You can't have a television management blog without discussing The Office. For my part, what follows is a critique of the sartorial shape of employees at Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch. Good, bad, and ugly, we'll take a look at what some of our favorite worker bees are wearing, and give each one a management fashion makeover--it would take far too long to talk about the personality overhauls each would require!
Michael Scott
Position: Manager
His Look Says: I'm a manager.
If he had never admitted to buying women's suits out of bargain bins, we wouldn't have known the difference. Michael dresses as tidily and as professionally as any manager should. His suits generally fit well, are flattering to his skin tone, and look pressed. His shirts are crisp, and his ties are understated and nice looking. To bump his look up a corporate level, Michael should consider a better quality of fabric in his suits, which are obviously inexpensive, if still appropriate.
Andy Bernard
Position: Sales
His Look Says: I am an alert professional with an eye on the trends.
Earnest Andy always looks great, almost too great for the Scranton branch. His suits fit well. He has a good use of color and texture, and knows his way around the sweater vest. The only change Andy might want to make is in toning down his excellent fashion sense for his office, and saving the vests for when he is the manager.
Erin Hannon
Position: Receptionist
Her Look Says: You can trust me to get the job done.
Erin is actually just one suit coat away from looking like management. Her pencil skirts and flatteringly tailored blouses are perfect for the corner office. She is fashionable and feminine without ever going overboard. Since I have a prejudice against long, loose hair on management, I would put Erin in an updo before sending her to interview for any promotions, but otherwise, she's ready to go.
Phyllis Lapin-Vance
Position: Sales representative
Her Look Says: I am confident and professional.
I like any show that has size diversity, and The Office is the best for that on television. Phyllis is an excellent example of a body type that does not dress well in a suit, and also an excellent example of how a larger woman can look professional and still attractive. Phyllis wears a lot of flattering jewel tones, often with interesting necklines or necklaces. For her management makeover, Phyllis needs to consider a more tailored look. Seamed blouses at her usual 3/4 length sleeve paired with a sleeker, solid colored skirt or trousers would suit her well. I would put Phyllis in a waist-length jacket with a round neckline, matching her blouse to the color of the jacket, or a hip-length swing jacket in a light fabric. Her hair is dated, but with her modern glass frames that becomes retro and she's got a little hipster chic happening.
Stanley Hudson
Position: Accounting
His Look Says: I'm an accountant and I'm ready to retire.
Even though Stanley is pictured above in a handsome camel combination, he is usually seen wearing drab gray and black suits, and frequently, his coats are a little tight. Right now, Stanley looks like he is phoning it in. He knows he needs to wear a suit, but he doesn't really care about looking good in that suit. To prepare Stanley for a management position, I would put him in the jacket and tie he is wearing above. Stanley needs to wear suits that fit, and make use of color. He doesn't look good in gray, and black is funereal on him. I would love to see Stanley in camels and navies, wearing crisp shirts and more fashionable, less Father's Day, looking ties.
Kevin Malone
Position: Accounting
His Look Says: Uuuuuuuuuh.
Sometimes it isn't the suit. Sometimes it is the hair, the posture, and the facial expression. Kevin dresses well enough, but the ubiquitous mien of confusion he wears over his hulking, hunched shoulders ruins it. Kevin needs a haircut and a mirror. First, he should have his hair tapered close to his scalp so that it doesn't look like earmuffs, and consider a little length at the sideburn. Kevin is also a man who might benefit from a neatly trimmed Captain Nemo beard and moustache. On some men, facial hair adds gravitas, but it must be meticulously maintained. Grizzly Adams is great in the forest, but never the boardroom. Next, Kevin needs to learn to sit and stand up straight. He moves like a man who is used to towering over people, and who is trying to make himself smaller. This is not a good look on management. I would love to see him stand up straight and show some confidence through his shoulders, as well as practicing a more confident facial expression. Looking the part is better than half of the job. How else did Michael Scott get promoted?
Angela Martin
Position: Accounting
Her Look Says: I dot every "i" and cross every "t".
Angela's look is not bad. She is always dressed appropriately, modestly, and always looks nice. But Angela doesn't look like management. That may have something to do with her shopping for clothes at the American Girl store. It isn't that Angela's look is uptight, but it is wrong for Scranton. Your look may be perfectly professional, but if it stands out sharply against your peers, it won't win you any points. Angela could take off a few frills. No more fussy, frilly button downs with high collars. If she is concerned about modesty, then a turtleneck under a jacket is a better choice than the top half of a Victorian nightgown. Angela would look good in crisp classics from Anne Taylor, whose line is always preppy perfection. As with Erin, I would style Angela's hair in an updo or low, sleek ponytail. The French braids have got to go.
Oscar Nunez
Position: Accounting
His Look Says: Math Teacher
Oscar needs a lot of work to look management ready, most of all in his sad, faded Easter egg colored shirts. Oscar has very nice coloring, but he drabs himself down in sickly looking pastels with matchy-matchy ties. A great look for him would be a bright blue shirt and yellow tie combination. He would also look terrific in a navy jacket, light blue shirt and smart, solid colored tie. For his management interview, Oscar should get a nicely tailored blue suit and wear it with a white shirt and a yellow tie with navy flecks. Better yet, he should let Andy take him shopping. Oscar is a man who would look great in a vest.
