Great post! I'm not sure about your community, but many workplaces in Nashville are [generally] creative and casual. So aside from your law firms and prestigious offices, the majority of people are showing up to work in a nice pair of jeans and decent shirt. [In some offices, people might actually show up in their PJs!]

Being someone who works in jeans, but raised hearing the phrase, "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have," I am constantly torn between following the denim trend and stepping my wardrobe up a notch... or six. Because I do love any day I get to prance around in my heels [Yes. You can tattoo a giant "L" on my forehead now].

What you said is true. It's never good to be "all grown up" and look like you trying to dress like a teen. But it's also important to be a young professional who doesn't dress like you've got 40 years of experience.

But it sounds like you're right on track with everything. Good luck with your last bit of college and enjoy every minute of it!

I've also heard the same (this past weekend as a matter of fact)...no shopping though ;-)
I've heard the 'dress for the job you want, not the one you have' as well, but the job I would want is totally incompatible with my personal dressing habits. I don't do suits, or go to the barber ever week.

I suppose I have a few years until I hit 30 and decide that I may want to try this dress-up thing :p

I'm in the same boat and am actually really excited about dressing business casual. It is so easy and fun to look professional. However, my main concern is to not be able to express myself through my clothing choices anymore. So I am trying to think of fun things like wearing accessories or colored opaque tights with those pencil skirts and white shirts.

But there is nothing more fun than dressing business casual to the office. It really makes you look like an adult (even if you do not yet feel like one inside). :-)

As I sit in my hooded sweatshirt and jeans, I realize that I will soon have to do the wardrobe overhaul myself and I share your same quiet sadness about leaving my fun/witty tee-shirts (who wouldn't love a shirt with a hippopotamus holding a microphone shouting "HIPPO HOP" or my slew of rock concert tees?) behind for a more "grown up" wardrobe. My first job post-college was working for a web site and the business attire was extremely casual - jeans, tee-shirts and flip-flops were the norm - which suited my still-college wardrobe just fine. Now that I'm looking for a new job I was forced to go to the local department store and cough up some cash for a brand-new suit.

At first I was wary; after all, I'm the type of person who would rather not wear shoes if at all possible and now I was buying panty hose and heels. But walking into my first interview in my business professional attire with my fancy portfolio I realized that looking the part is definitely a step in the right direction - I was not worried about an "inappropriate" (young and casual, which is what I was used to) outfit distracting the interviewer from my talents. That boost of confidence certainly helped! The kick-ass heels made me feel good too - a pop of color on the inside sole makes an otherwise boring black pump more exciting for me.

Clothes are my first step in the right direction and I've attempted the "healthy eating" you referred to...I've even attempted cooking! I'll admit though, I'm still prone to a fast-food run every once in a while; I can only grow up so fast!

What you think is appropriate to wear is the result of brainwashing your whole life. If "dressing up" commands more respect than brains, then don't be surprised if your "suit employee" is dumber than a doorknob.