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Career Strategies for Librarians
Career Strategies for Librarians
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The Style Council: A Twelve Step Fashion Do & Don’t Guide for Library Professionals
by Jill Emery
All right, I’ve had it with our professional double-speak. On the one hand, those nearing retirement age in
our profession are bemoaning the lack of worthwhile young library professionals and on the other hand,
our professional literature and attitude goes out of the way to alienate any new professional by
presenting them with misguided advice and stodgy concepts of our profession. In response to the tired,
sad, and often times pathetic fashion-drivel I read in our professional literature, and see given to young
professionals in library and information science, here is a practical and hopefully enlightening guide for
dressing for work.
Dress your part: If you’re an entry level professional, you have the opportunity to dress a bit more casually
than your bosses. Take advantage of your lack of sophistication and your youth and dress the part by not
wearing a tie or jacket or pantyhose or pumps. Wear comfortable, clean, nice clothes. These do not need
to be expensive, just nice looking. If you’ve managed to find a job a bit higher up on the career ladder,
dress appropriately but don’t rival your boss. Oftentimes, library administrators must be out of the office-
working with city leaders, campus officials, donors, etc. Of course, people in these roles should dress
their part, but if you’ve been hired lower down the chain, bear that in mind and be comfortable. There is
nothing worse than having to check computer cables under a desk while wearing a suit & pumps! Also,
be aware of when people dress-up. Occasionally, the institutional dress code is heightened during a
candidate interview, or during a visit from an important official or donor. Stay attuned to these types of
events and dress accordingly. If you’ve been asked to present something on behalf of your organization,
you may want to spiff it up some, a nice dress and pantyhose, the suit/tie, your favorite pantsuit.
Remember though, the golden rule is to be as comfortable as possible while still looking professional.
These boots were made for walking: Don’t shy away from wearing flat shoes, doc martins, boots, clogs,
etc. Just make sure your footwear ties in to your overall “look” and again, think fashionably comfortable.
Also think, kept-up…polish those shoes occasionally, polish your toenails if wearing sandals or open
toe shoes to work. Every time I have to travel to a library conference and am flying, I wear a pair of scuffed
shoes and have them polished at the airport while waiting for my plane. Helps me burn some time at the
airport, airport polish jobs are pretty cheap $5-7, and this small airport errand provides me with the look I
want & need for conference attendance. When you’re standing at the reference desk for hours on end,
the last thing you want is to be in painful shoes. This is also true for conferences. You can still look great
in nice clothes and wear appropriately comfortable shoes.
Free to be…you & me: Don’t shy away from your individual style at work. If you have a thing for wearing
purple shirts, then wear purple shirts. If you’re into wearing twin sets, by all means don the twin set. Don’
t feel you have to look like every other corporate drone in the world. However, steer clear of specific
themed attire…while you may be a cat-lover, you do not need to advertise this fact on every article of
clothing & accessory you own. A small and delicate cat pin on your jacket or a subtly printed scarf are
fine…wearing cat-motif earrings, necklaces, bracelets, a T-shirt that says I own forty how about you?,
pants with cats appliquéd around the cuffs and carrying a tapestry cat-themed bag is too much. Tone
down the theme-wear at all costs be it cats, books, Tabasco ™ products, whatever…there is a thing as
too much and too many of us cross this line too often. Please, be appropriate in your wardrobe, leave the
party clothes for a party, the appliqué for parent-teacher or church meetings, and the ho-tops for the
nightclub unless you can mix and match these with more sedate pieces in your wardrobe to achieve a
well-balanced and tasteful look; few people can actually pull this look off. So stick with standard work-
wear staples but make sure what you wear reflects you and your comfort levels.
Be textured & diverse: Instead of just the plain run of the mill pantyhose, jazz up that suit look with some
textured hose that sedately say you’re fun & creative. If you must wear pantyhose, look for colors that
subtly match your outfit or compliment your outfit as opposed to the “nude” variety. If you feel most
comfortable in the “nude” variety, buy further up the fashion chain, don’t settle for the Walgreen’s ™
brand when you can afford Victoria’s Secret ™. We’re always hawking diversity in this profession so if
you have an ethnic heritage that you like to celebrate through your clothing, by all means, wear your
ethnic outfits to work. For the alternative crowd members among us, flaunt the tattoos within reason
where they show up just under your sleeves, around your ankles, or around your wrists, or wear those
intriguing ear barbells you’re always talking about but wear them with a neat, pulled together look.
