One of the things I’ve loved about living in DC is getting to meet all of the different bloggers and hear about all of the interesting things they do in DC! I haven’t gotten to meet Liz in person yet, but I’ve found her through some other bloggers and twitter. Once you’ve read about her work style, go check out her blog and twitter! Just be warned, her tweets about Cava Grill will definitely make you start craving it.
Name
Liz McAvoy
Blog
Age
25
Job Title
Community Manager
Job Description
Manage our various social media channels, oversee community partnerships, create content for and manage the company blog, take photos, and eat good food.
Organization Description
Cava Grill, a growing DC-based fast-casual restaurant group
What dress code was given to you when you began the job?
Casual
What do you generally wear to work?
It really ranges widely. Since we only have a handful of people in our corporate office space and I’m running from place every day, it can range from jeans and a t-shirt one day to a comfy shift dress and heels another day (ok, so the heels are exceedingly rare).
Where do you like to shop for work attire?
Since I’m lucky enough to have an environment where practically anything goes, my work purchases are the same as my weekend purchases. A few favorites include big-hitters like ASOS, Nordstrom, Madewell, and a few more niche favorites include South Moon Under, Free People, Current Boutique.
How have you developed your professional style?
I would say my professional style actually tended to skew slightly more formal at my previous job (though still very much on the casual style). These days, work can run from tasting a new menu item in the morning to lunch with one of our community partners to emails and content scheduling in the afternoon — so I’ve learned the value of comfortable shoes and of always carrying an extra layer for heading indoors and out.
In your specific office, what is one thing you would tell a woman to definitely NOT wear?
For me, it actually skews more in the direction of ‘don’t wear tall heels or a pencil skirt,’ than the usual, ‘don’t wear leggings or a t-shirt,’ because of the versatility and athleticism my job sometimes has. If I’m standing on a chair trying to get just the right photo of our food for our Instagram account, I don’t need lunch rush customers getting to peek up my skirt. And when I’m running from one end of DC to the other because I scheduled meetings in two different restaurant locations in the same day, comfortable shoes will always win.
What is the best “dress code” advice you have ever received?
Know what flatters you. But also know what you like. I started What Dress Code? two years ago as a space to showcase my lack of a dress code — both in a literal sense and in the sense that I’ve never really held myself to one particular style or trend. But when it really gets down to it, I think knowing your body shape and dressing to flatter it is important; but even more important to that is just buying that wacky printed skirt or crazy pair of wedges if you’re smitten. If you like wear what you like, your confidence will shine through.
What advice would you give to women starting in her career about dressing for her job?
I would say to ask a peer what they wear on a weekly basis before you even step foot into the office. And I would also say to ask your future boss the same thing. Put the two together and try to figure out where your style fits into the mix. I’m obviously in one of the more casual work environments out there, but I think that even in the most formal professional environment, if you do your homework and figure out the no-gos first, it’ll be a lot easier to figure out how many options you do have.
View other Work Appropriate interviews here and check back on Tuesday to see who I interview next!