Pam Beesly Halpert (and Jan Levinson)
Position: Sales
Her Look Says: I'm trying
Have you noticed that since her promotion, Pam has lost the dowdy cardigans and taken on a style much more along the lines of Michael's erstwhile love, Jan Levinson? Jan was frequently seen in a pencil skirt with a tailored button up and a jacket, but where Jan's blouses were clearly Liz Claiborne or better, Pam is trending toward parochial school oxfords. When Jan's blouses were still buttoned up, before she went insane, she looked as sharp as any management candidate could. What makes the difference between her style and Pam's take on it? The fit. For Pam to compete, she needs to tailor up, or shop for more fitted wear. She has all the makings of greatness, but isn't quite there. She also needs to do something with her hair. Jan's, though loose, managed to look professional and adult. Pam should either get a blow out, or commit to the work it takes to have good curl, otherwise, it's hairpins in her managerial future.
Kelly Kapoor
Position: Customer Service
Her Look Says: I'm the receptionist
Kelly's wardrobe is very cute, young, and fun. Her style is perfect for the front desk because it is sunny and friendly looking, but she would need a complete overhaul for management. The best thing she has going for her is her sleek, well managed bob. For her management style makeover, I would love to see Kelly in a cream colored pants suit with a lower hip length, belted jacket, and pearls, or a light blue raw silk skirted suit with a fitted jacket nipped in at the waist, stopping at the top of the hip. Kelly is vertically challenged, so I would keep her skirts at the bottom of her knee and no longer, and put her in some nude heels to elongate her legs.
Toby Flenderson
Position: HR
His Look Says: I hate my job
Toby suffers from the same color issue as Oscar, but he takes it a step further. He always manages to look rumpled and slept in. While his suits and shirts are fine, he could use a shot of starch. Without proper care, great looking clothes become hobotastic in a heartbeat. Toby needs to ask for light starch at the cleaners, ditch the wire hangers and invest in some good suit hangers. He could also do with a little hair gel. Toby's hair looks like it spends a lot of time between his frustrated fingers, and it isn't a good look. Just a little product would smooth the naptime looking forelock into a nice side part.
Dwight Schrute
Position: Assistant to the Manager/Sales
His Look Says: Molester
Dwights hairdon't, glass frames, and tie-with-short-sleeves ensembles don't make a great case for boardroom brilliance. As far as hair goes, unless he is a Stooge, a man should never have a middle part. As far as life goes, unless he wants to be mistaken for a biology professor, a man should never wear a tie with short sleeves. Ever. Dwight's glass frames were very popular in the 70s, but we are nine years into the Aughts, and it is time for a change. Like Oscar and Toby, Dwight has color problems, frequently dressing in potato colored suits and shirts. He favors earth tones. To get Dwight ready for his big day, I would dress him in a well tailored black suit with a white shirt and let him pick his own tie. Dwight isn't going to be happy unless he's showing some of that beet rooted personality. I would have his hair styled shorter, to part on the side, and leave his sideburns in tact. I would switch out his glasses for smaller, black rimmed frames, or even take him into Buddy Hollyville to show some fashion forward thinking. The harder part of the makeover is that Dwight needs to cut his swagger in half. Kevin could benefit from it. Over-confident is as much of a turn off as drooling bulb. Maybe more of one.
Jim Halpert
Position: Sales
His Look Says: Slacker
Get a haircut! Iron your shirt! Sit up straight! Jim brings out the mother in me. If I walked into Dunder Mifflin and had to take stock of the staff based only on appearances, Jim would fall far short in my esteem. Jim's look is slapdash, so I expect his work to be. It is not true that every great dresser is a great manager, and it is certainly not true that every sloppy dresser is a sloppy worker, but looks count. If I have two great candidates, and one is dressed like Jim, and one is dressed like Andy, Andy is going to get the leg up. Even an Oscar would get extra points just for trying. To get Jim ready for the big day, first, he's going to have to take care of that mop top. Then, he can put on a suit. Like Toby, he needs to add some starch for a crisp appearance. Jim's height and lankiness would work well for a retro styled suit with a tapered leg--think early James Bond--and that look would be perfect with his hangdog posture.
Even though Meredith, Ryan, nor Creed are contenders for any sort of promotion, the advice above would suit them, too. Meredith would need to switch to a more natural hair color and trade the cardigans for suit jackets. Ryan would need to lose the strange facial hair. Creed, whose suits are quite natty, wouldn't need to change a thing.
Lane Buckman has been in love with fashion since she realized that her first Easter dress came with matching gloves, shoes, and purse. Growing up in the entertainment industry this former beauty queen, model and actress turned corporate career woman understands that dressing for success is just another form of costuming. And, since she has run the size gamut from 2 to 18, Lane understands dressing a variety of shapes. She has written dress codes and conducted Business Style and How to Dress seminars for Fortune 500 and finance companies, boutique agencies, and an international non-profit organization. She gives her stylish Southern mother credit for teaching her everything she knows.
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