Update: Some people see buying and selecting clothes as a nuisance and it certainly can be. However,
wearing the same things for months on end can be boring--even for you. With the Internet, mail catalogs,
etc. you can shop from the privacy of your own home instead of having to fight crowds and go to
shopping malls. Try purchasing one new item a month to wear to work. Try to pick something that will
work with things you already have in your closet.
Accessorize: Often times, it’s the little things that help catch someone’s eye. So wear that funky bracelet
you found for two bucks at an antique store, and don that polka dot scarf you just had to buy at the
discount shop. Accessories can turn an ordinary sweater and pants set into a whole new you for a day!
Be neo-traditional: If you feel you have to wear the suit look for your job, then invest in good quality
clothing that fit you well and add those simple touches that make you stand out from everyone else. For
her: wear a ruffle or tuxedo shirt under that black jacket, learn to tie a patterned scarf in different patterns,
add big faux pearls that give your look that mocking edge, and wear that beaded sweater instead of a
jacket occasionally. For him: pull out those vintage ties you inherited, scan the consignment shops for
something a bit more dated and fun, or stick with the classical, well tailored suit but wear a shirt in some
off-beat color like berry or sherbet or midnight.
Patent shoes DO reflect up: Nothing says pretentious prat quite like tasseled loafers…lose the frou-frou
shoes--guys and stick with classic black/brown oxfords, loafers, and workman’s lace-ups. If you want an
edge with classic shoes, wear them without socks—just make sure you’re not wearing high ankle cut
pants when you go sans socks. For all you gals out there: repeat after me: just say NO! to big elastic
strap, discount, flat sandals. Yes, they may be comfortable and thus fit into the category number 2 but
please do not overlook the word fashionably used in that paragraph. Surely, you can find something
comfortable in an affordable price range other than elastic strap sandals and you should!
Dress to kill: When you present at a conference, when you interview, when you want to impress, then
dress to impress. If you work in the sales side of our business, do not show up at my library to sell me a
database or to instruct us on a database, with sweat stains and dandruff; you’ve already lost the sale by
your lack of enthusiasm for your personal appearance. Yes, we will talk about you the minute you have
left the building. Women sales people have it way more together in this arena than the men do!
Don’t be hosed: If you are going to wear pantyhose, especially of the nude variety, do not, repeat, do not
wear them with sandals. Do not wear thigh highs with sandals either. Sandals are sandals for a reason.
Sandals are designed to be a summer shoe worn to accent your feet and when you cover your feet, you
are denying the sandal of its very essence of being. Rule of thumb, if its open toe, then go bare
footed/legged. Do wear hose with any myriad of closed-toe shoe.
Mix-n-match: Go ahead and wear that vintage dress with killer heels or hip, wedgy open-toe pumps. Add
a gold chain to your Japanese designer eyeglass frames, or better yet, find an old pair of vintage
glasses and see if you can have lens made to fit them. Style your hair in a chignon or other classical
hairstyle to go with your tasteful yet affordable Target ™ suit. Mix a second-hand, vintage Sears ™
sweater vest with a skirt from the Banana ™ Have fun with your clothes and with your new professional
attitude.
Don’t be shabby-chic: It’s ok to wear vintage but don’t wear clothes that are falling apart, are stained
beyond cleansing, have big rips & tears in them (even on purpose), are too small for you, or even too big
for you. The look does not come across as ironic, will not get you a pay raise, and you will be snickered
about in break rooms.
Remember this simple rule of thumb: your clothes should be clean, of appropriate size, and above all
else comfortable. Otherwise you end up hating your job and your wardrobe and that is more than one
person should have to bear!
About the Author:
Jill Emery is currently Director, Electronic Resources Program at the
University of Houston Libraries. She shares a passion for fashion and
has a flair for what not to wear. She has experienced many a
clothing/shoe mishap but has managed to come through each experience a little bit
wiser.
