On television there’s no shortage of professional women. From Lipstick Jungle to House, The Office to Nip/Tuck, examples of smart women doing smart things abound, especially on US TV. But what about the clothes? Yes, they’re smart, but are they realistic? Not at all。
電視劇中的職業女性沒有弱點。從《口紅森林》到《豪斯醫生》，從《辦公室》到《整容室》，到處都能看到聰明的女人在做着聰明的事情，尤其是美劇中。但是她們的着裝如何呢？是，她們很能幹，但是她們現實嗎？一點也不。
“You’ve got to be able to run up stairs and chase down taxis,” says Johanna Waterous, a former McKinsey & Company executive who now sits on the board of several companies. “I see programmes like Lipstick Jungle, where the women walk around in 5in heels, with outrageous jewellery and low necklines. That isn’t practical。”
麥肯錫的前高管、現任多家公司董事的喬安娜·沃特斯說，“你很可能不得不跑上樓梯、趕出租車，我看到《口紅森林》中的女性穿着5英寸高的高跟鞋、渾身珠光寶氣，衣領開的也很低。這可一點都不現實。”According to Britt Lintner, a London-based hedge fund manager who also designs a line of chic, work-appropriate dresses and separates in her spare time, the rules are simple: “Stick to muted colours, avoid being too sexy, and never over-accessorise。”
倫敦一位對衝基金經理布瑞特·林特納在自己空閒的時候會設計一些高雅的適合工作穿着的套裝，她說職場着裝的規則很簡單：“堅持使用柔和的色彩，避免太過性感，永遠不要有過多的裝飾。”
And then there is the question – or rather the problem – of how the clothes fit, since the difference between overly snug and appropriately fitted may make the difference between landing a job or being shown the door。
既然合適的衣服可能給你帶來一份工作，而過於緊身的衣服則可能直接讓你被掃地出門，那麼就有了一個問題，或者說一個難題——什麼樣的衣服才合適呢？
“The last thing I want to play to is sex appeal,” says Ida Liu, head of the fashion retail group in Citibank’s private banking arm in New York. Liu, who can usually be found in well-tailored (but never tight) black Prada and Dolce & Gabbana skirt suits during office hours, sets such a good example that the bank tapped her to run seminars on professional dressing。
花旗駐紐約的私人銀行業務部門的時尚零售集團主管伊達·劉爲我們樹立了一個榜樣。她說，“我最不希望給人留下的印象就是性感。”她在辦公室裏總是穿着剪裁合適(不緊身)的黑色普拉達和杜嘉班納裙裝，連銀行都指定她主持有關職業着裝的會議。
She points to a recent episode of the TV drama Dirty Sexy Money in which the actress Lucy Liu (no relation)， who depicts a powerful attorney, wears a spate of overtly suggestive suits. “In reality I don’t think that is the signal you want to send to your clients,” says Citibank’s Liu。
她指出劉玉玲在美劇《黑金誘惑》中扮演一位有權勢的律師，穿的衣服有大量的性暗示。她說，“在現實生活中那一定不會是你想傳達給客戶的信號。 ”
The same can be said for medical drama House, in which Cuddy, the hospital administrator played by actress Lisa Edelstein, is routinely dressed in 4in heels and low-cut blouses. “The skirts cling to her behind, the jackets cling to her bosom,” laments Barbara Ruelens, a UK-based wardrobe consultant with a roster of high-powered female clients。
醫療劇《豪斯醫生》也有這個問題，劇中Lisa Edelstein扮演的醫院主管Cuddy總是穿着4寸高跟鞋和低領上衣。擁有許多有權勢女性客戶的駐英國服裝諮詢顧問芭芭拉·呂埃朗絲說，“她的'裙子緊貼着她的屁股，上衣緊貼她的胸”。
Should we take our cues from these TV counterparts?
我們應該從電視劇中得到穿衣的啓示嗎？
The answer may depend on what industry you work in, says Johanna Waterous. “You don’t have to look like a man but you do have to look like you mean business。”
答案也許要看你從事的行業。喬安娜·沃特斯說，“你不需要穿的像男人一樣，但是一定要看上去很職業。”
What they wear:
movie executive Wendy Healy (Brooke Shields) dresses in classic blouses and draped pieces. Magazine editor Nico Reilly (Kim Raver) vamps it up in form-fitting sheath dresses. Fashion designer Victory Ford’s (Lindsay Price) flirty ensembles include lots of ruffles, layers and bright colours。
她們穿什麼：
電影製片人Wendy Healy總是穿着經典款上衣和有褶皺的裙子。雜誌編輯Nico Reilly搭配的是很顯身材的職業裝；時尚設計師Victory Ford輕佻挑逗的服裝中包括大量的褶皺花邊、層次和明亮的色彩。
What’s worth taking away: the statement jewellery。
What’s not: bright colours look great on TV but may be too distracting for some offices。
應該學習的： 有個性的珠寶。
不應該學習的： 明亮的色彩在電視上很好看，但是在某些辦公室裏就太讓人分心了。What they wear:
child psychiatrist and author Dr Erica Noughton (Vanessa Redgrave) wears draped clothing in soothing colours and flats or kitten heels. Psychiatrist Dr Faith Wolper (Brooke Shields) dons silky blouses in jewel tones, with high heels and trumpet skirts。
她們穿什麼：
兒童心理學家和作家Erica Noughton博士穿着有褶皺的色彩柔和的衣服以及低跟或者平跟的鞋子。精神病學家Faith Wolper博士穿着有珠寶色的絲綢上衣以及喇叭裙和高跟鞋。
What’s worth taking away: fit matters. Make sure yours is just right。
What’s not: black leather trousers on an anaesthetist would not inspire confidence。
值得學習的： 適合的問題，適合自己的就是最好的。
不值得學習的： 黑色皮褲穿在麻醉師身上可有點讓人不太放心。What they wear:
lawyer Nola Lyons (Lucy Liu) wears tight-fitting suits with serious heels。
她們穿什麼：律師Nola Lyons穿的是緊身套裝和高跟鞋
What’s worth taking away: luxurious fabrics that look rich。
What’s not: save the heels for cocktail hour。
應該學習的：豪華織物看上去很富有。