There are plenty of challenges facing a female venture capitalist in Silicon Valley. Figuring out what to wear shouldn’t be one of them.

Some years ago, I needed to go to a week-long strategy meeting in Nice, France. The Nordstrom stylist I consulted was somewhat helpful towards helping me decide what to pack, but when I found myself in Nice, everything was wrong. A knit sweater and skirt combination had seemed perfect in California, but once I walked into the lobby, I knew it was two levels too serious and more conservative than I’d imagined. It never came out of the suitcase. It was a painful week because the clothes I brought weren’t nearly casual enough, and yet the clothes I wore in the venue weren’t right for meeting with business colleagues.

Today, I see few improvements in the situation. While clothing is becoming increasingly casual, there are still few choices for the businesswoman. At the senior executive level, it’s easy to find designer diffusion lines. And at the entry level, Ann Taylor is there to help educate young women on acceptable office wear. But in the vast area between, there are too few choices.

When we’re serious about our careers, events, or other life goals, there isn’t time (or honestly, desire) to follow trends and stay up to date with fashion styles. And in this economy, few can afford separate wardrobes for work and life.

After years of puzzling over what to wear in the corporate setting, I went back to school to earn an MFA in fashion and textile design. I launched my career with a runway show at Lincoln Center during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

As I entered the world of fashion, I found the term “career wear” was a dirty word. Boutique and department store buyers turned away at the thought. That cynical feminist in me wonders if it’s a conspiracy to keep women from stepping up in the work place. So many of my clients have told me they are no longer supporting brick and mortar stores. They find that online retailers are more convenient and have a better selection.

My favorite wardrobe piece, in general, is a collared, button-down shirt. But most shirts I find are:

• Silk, requiring great care,
• Too short, not covering the derriere,
• Traditional corporate design,
• Poor material quality, or
• Made with unattractive prints.

I created a new line of shirts to make it easier for women to go confidently from desk to dinner. As I design I ask myself, can this piece work with jeans? Can I wear it to yoga class? Out to dinner? While picking up the kids? Would it work in that resort in Nice? Is it:

• Finished long enough to cover sensitive areas,
• Made from fabric that feels and drapes like silk, but is easy to care for, and
• Featuring unique design details

In my view, a modern wardrobe should be interchangeable and work together. For me, 9 pieces should give you 30 looks.

• Equally appropriate with jeans, yoga pants, and better bottoms.
• Washable
• Accenting the natural shape of the wearer
• Enhancing her coloring
• Gives her a sense of self confidence
• Tactically luscious
• Consistent with fashion trends
• Sensual but not overtly sexy.

Our hope is to give you an unfair advantage when you step out of your home on a mission.

P.S. Last week I was on a challenge – Can I walk the walk? During a journey with my husband in China, I worked with my nine pieces (5 tops, our slim pants and straight skirt, a jacket and a dress) plus jeans and an outer jacket. Follow me on Facebook to see how it goes. Apologies in advance for rough photography. But you can see most of the journey.

I welcome your comments.

Posted on 10/22/2013

Camilla Olson designs accessories and ready-to-wear clothing. Known for her classic forms, her designs give women a modern, luxurious look and feel. She founded Camilla Olson LLC in 2011 in San Francisco after a lifetime of sewing, analyzing styles, and building companies. The company designs and markets sophisticated, modern, and elegant clothing that is appropriate for the full life of the modern woman.  Camilla earned an Honorable Mention as “Best Second Act Reinvention” on the website SecondAct.com. Her label was on the Red Carpet at the Academy Awards as worn by nominee James Franco’s mother, Betsy Franco. Check out our new plan on: fund.plumalley.co

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