We have a particularly detailed dress code at work. I haven't been employed anywhere with such an itemised list of what I can and what I can't wear since - ever, actually. Coming from companies based in the web industry, being told to dress in a 'professional' style is not an easy ask for a person with a decade of jeans, t-shirts and sneakers in her wardrobe.
barking dogs
I walk 5 minutes to take a tram and and then 10 minutes down the hill to work from the tram each work day morning. I retrace my steps each evening. Add an eight hour day of upping-and-downing, and standing and loitering, add the fact that I weigh a metric tonne and you'll realise there is a high possibility that my feet can sometimes be protesting about these 'professional' heels on that walk home. High heeled shoes do look nice, and fall nicely into the 'professional' dress code here, but they sure do make for horrible modes of transport.
the dog whisperer
I opt for wearing my beat-up sneakers to and from work to keep in good with my feet. Although sneakers are permitted to be worn, the work handbook says they are only a 'casual Friday' thing and they need to be 'smart' - they may not be ripped or torn and - and they are not to be offensive. So, like many women in my office, I opt for keeping a pair of business-acceptable shoes in my filing cabinet next to my desk - that way I don't have to carry around the spare pair for when I change from unprofessional to professional upon arriving at work.
So it was with a bit of annoyance that when I got to work this morning and slid open the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet, I suddenly remembered I had decided to take those professional patent black leather high heels home on Friday night.
And for why, I have no idea.
So now I'm stuck with my sneakers for the whole day at work which, on one hand, is really comfortable while on the other hand, very obvious. My sneakers are not offensive, this is true - but they're not smart either. They're worn and a bit ragged from pounding the United States of America every day for three weeks last March. Though I do spend a lot of my time at my desk today, I did see the 2IC eye them, and then me, this morning in a meeting. Though I was also quite surprised there wasn't a comment made, I do realise the day is only half done.