The Wall Street Journal-20080116--Clothes Oft Proclaim----
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'Clothes Oft Proclaim...'
Although the article "Want to Be CEO? You Have to Dress the Part" (Personal Journal, Jan. 10) was helpful and had some great tips, there was one suggestion from business-etiquette consultant Ann Marie Sabath in the "Dress to Impress" feature that I found to be ignorant and slightly offensive: "The higher a woman climbs on the corporate ladder, the more light-colored suits she can and should wear (to be less intimidating)." This is a distasteful and insulting statement that reiterates the fact that women in the workplace can easily be judged on frivolous qualities and should be contrite for having a strong work ethic. Unfortunately, the advice was from another woman. Honestly, is a woman in a black suit really less intimidating than a woman in a beige one?
I, for one, will not dress to placate a man or woman who is uncomfortable with my corporate status. If you are concerned about intimidating your colleagues, then please, leave the dark colors for the women like me who are powerful, successful and unapologetic for it.
Jessica Theisen
New York
