From Button-Downs to Bikini Bottoms: Industry Girl Fits

A sartorial shift from assistant to artist

Hey girl,

This past year I’ve learned what it means to nurture your inner child.

We get older and get so serious, so rigid, so boring… at least I was, and now I’m on a mission to add some spice back into my life. Give it some color, and that starts with my lewk.

As an Industry Girl, I’m a working girl, and like most jobs, I have a uniform.

We’re taught to wear black, white, blue, and grey—pinstripes for a little pizazz and beige to balance everything out. It’s what we know, what we see, and what we’ve normalized as a society.

This is why I appreciate Andy’s pre-makeover scenes in The Devil Wears Prada. Typically, we attribute her oversized sweaters, long checkered skirts, and clunky loafers to a lack of style—yet when you look beyond that, she simply displays the "average working woman.”

The one nobody notices when she walks down the street, who camouflages into the rest of the world because of our uniformity. We all look alike, and the ones who dare to stand out are either applauded or criticized for their act of rebellion.

Although Andy didn’t rebel, she was criticized—specifically in the "Stuff" scene, where Miranda tears her down with words and insults her style after Andy laughs at two similar belts during a run-through.

After that moment, Andy decides to make changes. With Nigel’s help, she gets a makeover that stuns her friends, the entire office, and most importantly—Miranda. It was a first of many wins for Andy because she chose to evolve. She was still an assistant—still a working girl—but with taste and skill that made people pay attention.

Transformation is essential.

It allows us to have new experiences and grow in ways we never could if we chose to stay the same.

In my reenactment of the "Stuff" scene in my skit Tied Up at Work, I leave in search of my own transformation.

For years I worked like Andy—job over everything. A little naive but committed, adaptable, and principled. But I didn’t want to work like that anymore.

I wanted more joy in my life, more fulfillment, adventure, creative exploits, and spontaneity.

I wanted to be more like SpongeBob.

Growing up, SpongeBob was not allowed in our house. My mom claimed the show would make me dumb, and paired with our lack of cable, it made it difficult to watch what later became my favorite show.

I wanted to be more like SpongeBob because he’s always happy, excited about work, and always on an adventure with his friends.

And I aspire.

Sure, he still rocks a black tie, white shirt, and brown pants—the very colors I just critiqued. But he himself is the brightest color on the entire show, and that paired with his energy and personality is what makes him so iconic (and why he always wins Employee of the Month).

Andy clocked out.

SpongeBob clocked in.

So once I said “I’m gonna go" when I leave that office in Tied Up At Work…I’m not quitting work. I’m quitting the version of life that had me burnt out and boxed in.

I’m chasing the one that fills my days with laughter, creativity, and color.

Funny enough, I didn’t even realize what I was leaving behind until after I dropped the song.

That’s the magic of making art. You tell on yourself in real time.

See you outside.

xoxo,
That Industry Girl