Article published September 2003
Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in LIScareer articles are those of their respective authors and do not
necessarily represent the views of the LIScareer editors.
by Jill Emery
All right, I’ve had it with our professional double-speak. On the one hand, those nearing retirement age in
our profession are bemoaning the lack of worthwhile young library professionals and on the other hand,
our professional literature and attitude goes out of the way to alienate any new professional by
presenting them with misguided advice and stodgy concepts of our profession. In response to the tired,
sad, and often times pathetic fashion-drivel I read in our professional literature, and see given to young
professionals in library and information science, here is a practical and hopefully enlightening guide for
dressing for work.
Dress your part: If you’re an entry level professional, you have the opportunity to dress a bit more casually
than your bosses. Take advantage of your lack of sophistication and your youth and dress the part by not
wearing a tie or jacket or pantyhose or pumps. Wear comfortable, clean, nice clothes. These do not need
to be expensive, just nice looking. If you’ve managed to find a job a bit higher up on the career ladder,
dress appropriately but don’t rival your boss. Oftentimes, library administrators must be out of the office-
working with city leaders, campus officials, donors, etc. Of course, people in these roles should dress
their part, but if you’ve been hired lower down the chain, bear that in mind and be comfortable. There is
nothing worse than having to check computer cables under a desk while wearing a suit & pumps! Also,
be aware of when people dress-up. Occasionally, the institutional dress code is heightened during a
candidate interview, or during a visit from an important official or donor. Stay attuned to these types of
events and dress accordingly. If you’ve been asked to present something on behalf of your organization,
you may want to spiff it up some, a nice dress and pantyhose, the suit/tie, your favorite pantsuit.
Remember though, the golden rule is to be as comfortable as possible while still looking professional.
These boots were made for walking: Don’t shy away from wearing flat shoes, doc martins, boots, clogs,
etc. Just make sure your footwear ties in to your overall “look” and again, think fashionably comfortable.
Also think, kept-up…polish those shoes occasionally, polish your toenails if wearing sandals or open
toe shoes to work. Every time I have to travel to a library conference and am flying, I wear a pair of scuffed
shoes and have them polished at the airport while waiting for my plane. Helps me burn some time at the
airport, airport polish jobs are pretty cheap $5-7, and this small airport errand provides me with the look I
want & need for conference attendance. When you’re standing at the reference desk for hours on end,
the last thing you want is to be in painful shoes. This is also true for conferences. You can still look great
in nice clothes and wear appropriately comfortable shoes.
Free to be…you & me: Don’t shy away from your individual style at work. If you have a thing for wearing
purple shirts, then wear purple shirts. If you’re into wearing twin sets, by all means don the twin set. Don’
t feel you have to look like every other corporate drone in the world. However, steer clear of specific
themed attire…while you may be a cat-lover, you do not need to advertise this fact on every article of
clothing & accessory you own. A small and delicate cat pin on your jacket or a subtly printed scarf are
fine…wearing cat-motif earrings, necklaces, bracelets, a T-shirt that says I own forty how about you?,
pants with cats appliquéd around the cuffs and carrying a tapestry cat-themed bag is too much. Tone
down the theme-wear at all costs be it cats, books, Tabasco ™ products, whatever…there is a thing as
too much and too many of us cross this line too often. Please, be appropriate in your wardrobe, leave the
party clothes for a party, the appliqué for parent-teacher or church meetings, and the ho-tops for the
nightclub unless you can mix and match these with more sedate pieces in your wardrobe to achieve a
well-balanced and tasteful look; few people can actually pull this look off. So stick with standard work-
wear staples but make sure what you wear reflects you and your comfort levels.
Be textured & diverse: Instead of just the plain run of the mill pantyhose, jazz up that suit look with some
textured hose that sedately say you’re fun & creative. If you must wear pantyhose, look for colors that
subtly match your outfit or compliment your outfit as opposed to the “nude” variety. If you feel most
comfortable in the “nude” variety, buy further up the fashion chain, don’t settle for the Walgreen’s ™
brand when you can afford Victoria’s Secret ™. We’re always hawking diversity in this profession so if
you have an ethnic heritage that you like to celebrate through your clothing, by all means, wear your
ethnic outfits to work. For the alternative crowd members among us, flaunt the tattoos within reason
where they show up just under your sleeves, around your ankles, or around your wrists, or wear those
intriguing ear barbells you’re always talking about but wear them with a neat, pulled together look.
