https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:13:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2765096 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 01:34:33 +0000 Ms. RV 2765096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My last job had a similar dress code/female ratio. I wore trouser jeans almost every day. I also wore OTBT Springfield shoes. Where I work now is much more lab intensive and I wear Keen Sienna MJ's. Not the cutest shoe, but super comfy, plus I feel the rubber toe gives me a little more protection without being a safety shoe.</p> <p>I was one of two female engineers the last place I worked, now where I work the females out number males. It stinks because I am the only one with a lab/machinery role. I end up dressing up like the rest of them... just with a lot of dark colors to hide the dirt! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2765092 Thu, 03 Aug 2017 23:58:21 +0000 sunny 2765092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tiger: Congrats on the new job! My industry is very casual as well, so I wear jeans and a nice top to work everyday. I usually wear ballet flats to work but I saw you said that wouldn't work for you. What about a slip on sneaker like this?<br /> <a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/4716580" rel="nofollow">http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/4716580</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764627 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 19:15:06 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 2764627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mdf106: yes, it's hard! my previous job had a much more even split so I'm still adjusting.</p> <p>Thanks for the input everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764514 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 14:38:26 +0000 mdf106 2764514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Jeans with a nicer top sounds appropriate. For shoes, I would either do oxfords, loafers, slip-on sneakers, or nicer sneakers. I have a pair of plain black pumas that would be suitable. If the other women are in different roles, I would not focus on what they are wearing. I can empathize on how hard it can be to know how to dress as a woman in a male-dominated field without many women in similar roles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764334 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 10:00:21 +0000 looch 2764334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Chinos? I think those are really impossible pants, especially with the ironing! </p> <p>I don't work in a lab or anything remotely close, but my dress pant of choice is from Banana Republic (in either the new Ryan or Logan fits). The vast majority of them are machine washable and don't need to be pressed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764327 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 09:52:51 +0000 BSB 2764327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in the lab and I wear jeans and khakis and a top. The tops range from casual to a nice blouse. I dress up like a dress or skirt but it's rare. I know some of my female colleagues dress up more like dress slacks but that's not something I would wear on a daily basis. As for shoes, it's TOMS, ballet flats, keds or sometimes running sneakers. I prefer my TOMS or my keds. Today I'm wearing a skirt and with dressy flip flops. I brought my matching TOMS if I need to go down to the lab. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764319 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 09:42:04 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2764319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work in a biochemistry lab in academica so I am probably on the more casual end of the spectrum but I am typically in jeans and a nicer shirt/sweater but I wear birkenstock boston clogs as my shoe of choice year round. My co-workers wear everything from sneakers to booties and everything in between. Most of us wear jeans but some go with a chino or something similar. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764303 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 09:28:33 +0000 skinnycow 2764303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure if dressy enough but I have two pairs similar to these from Target and I loooove them. So comfortable and they're more dressy than sneakers.</p> <p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Madden-Ecentrcq-Fashion-Sneaker/dp/B00JHD5L00/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1501684036&#038;sr=8-1&#038;keywords=steve+madden+quilted" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Madden-Ecentrcq-Fashion-Sneaker/dp/B00JHD5L00/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1501684036&#038;sr=8-1&#038;keywords=steve+madden+quilted</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764293 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 09:08:20 +0000 shabang 2764293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about a pair of oxfords? Close-toe, dressy, not over the top. </p> <p>I work in a very casual environment, but the director-level still wears a little more than business casual clothes, so I do the same. (Dress for the job you want and all that...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764291 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 09:05:25 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 2764291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: I drop way too many exacto knives to be ok with open top shoes haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764281 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 08:49:02 +0000 erinbaderin 2764281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Would ballet flats work for you? They're technically closed toe, although they're pretty bare at the top of the foot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764176 Tue, 01 Aug 2017 22:08:13 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 2764176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ScarletBegonia: @Littlebit7: @Mrs. Microscope: @azjax: thank you so much ladies, will look into all of these! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764163 Tue, 01 Aug 2017 21:45:53 +0000 azjax 2764163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work in a lab and still do dresses/skirts with knee high boots or maxis and flats. The dresses/skirts are more casual than when I had a desk job. For back-up closed toe shoes, I keep a cute pair of Chucks at the lab. For cute everyday shoes when I'm not in boots, I love Gentle Souls booties and flats, as well as Born shoes. Athleta has some great pants that are super comfy but read dressier than jeans or leggings, so those might work for you too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764160 Tue, 01 Aug 2017 21:41:05 +0000 Mrs. Microscope 2764160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sketchers! They have a "work line", and some even have steel toes. All are non slip and black, and they have cute feminine designs that are comfortable. I used to be in a lab every day, and I lived in these! I wore jeans and polos or nice t shirts everyday under my lab coat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764145 Tue, 01 Aug 2017 21:02:07 +0000 Littlebit7 2764145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A few suggestions:<br /> All birds sneakers (they look more polished than nikes or the equivalent)<br /> Maybe a flat-heel leather pull on bootie. The leather would make it a little more hardy.<br /> I'd wear super dark denim with a boot cut or slight flare and a higher waist (easy squat ability). A longer cardigan with a vneck or crew beck tee underneath. A cotton button down (jcrew makes great ones that veer more casual and are comfy. Or maybe pair of washed grey or stone khakis, again in a boot cut or flare if you don't want denim.<br /> Think jcrew factory, made well, maybe some Ann Taylor loft, gap </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764143 Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:57:55 +0000 ScarletBegonia 2764143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would go to Gap or Banana Republic and get a few pairs of standard black pants - boot cut or skinny cut, whatever you prefer - Gap ones have good stretch so you can be up and down a lot, and I think they look nice with clean white sneakers or leather shoes. For tops, I'm pretty lazy and I usually go to target or some shop like that, find a top that I like and buy it in 5 colours! Cardigans or blazers when its cool. If they aren't really dictating what you must wear then I'd keep it simple! </p> <p>As far as shoes, what about something like a Blundstone boot? Leather slip ankle boots, but with little to no heel. To be honest if I was allowed I'd probably get a couple of pairs of Adidas shell toes - I think when they are clean they look really smart with skinny jeans or work pants. Sadly I'm stuck in standard black 2 1/2" pointy toe pumps every day :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-wear-in-a-casuallab-environment-for-work#post-2764120 Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:19:11 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 2764120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Long story short - I need to figure out what to wear to work! I recently switched from a federal government job (where I wore slacks/pencil skit, blouses, and flats/heels every day) to an engineering job at a small, much more casual company. </p> <p>Including me, there are only two female engineers in my company. All of the male engineers (including the CEO) wear jeans every day with either t shirts/polos/casual button downs, and sneakers. I need to find an equivalent outfit - the other female engineer is in her early 20's and gets away with wearing harem pants and birkenstocks - not for me! The other women in the office wear dresses or other business casual clothes. </p> <p>I spend lot of time in a lab with chemicals, working in a machine shop, etc, so I have to wear closed toe shoes. I definitely can't wear skits/dresses since I am often getting down on the floor to plug stuff in/out etc. </p> <p>I have been doing jeans with either blouses or nicer tees with flats, and then half the time wearing some sneakers I keep under my desk. </p> <p>Any suggestions on a good super-casual work wardrobe, or at least shoes I could get? Boots seem silly in the summer and I feel ridiculous changing my shoes constantly and/or walking around wearing regular sneakers when most of the other women are in heels. </p> <p>Thanks in advance ladies! </p>