Skirts or Pants??

I hope you don't mind Kisstophers Mama, but when I read your comment I thouhgt it would make a great post for discussion. Let's see what other's opinions are.. please post your opinion, so that said.. Kisstophers Mama said...

"I am a new MK consultant, and was told for yesterday's meeting that I was required to wear panty hose and a skirt. I told them, that I would wear slacks because that is what I was comfortable with and they told me not to come to the meeting like that.
Furious I caled Head Quarters and was told that whoever is running the meeting has the authority to dictate what the dress code is, and can require that everyone wear skirts. They said they would "elevate my complaint" and have someone call me back. I somehow really doubt that they are going to call me back.
The dress code hasn't been updated in 50-60 years and that is boloney! I have an 18 month old boy. I agree with the person who said that they wouldn't be going to the super market with their child while wearing a skirt. I don't have the money to go get new clothes for these meetings, nor the extra time to do more laundry because I am going to be wearing 2 different outfits day.
I'm starting to wonder if I joined a cult. Right now I'm set in my ways, and 3 different consultants from my unit have told me that I need to be "attractive" and not "attacking" (I didn't attack anyone, I defended my opinion and refused to wear a skirt and pantyhose)
I do my parties/classes in slacks and a blouse, because that is what I am comfortable in. I'm not going to sit through any meeting, for whatever reason it is for in a skirt when I'm uncomfortable in it. I'm a big girl, I don't look good in skirts. I'm not going to set an example of conforming to a dress code when I think its wrong. (The consultant that signed me asked me what sort of example I was setting for my children by refusing to wear a skirt. That I needed to think about that. . . )
Mary Kay products are for EVERY woman. Not just the ones that look rich. I don't sell to rich women, I'm not a rich women myself, and I HAVE been told that they appreciate that I look just like everyone else. I don't go up in sweat pants and spaghetti stained shirts and hand people my business card, I wear slacks and a blouse. I LOOK professional enough to sell cosmetics.
Thanks for letting me vent."

Let's talk about the dress code.

Hopefully I won't be sent to some sort of Mary Kay Purgatory for this post. If so, I'll repent later. (Maybe.)

I am not dressing to the hilt when I go out and work my MK business. Period. (My makeup will be done and I will present a neat appearance.) I don't usually wear jeans, so that's not an issue. However, I am not dressing up in heels and a skirt every time I go to Bi-Lo. It's not gonna happen. I am not wearing a skirt when I do a facial. I am going to wear something that looks good on me and that I am comfortable in.

Pantyhose? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I'm not saying I never wear it, but here in Mosquito Heaven and Humidity Central, wearing pantyhose is like wearing longjohns - ick. Still, I can wear a long skirt or pants and no one will notice. :D

I have changed since I joined MK. I make sure my makeup and hair are fixed nicely. I love it!

But I am NOT going to go to Target with a 3-year-old in a skirt. Not going to happen.

And you know what? I still get leads. I still get a warm reception. I still make sales.

What do you think? Do you follow/did you follow the dress code? Love it? Hate it?

Share your thoughts.

A great question

MKKM recently posed a question that I myself have been curious about. I know some of you have touched on this already, but let's talk about this specifically.

I am new to your post, but have been a consultant for over twenty years. I was once a Cadillac driving senior director and then since I have been very part time as a consultant. Recently I have re-activated my business and am enjoying the many modernizations to the products and the packaging in the effort to be "on-trend." I am mystified, however, that the company is still insisting that we wear skirt, dresses or skirted suits to all MK functions. For the last week I have been observing my area as I lived my life... taking my kids to and from school, attending the various retail establishments and restaurants we frequent, and businesses we support... to date, the ONLY women I have seen wearing skirts are MK ladies!!! I kid you not. How can MK consider this to be "on-trend?" Who is there, corporately, who has the intestinal fortitude to encourage us to stop dressing like old ladies going to church and let us follow the styles of (young) women in today's work place. My husband made the observation that watching women come and go from the Mary Kay meetings is like watching them come into and out of church, not out of a professional office building. I want to really make a go of my career this time around, but I do NOT want to look dowdy and it is my personal belief that wearing a skirt, dress or skirted suit is not trendy enough to make other women want to listen to me tell them how to look better. We are selling "Parties." My customers attend in jeans or shorts. Wearing a business suit is way overwhelming to them. The beauty coat is a good idea, and I use one, but I would like to be able to wear a professional pant suit to my selling appointments and to my meetings and not feel guilty that I was being disrespectful to Mary Kay. I have back problems and have been told by my doctor not to wear high heels.... ergo what kind of dress can one wear with flats? I would like to know how some of you others feel about this issue and if it has come up in recruiting discussions?

