I'm Feeling Lucky

For the last two years, I’ve been lucky to have a desk at Google, a workplace that's inspirational in every possible way. While I knew there'd be bikes and bean bag chairs and sushi and sweets (both edible and Androidian), when it came to the anything-goes dress code, I wasn't sure what to expect. In an industry stereotyped by dudes in jeans and sweatshirts, what would the women be wearing?

As the New York Times reported last year, many Silicon Valley women are embracing fashion. My manager Steevy, whose boot collection has been a constant source of shoe envy, told Ruelala, “I think dressing in a way that’s authentic to you is right on par with Google’s philosophy. The culture encourages everyone to embrace their core values and style. Yes, this can mean a lot of hoodies, but I haven’t found Silicon Valley to be simply a sea of sneakers and sweatshirts, especially not for those in roles where unexpected events could pop up. On any given day, I’ll see Burberry trenches alongside Patagonia fleeces and Balenciaga bags next to Google backpacks. It’s true that fashion here is all about projecting confidence in your own way. For some, this is four-inch heels. For others, it’s a grey hoodie. It might even be the two together.”

Seeing how other women dress when not constrained by a dress code has been one of my favorite parts of life at Google. I quickly adopted a uniform of jeans and flats—pedaling in stilettos is not in my skill set—but met many women in the four-inch heels camp, including a few who bring their personal style well beyond the Googleplex by blogging their workwear.

Top: Krystal of This Time Tomorrow. Middle: Bethann of Bethanimalprint, Adelle of The Fashionista Lab. Bottom: Lindsey of Complacency Kills, Meghan of Voila.

These gals inspired me to not only join the blogosphere but also to be more creative when getting dressed in the morning. Though I'm still partial to jeans—and guilty of staying in my Lululemon long after a lunchtime workout—I'll occasionally throw a skirt into the mix or dress up a sweater with a statement necklace.

There'll be a lot to miss about Google (see massage chairs), but thanks to these bloggers, I can keep tabs on the fashion scene from my new desk. Where am I off to? I'll save that for another post.

Luckily, I can still wear jeans.

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