Update: Some people see buying and selecting clothes as a nuisance and it certainly can be. However,
wearing the same things for months on end can be boring--even for you. With the Internet, mail catalogs,
etc. you can shop from the privacy of your own home instead of having to fight crowds and go to
shopping malls. Try purchasing one new item a month to wear to work. Try to pick something that will
work with things you already have in your closet.
Accessorize: Often times, it’s the little things that help catch someone’s eye. So wear that funky bracelet
you found for two bucks at an antique store, and don that polka dot scarf you just had to buy at the
discount shop. Accessories can turn an ordinary sweater and pants set into a whole new you for a day!
Be neo-traditional: If you feel you have to wear the suit look for your job, then invest in good quality
clothing that fit you well and add those simple touches that make you stand out from everyone else. For
her: wear a ruffle or tuxedo shirt under that black jacket, learn to tie a patterned scarf in different patterns,
add big faux pearls that give your look that mocking edge, and wear that beaded sweater instead of a
jacket occasionally. For him: pull out those vintage ties you inherited, scan the consignment shops for
something a bit more dated and fun, or stick with the classical, well tailored suit but wear a shirt in some
off-beat color like berry or sherbet or midnight.
Patent shoes DO reflect up: Nothing says pretentious prat quite like tasseled loafers…lose the frou-frou
shoes--guys and stick with classic black/brown oxfords, loafers, and workman’s lace-ups. If you want an
edge with classic shoes, wear them without socks—just make sure you’re not wearing high ankle cut
pants when you go sans socks. For all you gals out there: repeat after me: just say NO! to big elastic
strap, discount, flat sandals. Yes, they may be comfortable and thus fit into the category number 2 but
please do not overlook the word fashionably used in that paragraph. Surely, you can find something
comfortable in an affordable price range other than elastic strap sandals and you should!
Dress to kill: When you present at a conference, when you interview, when you want to impress, then
dress to impress. If you work in the sales side of our business, do not show up at my library to sell me a
database or to instruct us on a database, with sweat stains and dandruff; you’ve already lost the sale by
your lack of enthusiasm for your personal appearance. Yes, we will talk about you the minute you have
left the building. Women sales people have it way more together in this arena than the men do!
Don’t be hosed: If you are going to wear pantyhose, especially of the nude variety, do not, repeat, do not
wear them with sandals. Do not wear thigh highs with sandals either. Sandals are sandals for a reason.
Sandals are designed to be a summer shoe worn to accent your feet and when you cover your feet, you
are denying the sandal of its very essence of being. Rule of thumb, if its open toe, then go bare
footed/legged. Do wear hose with any myriad of closed-toe shoe.
Mix-n-match: Go ahead and wear that vintage dress with killer heels or hip, wedgy open-toe pumps. Add
a gold chain to your Japanese designer eyeglass frames, or better yet, find an old pair of vintage
glasses and see if you can have lens made to fit them. Style your hair in a chignon or other classical
hairstyle to go with your tasteful yet affordable Target ™ suit. Mix a second-hand, vintage Sears ™
sweater vest with a skirt from the Banana ™ Have fun with your clothes and with your new professional
attitude.
Don’t be shabby-chic: It’s ok to wear vintage but don’t wear clothes that are falling apart, are stained
beyond cleansing, have big rips & tears in them (even on purpose), are too small for you, or even too big
for you. The look does not come across as ironic, will not get you a pay raise, and you will be snickered
about in break rooms.
Remember this simple rule of thumb: your clothes should be clean, of appropriate size, and above all
else comfortable. Otherwise you end up hating your job and your wardrobe and that is more than one
person should have to bear!
About the Author:
Jill Emery is currently Director, Electronic Resources Program at the
University of Houston Libraries. She shares a passion for fashion and
has a flair for what not to wear. She has experienced many a
clothing/shoe mishap but has managed to come through each experience a little bit
wiser.
Article published September 2003
Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in LIScareer articles are those of their respective authors and do not
necessarily represent the views of the LIScareer editors.