How to make an ugly company polo shirt look good?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lovely silk scarf and I agree you should get it altered. I'd wear it it with a black pencil skirt and heels.

OMG.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been through this. I’m plus sized which always made this extra hard because I had to wear a men’s polo shirt as the women’s were too small for me and weren’t offered in plus sizes. I took a men’s polo shirt and altered it myself by taking it in at the waist. I’m sure a tailor can do the same for you.

Just so you’re aware, convention centers can be really cold if you end up in the basement. If your employer does not allow you to cover the polo, you’ll want to have something to wear under it if it’s cold. Maybe keep a thermal shirt in your bag just in case.

In terms if styling, I just unbuttoned it all the way, added a necklace, and just sucked it up for the day.

[Anonymous]

Make friends with the marketing person and get the apparel logo in digital form. Order something vaguely similar that fits you better—e.g., keep, the same color scheme, but order a cardigan, shirt, or other garment that you can stand to wear. Lands End has some acceptable button cardigans with pockets (great for phone and business cards for example) and they can handle the logo no problem. Some of my colleagues have gone the under armor athleisure zipper jacket route for more casual conferences.

If you are fortunate enough to have a female contact in marketing, she might go further and help you find an alternate that looks better that becomes an option for any female staff member. Typically then the company still pays.

I agree that if you only have to wear this once it is probably best to suck it up, but if it happens regularly it’s worth being creative.

Another option is appealing to a female manager who is in a similar predicament to help.

Worst case ask if full on business attire is an acceptable alternative.

I have been successful with this strategy many times, starting with the hideous logoed vests that made any female who weighed more than 90 lbs look like a barrel with legs. Keep in mind that you are not alone in your desire for a more acceptable alternative.

[Anonymous]

I truly can't believe the level of hysteria some of you have risen to, all to avoid wearing a polo for a day? Good grief, get over yourselves!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Veteran polo shirt wearer here:

Find a nice cardigan that is fitted and shapely, i.e., no long boyfriend cardigan, something like a twin set cardigan top.

Wear that over the polo shirt, which you do your own "cheap woman's" alteration on by pulling the excess side fabric to the back and pinning it with a large safety pin to make a waist. (I didn't describe that well but I hope you get what i mean)
Tuck your polo shirt into a nice pair of neutral pants that are flare or neutral leg (skinny pants only if you are actually skinny) and a nice pair of low heels.
Wear your hair up/back in a soft chignon or low bun (or other classy simple style to get it off the collar) and some pearls, diamonds or other studs.
Trust me, this is the formula to get you through this. My condolences

Wouldn't the fitted cardigan show all the excessive fabric you gathered at the back, with all the creases and bulges?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.suburbanfauxpas.com/2014/10/Lacoste-City-Golf.html?m=1

This is cute. The white polo is easier to wear though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Her "after" is not even a polo (it's not the same shirt as the first picture).

(You're an idiot)


https://www.merricksart.com/polo-refashion/

How is this a polo? She took the collar off. That is the whole point of the dress code. You are the idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I truly can't believe the level of hysteria some of you have risen to, all to avoid wearing a polo for a day? Good grief, get over yourselves!

When you are at a conference, often several days, you are on your feet and meeting with lots of people. If you feel like you look awful, that can be pretty miserable. As a female conference veteran, not to mention a management team member, I also feel strongly that women are as deserving of something that looks half way decent as men. And let’s face it, polos tend to look best on people with flat chests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I truly can't believe the level of hysteria some of you have risen to, all to avoid wearing a polo for a day? Good grief, get over yourselves!

When you are at a conference, often several days, you are on your feet and meeting with lots of people. If you feel like you look awful, that can be pretty miserable. As a female conference veteran, not to mention a management team member, I also feel strongly that women are as deserving of something that looks half way decent as men. And let’s face it, polos tend to look best on people with flat chests.

As a fellow female conference veteran, I welcome the company polo shirt. I know what I'll be wearing, I don't have to stress about clothes, I know I can pair it with casual pants or jeans and cute flats or sneakers and be comfortable all day. Oh, and I'm also fairly buxom and still rock my company-issued polo! I honestly don't know what all the fuss is about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I truly can't believe the level of hysteria some of you have risen to, all to avoid wearing a polo for a day? Good grief, get over yourselves!

Seriously. Think of it as being the uniform for the duration of the conference. The whole point is for you to be easily identifiable and to not stand out. Think military, professional choirs, McDonald's employees. Just wear the damn thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lovely silk scarf and I agree you should get it altered. I'd wear it it with a black pencil skirt and heels.

Lol!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe people are making such a big deal of this. This is sort of standard for tech conferences. It’s not a fashion show—the goal is for all the company reps to look the same and be easily identifiable as the company. If it’s really bad, I think you can have it taken in around the waist a bit but if you do a lot you’re going to look silly and like the person that has to sexy up a uniform because you are that vain.
Are you allowed to wear jeans? The right cut of flattering jeans would really help this. And then just do your hair and makeup as your ordinarily would and you’ll be fine.
Did you guys not ever have to wear a company t-shirt for a softball game or group outing? No one looks good, but the point is not to look good. Are you trying to hook up at this conference?

Lol this was my thought as well!

We have various events where we all wear a company T-shirt etc and I've never really cared about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell the company you will wear their uniform when they order it in women's clothing. Remind them that you are not a man. If you get alterations, to the men's shirt to make it fit a woman's body, bill the company.

Can you imagine if the order the company shirt in a woman's fit style and asked the men to wear it?

This reminded me when the c-store I get gas was part of a chain buy-out and they issued the cashiers new tops to wear. They were black with red trim but they were actually sort of smocks with short puffed sleeves including 1-inch band where the sleeve ended. Maybe not quite as puffed as the dressed little girls wore in the 50's-early 60s but close. Everyone looked ridiculous by the guys especially so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Her "after" is not even a polo (it's not the same shirt as the first picture).

I think she turned the shirt around, tucked the collar in and is wearing it backwards? I guess that would work under a sweater or jacket, but if you're folding the collar under, why wear it backwards?

[Anonymous]

I have to wear a company polo every damn day of the week at one of my jobs and I just want to say, I actually really appreciate this thread and others like it. It really sucks having to feel frumpy all the freaking time because of this stupid shirt