Clothes make the woman?
'The influence of clothing on the female engineer and her environment'
Thanks to BAM, which made both a venue and drinks possible.
In an engineering world, you don't automatically feel challenged to dress femininely. After all, you still sometimes have to be outside, on location, and then it is often easier not to put on your best clothes. But isn't it our optimal opportunity to stand out positively? And do we feel comfortable walking into a meeting afterwards? The combination of the morning on the construction site and the afternoon a meeting at headquarters, how do you solve that in a smart way?
Dorien Staal and Judith van Tol shaped this topic together. Dorien Staal works at the Royal BAM Group and Judith van Tol has been working in the fashion world for years and has had her own company called Judith van Tol Styling & Promotions since 2007. Three years ago, Judith was approached to put on a fashion show for and by women with breast cancer, to show that with this disease (or having had it) you can look thoroughly feminine. She also works for top couturier Monique Collignon. Not to avoid the private piece, she works as a business manager at Leuk! (www.leukdewinkel.nl) Leuk! now has eight branches, where personal contact with the customer is the main focus.
Dorien Staal opened the evening with a personal story. It became clear that, over the years, Dorien discovered that clothes should match the steps you make in life and your career. You cannot stay stuck in your student days. Besides, clothes can empower your story. But that insight is not enough, because somewhere you have to translate that into your own style. And if you're not very good at that yourself, be wise enough to leave this to others.
Judith takes over the story and explains that 'fashion' is often seen as 'stupid shopping' in the PC and buying the most expensive pieces of clothing, and then when you wear those expensive clothes, we should feel 'good'. Firstly, we spend a lot of money, secondly, in most cases we are not helped properly, you have bought a few pieces and they then get lost in your wardrobe, totally incompatible with the rest. Using practical examples, Judith went on to show how you can create a wardrobe where you can mix and match a lot, making it easier and especially more fun to dress yourself every day. Business or private.
Fashion is much more important than many women believe. Our outward appearance, state of mind, non-verbal communication, all of this penetrates far into even the psyche of us, if we feel good, confident in our clothing style and the way we wear it this is reflected not only in the workplace, but also in the private sphere. We all have one of those days, you get up late, child late at nursery, a nice altercation with hubby, so we sometimes arrive at work in a lesser state of mind. If the basics of your appearance are right, you can still get away with this. Let me tell you that non-verbal communication goes a long way! Indeed, it doesn't work for femininity if you work 90% with men and probably won't matter that much to you as a woman in this industry. Everyone is equal, works hard and is not at all concerned with outward display. Yet it is more important than people often think. You might think "I don't want to stand out in the workplace". But when you dress slightly more feminine, your behaviour immediately adapts, your attitude is different and male colleagues approach you differently, or more seriously. When you pay more attention to your appearance and therefore look more groomed and feminine, it gives a personal boost. This feeling comes out verbally, but will also come out non-verbally for colleagues. Verbal because you usually feel more confident when you know about yourself that you look better/feminine. You dare to express your opinion more often, you talk more easily and you stand out a bit more. Non-verbal because your attitude changes subconsciously. Should a small heel come into play, you stand up straighter.
Dorien, together with Judith, had already made a selection and with several changes of clothes, they explained what to do and what not to do. Judith's simple tip of wearing long shirts, not a belt in (jeans) trousers but a long shirt with a belt over it, was a valuable new insight for many. Tips were exchanged on where to buy these long shirts, where to buy jeans that fit well, work shoes with steel-toed boots that still look feminine,...etc. Above all, it was an evening to talk at length with each other, about clothes, about whether it is important yes or no, and to give each other tips and advice. More than an hour and a half was spent having drinks, trying on clothes and enjoying an evening of 'bonnets'. Reliable sources informed us that a large number of ladies were spotted shopping in the city the following days. On Friday afternoon after the lecture, I myself encountered two ladies in Judith's shop by chance. The success of the evening could not be underlined more beautifully. Warm regards and hopefully see you at the next KIVI NIRIA activity, Dorien Staal
Description
'Showing femininity in a man's world'
'Clothes make the man', is the expression. But what about us women? And what about us engineers in the technical men's world.
Do you dare to express your femininity in your clothes? How much does wearing feminine clothing affect your doings at the office, how does it affect your environment, and more importantly - what does it do to you?
An evening to talk about clothing with Personal Styler Judith van Tol. Judith van Tol has already organised several fashion shows for women who have (had) breast cancer. She dresses them beautifully feminine from head to toe and guides them in a whirlwind fashion show. The relationship so feeling good, and dressing well could not be more clearly illustrated with this.
We will also spend an evening talking and experiencing what clothes do to you. And perhaps a moment to decide to add a new dimension to your wardrobe?
We will meet on 20 October at 19:30 in Bunnik. We will provide some snacks with coffee and drinks, there will also be time to get further acquainted with each other informally.
Location: Royal BAM Group, Bunnik
Address: Runnenburg 9, building B
Speaker(s)
Judith van Tol
Location
BAM Bunnik, Runnenburg 9 (building B)
located a 1-minute walk from Bunnik railway station
Organiser
Utrecht region
Network Female Engineers
Name and contact details for information
For more information, please contact ir Dorien Staal at the e-mail address below: