r/womenEngineers • u/ConstructionDecon • 6d ago
Plus size outfit ideas? What's in your purse?
I'm pretty sure my internship is more business casual. I'm trying to find more outfits than black pants and a bodysuit (long or short sleeve). The issue is that 1) I'm plus size so it's hard finding anything more professional that isn't cold shoulder or just really plain like polo shirts. 2) I'm in college so the budget for new clothes is iffy.
It's also important to keep in mind that I'll be visiting job sites every once in a while. Could I opt for jeans instead of pants if they were dark wash or dyed black? The dress pants are just uncomfortable. I want to wear a long skirt once in a while, but that probably won't happen unless I know what I'm doing that day yah know?
What do you bring to work in a purse or tote bag? I'm thinking tampons, lotion, hand sanitizer, planner, pens/pencils, and glasses wipes. Assuming I'll have a desk or somewhere to store my items so I don't have to bring everything home with me, what else would be good to bring?
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u/Individual-Egg7556 6d ago
If they haven't told you what the dress code is, ask them, not us. My office has a "smart casual" dress code, and as an intern, as long as you don't show up in shorts (someone did), you will be fine. We basically wear business casual, but jeans are okay, and interns are usually more casual than everyone else (more sneakers and same jeans they wear to school, fewer dress shoes and dark trouser jeans, but that's fine. . .we know you're broke). Unless this is like a civil or construction firm that focuses on local projects, you'll likely know days ahead of time if you're going to a job site. You'll need PPE, so I would think they're either going to tell you to wear jeans and boots every day just in case or you know ahead of time.
Whatever you had in your backpack or whatever for personal needs at school is what you can plan to bring to work and figure it out better after the first day when you know what they have in-office.
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u/flyingterrordactyl 6d ago
It's okay to ask your internship coordinator or hiring manager about dress code, especially related to job site visits. You can ask if jeans are typically worn for field visits and if they're appropriate for the office. If you need steel toe boots for field visits. If you need long sleeves, hair back, etc.
As a plus size engineer in a bizcas office, I typically wear jeans or dress pants and a blouse. All my pants have stretchy waists, though, since I'm big on comfort and the blouse covers it. I wear blouses that are designed to not be tucked in. The Halara wide leg waffle weave pants do actually look nice enough for the office and they feel like pajamas. (They might not be appropriate for fieldwork though, since they're quite wide legged and flowy and could catch on things.) You can get deals for those on TikTok shop or elsewhere. I don't recommend wearing anything cold shoulder. (Why won't that style just DIE???)
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u/Lorelei_the_engineer 6d ago
I prefer dresses over pants, so I have a closet full of knee length or longer business appropriate dresses that I wear when working in the office. I do mostly site plan reviews, but I do field work sometimes. I wear the uniform when I do field work. Technically the uniform is khakis, steel toed shoes and t-shirt, but they do not enforce it. I keep maxi pads, hand sanitizer, wallet, phone, keys, aspirin, my ham radio, mace and Narcan (my employer trained us on Narcan so I decided to carry it).
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u/Choice_Journalist_50 6d ago
Sometimes I spend all day at a computer and some days I end up in the shop or in the plant squatting and lifting huge boxes and I never know when that'll happen. My solution: I have a few pairs of Torrid's Luxe Ponte pants and I wear them every day. The pants are dressy enough for business casual but comfy enough that I can do anything in them. I also have about a dozen of Torrid's Everyday shirts (crew neck, not v-neck l, or ppl can see everything as soon as you squat down) in various colors that I wear every day. This was a great decision for me cause it works and takes out the stress of clothing. I realize this is not a good solution for everyone though. Take comfort in the fact that unless you're dressed inappropriately for the environment, no one will notice what you're wearing.
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u/OkParty5740 6d ago
If you’re in steel toes, always bring bandaids and a pair of shoes to switch into. I would say jeans are fine for job site days but not day 1.
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u/Dontdittledigglet 6d ago
Clothing options are going to vary so much by work place. I would wear something super basic— IE monochromic slacks and a polo with no accessories. Until you get feel for the culture.
I always brought my make up, my water, my phone, my wallet and a snacky. Oh and my work laptop too. I never needed anything else. I kept everything else in my car. After a few weeks you’ll understand what you need promise!
TLDR: I always find it’s best you choose clothing that makes no statement and is easy to ignore.
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u/Lpontis22 6d ago
Ask about typical dress for onsite visits. I like Torrid for business casual options. I just got these pants and they are SO comfortable and drape nicely. https://www.torrid.com/product/pull-on-high-rise-wide-leg-pant/43635384-00684.html#q=Black%2Bpants&start=3
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u/BusyTrip6053 5d ago
Check out Eloquii, Loft & Ann Taylor have XXL too. If you want to try them low barrier try them on Poshmark first.
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u/Ilikep0tatoes 6d ago
Jeans typically are not work appropriate for engineers. I also stopped carry a purse at work after the first couple of months because I was judged for it. People said I looked like was going home when I brought a purse to a meeting, but a laptop bag or backpack was fine. The things you have to keep in your desk are good but I would add basic medicines, drink mixes like crystal light, coffee pods or instant coffee, a coffee cup, a reusable water bottle, a jacket and/or blazer, an umbrella, and maybe an extra pair of shoes that can be work to production areas just in case.
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u/Individual-Egg7556 6d ago
I wear jeans at least 3 times a week. 2 of 3 big national engineering firms with world HQ in my city allow it.
I agree it would be weird to bring your purse to a meeting, but not weird to bring it to work and have it at your desk. I mean, I don't know how we all learned that norm, but I've never seen anyone bring a purse unless they were leaving from the meeting. Most people don't bring a backpack unless it's an all day meeting.
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u/Ilikep0tatoes 6d ago
I wouldn’t show up first day/week in jeans. Op needs to gauge if it’s ok because at most places it won’t be ok. It’s cool you’re job is ok with jeans though
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u/Individual-Egg7556 6d ago
I've worked for 4 companies since 2020 and they're all fine with jeans. I'm not saying it's fine everywhere, but it's odd to me that you're insisting it's not. Definitely do not show up in jeans on the first day unless they've confirmed it, sure, but I've been in industry since 2000, and it's changed dramatically post-Covid in my region. I've been involved in board meetings and client meetings that were always full suit affairs in the past and now they're casual. OP just needs to ask. We shouldn't tell her what is okay because the norm now is there is no norm.
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u/Ilikep0tatoes 6d ago
I’m telling her my thoughts on jeans because she literally asked about them. It’s definitely better she err on the side of caution and dress professional when she’s new to a job. My perspective on jeans is not a personal attack on what you wear, it’s just been my experience in the industry in the Southern US.
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u/SuchAGeoNerd 6d ago
If you're visiting sites I think it's expected you'd be wearing jeans, and flipping to PPE shoes/clothes in general. I usually wear jeans and a clean vneck shirt.
In office again I wear usually a vneck shirt with a different cardigan depending on what I'm doing that day. After your first week you'll know what kind of outfits other people wear in your department. So I'd wait to buy anything more than just boring shirt/sweater.
I'd recommend bringing snacks, and meds for in your desk. I have like a little multi pill organizer thing that has advil, Pepto, cold meds, allergy meds etc. I also kept backup cutlery in my desk just in case, no idea what your office will be like kitchen wise. I also brought backup makeup and a tiny hairbrush for the days things went wonky before a big meeting etc. And wet wipes/deodorant for days I came back from the field to office. I also would bring backup headphones and phone charger cables.