 02:35 pm (UTC)
Yeah, I guess it's just unavoidable, socio-cultural stuff - some things are appropriate in some places, and inappropriate in others.

Funny, though, how microscopically detailed that can get. I was never very good at knowing what's right, clothes-wise. But I know not to wear my Doc Martens (ankle-high black boots) to work, but that I can wear my ankle-high black heeled boots.

...*shrugs*
[identity profile] vickyocean.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 01:59 pm (UTC)
Are they all goths? ; )

Black is easy. You can match it with almost anything. You can wear the same black pants all week with a different top each day and it will look like a completely different outfit. Most people look good in black. It is slimming especially if tailored well. Black is usually rather elegant and can be easily turned from day to night wear.

It may also be a case of all those PAs see characters in their position on TV that are dressed a certain way and feel they need to emulate that, because they haven't developed a style of their own yet.

I think everyone where a certain type of uniform to work. Most every place has dress codes and you want to wear something that will be comfortable for 8 hours. I'm something of a clothes horse and with some of my vintage and ethnic stuff I tend to dress a little costume-y or theme-y. I tone that down a lot at work and dress professionally while still maintaining my personal style. I also have ton of black in my wardrobe too.

For the record during my recent interview I wore my black pants suit and a green silk blouse. It seems that's a cross cultural theme. : )
ext_3314: Woman writing (Default)
[identity profile] pepper-field.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 02:40 pm (UTC)
Are they all goths? You know, if I'm a typical example, they probably have been to some extent, at some point. Heh.

I think it was partly that we were all meeting for the first time, so we were all doing that interview-wear sort of thing. And green was in all the shops recently, so... It just amused me that it was so very specific - it wasn't like some people were wearing charcoal, and some were in dark brown, or navy... no. Black. Black and green, all the way. And there were about 20 of us. *g*
ext_3314: Woman writing (Default)
[identity profile] pepper-field.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 04:19 pm (UTC)
It may also be a case of all those PAs see characters in their position on TV that are dressed a certain way and feel they need to emulate that

You know, since you said that, I've been trying to think of PAs on TV. The only ones I've come up with are the secretary in 'Secretary' (OMFG not with my boss), Dolly Parton in '9 to 5', and the woman in Stargate - the one in Desperate Measures who gets killed. What... awful role models.
[identity profile] vickyocean.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 05:21 pm (UTC)
I love 9 to 5. I feel like putting rat poison in a couple of people's coffee around here.

Hmm, I guess I'm not thinking about anyone in particular. It's just an overall impression. Though Baal's PA chick did wear black if I recall.
[identity profile] vickyocean.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 05:41 pm (UTC)
And Kerry Johnson had on a black suit and green shirt on when she broke up with Jack.

She wasn't a PA but still a theme.
ext_3314: Woman writing (Default)
[identity profile] pepper-field.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 26th, 2007 10:09 am (UTC)
I think I'd like to be Baal's PA. Imagine: "You've got an 8.15, 'Strategy Meeting Update, Evil Plan To Take Over Earth'. Then after that, there's a 10 o'clock with the SGC - I've sent them some misleading information about your whereabouts, but we calculate they'll have found you by then. And then destroy all incriminating documents, escape Jaffa death squad, blow up HQ, lunch, and a 4pm videoconference with General O'Neill to congratulate him on thwarting clone number 4. Your lotar is at Starbucks getting your mochaccino and Rise & Shine Muffin."
[identity profile] splash-the-cat.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 23rd, 2007 05:39 pm (UTC)
Probably depends a lot on the field you work in. I'm an Executive Secretary/Assistant in academia, and I usually just wear jeans most days, unless I'm running an event.
ext_3314: Woman writing (Default)
[identity profile] pepper-field.livejournal.com wrote:
Mar. 26th, 2007 10:21 am (UTC)
Yeah, true. I guess if there's a lot of students around, you'd stand out if you wore a suit all the time. :) We're a bit formal here 'cause of having a lot of external visitors, clients and such. Bleh, yawn.

Latest Month

November 2023
S M T W T F S
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios
Designed by [personal profile] chasethestars