Becca is an Associate in the Serious Injury Department at Shoosmiths and is based in the Birmingham Office. She is passionate about colorful fashion that promotes confidence and positivity in professional environments.
Shoosmiths actively encourages employees to be themselves (it’s one of our values!). This article discusses Becca’s thoughts on dressing for the career you want, self-expression in the workplace through fashion, the importance of making a good first impression and styling tips to enhance your workwear.
Promotion material
Walking into a room with confidence is a great feeling and wearing an outfit that is authentically you, which is also professional, can make a real impact. From insight evenings and assessment centres, as an aspiring solicitor, to networking events and client meetings as a solicitor, it is great to make a positive first impression and feel the part. Fashion is an excellent method of self-expression because you can show your personality through the colours or patterns that you choose to wear.
I love incorporating colour into my outfits because it boosts my mood, from the outset of the day, and I go into work with a positive mindset. Colour is joyful and when I feel good in the clothes that I wear, I know that I am presenting the best version of myself to others. I strongly believe that a key part to achieving professional goals comes from confidence and a feeling of being your true self. For me, colourful fashion supports this mindset.
There is also research into the science behind ‘Dopamine dressing’ which ‘is a term used to describe the practice of using clothing as a tool to boost our mood and improve our cognitive abilities’. Take a look at this article to learn more: Fashion Meets Neuroscience: The Science Behind Dopamine Dressing and the Mood-Boosting Benefits — Homebody Club
Dress for your day
At Shoosmiths we adopt a ‘dress for your day’ policy to reflect our flexible and agile working environment. From a sustainability perspective, this policy encourages employees to make their current wardrobe go further and work both for them on days which involve meetings with clients as well as days where employees are working from home or do not have client meetings.
Tips for commuting
Balancing comfort on your commute into work with feeling your most stylish self, once you are in the office, can be tricky. Also, no one wants blisters. Planning ahead by bringing a change of shoes into the office with you is a good hack. In our Birmingham office, we have coat and shoe cupboards with seating designed to make the transition from trainers to smart flats or heels easy! We also have dressing rooms so that employees can touch up their makeup or hair after a busy commute or to feel their best before an event.
For people with longer hair, my top tip is to wear a claw clip whilst I am on the move because my hair is then less knotty and more presentable on arrival! Of course, a hairbrush is an essential too.
Becca’s top styling tip
Whether your outfit is bold and bright or neutral, a great way to look put together it to tie in the same colour across more than one piece of clothing and/or accessory. For example, I have some orange heels that I love. When I wear them, I will pair the heels with an orange top or dress in the same shade or match my belt or handbag to the shoes.
People to follow
If you are interested in following legal professionals who share snaps of their workwear and insights into working at a law firm, I would recommend following:
- @lawwithsophie
- @legallyrun
- @JustinFarrance
You can also follow me on Instagram @life_ofbecca to see colourful workwear pictures and on Linkedin @BeccaHorley for professional posts about my work as a Serious Injury solicitor.
Take a look at our other recent posts, or if you have any questions specifically about training contracts, you might find your answer on our FAQ page.
You can get in touch with us about career-related queries at [email protected].
Disclaimer
This information is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given. Please contact us for specific advice on your circumstances. © Shoosmiths LLP 2024.