Mar 12, 2024 – 12.28pm
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Belinda Agnew is the co- general administrative at app development company xEnabler, leading a group of 75. She recently worked in selection, approach and packaging.
It’s important that people dress in a way that is correct to themselves in the business. My design is beautiful but also beautiful. People are concerned about how they show up in the office, what is acceptable, what is not. I get asked this a bit. We want to be seen as skilled and strong, and we are conscious of how we show up literally.
I started working in corporate headquarters at 18. My total early career was adult- dominated. Back then, I did not possess the confidence to put myself out there. I wore suits, I was covered head to toe, I did n’t show skin or do my makeup or hair. I did n’t want to be perceived as anything but super- serious.
I had a turning point when I exited my primary business and realised I wanted to be more of myself. I was telling my own account more, I wanted to show up honestly in the world. That was reflected in my garments.
But you show up in the universe, you will be judged. So why not just show up as your real home? There is far more pressure and stress if you’re lying about who you really are. It’s difficult enough to be a person in the workplace in a men- dominated business without next asking them to be someone who they are n’t.
We do n’t need to choose between being powerful and successful and expressing ourselves. There is strength in womanhood. We may not make women feel they are showing up wrong in the workplace simply by virtue of their identity.
I have n’t been criticised in the workplace, but I have seen comments on my LinkedIn and Instagram accounts about my appearance. Generally I receive questions – why I wore a special piece of clothing backstage at a demonstration, that sort of thing. I am not the kind of man to be upset by it, I am more interested in figuring out why someone would create a remark like that. You should not dark your lighting based on what someone else thinks about you. My job speaks louder than my appearance.
I love wearing suit. Khirzad Femme is a Perth- based brand with wonderful parts, I wear a lot of their matches. I wear Viktoria & Woods, Camilla and Marc, Dion Lee.
Our office does n’t have a uniform policy. We dress according to what is happening on the day. I wear a lot of girly items but often I’ll be more athletic and relaxed.