I think that the discussion thus far has revealed that:

1. When you are "out and about" you should dress appropriately to your audience.
- SCC/Product Demonstration - dress based on those in attendance
Jeans with jeans
Dresses/skirts with dresses/skirts
Professional attire with professional attire
- Warm Chattering - based on the location you will be
Mall - Professional Casual (is that a category?)
Work - Whatever you wear to work
Everyday - Whatever you normally wear
2. There is no outright mandate from corporate for anything but official meetings
3. Depending on your director, some events may request/expect/require certain attire

So the question I would like input on - and I understand these will be opinions - is, "Should Mary Kay Corporate change its paradigm of dress requirements?"

If so, to what level?

If not, why?

Should there be an expectation for directors to change their requirements/guidelines?


There are a few restaurants that I really enjoy here in Los Angeles. They REQUIRE and I do mean require "after 5" attire (suit and tie for the gents, dress/gown/skirt for the ladies). If I don't feel like dressing up, I can opt to not eat at these places. But, if I want to enjoy their fare, you had better believe I'ma have a suit on!

Obviously a fine dining establishment and Mary Kay have almost nothing in common! But I threw that in there for some perspective.

Alright, on Donner, on Blitzen, on... Your Opinions!

Nothing Follows

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Outdated '50s fassion or Fantasticly Classy?

Ok, whats the deal with this dress code?

It seems that some people don't like the idea of getting all dressed up!? Who doesn't love a good excuse to put on your "I look fantastic" clothes and go out to show them off to everyone? Who doesn't love the feel of being magnificently "over" dressed?

Conversely, does anyone really want to get dressed up EVERY Monday? You wear your business clothes ALL week at work and when you get home all you want to do is strip down to jeans and a T-shirt. Or just skip straight to the Pajamas! Can I get an "amen"?

The simple answer is right there in front of you. The ones that work from home, make phone calls and email people all day really want that opportunity to get dressed up. The ones that have a "real" job all week want to be ACAP (As Casual As Possible). The problem of course is that if you get really dressed up and everyone else is wearing sweats, YOU are going to feel out of place and maybe a tad ridiculous...



So that is the simple answer... what are your thoughts?

I personally (yes, as a guy) fluctuate. I have had jobs that I wore shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops to every day and I LOVED the opportunities to put on a suit or a tux and go be with "well dressed" people. But I have also worked jobs that I wore a suit for. It didn't matter how "exclusive" the occasion was, I DID NOT love putting a tie on if it wasn't for work.

How do you feel about getting dressed up for weekly meeting? Special Events? Skin Care Classes?

What are the rules in your unit or area?

Is your director (or if you are a director, "are you") relaxed or strict?

Is there an official Mary Kay Corporate directive, or do directors set the pace?

If there is such a directive, can local directors override it?

If someone were totally "into" the Goth movement (waves to "gothchiq") and had friends that absolutely LOVE the black eyeliner, would she be allowed to present the product to them without having to where a skirt and blouse? Could she "come as she was"?

I had an excellent conversation with a new acquaintance this afternoon about this and thought I would throw it out to everyone. If someone has their own style, do they have to conform or can they dress in their "norm"? Is there a difference between their personal appointments and the official events?

I know these are a lot of questions... just focus on the ones that you have experience with and hopefully you won't be overwhelmed!

Thanks