Everything's Creative...Even the Clothes!

By: Mariel Nardi, Broadcast Activation Intern

Mariel Nardi

As I prepared for the start of my internship at Starcom, I double-checked my New Hire Paperwork Checklist the night before my first day. Being Type-A, as I’ve found most SMG employees are, it was imperative for me to ensure that everything was completed, in order, packed and ready to go for the following morning. Once that was settled, I decided to set out my clothes for the first day. Remembering the SMG Employee Handbook, specifically the document titled “Dress Code Policy,” I was torn between following my interpretation of the policy and falling back on what I had always assumed; which was that in order to make the best impression, a suit should be worn. I vaguely remember my mother telling me “No one will ever fault you for dressing too nicely, but if you aren’t dressed nicely enough…”

So I erred on the side of safety and re-ironed my suit for the next day. When orientation commenced the following day, I noticed that only a handful of the other interns had made the same judgment call. I caught a glimpse of each of them, at one point or another, eyeing the other interns with jealousy…for it was 95 degrees outside on our first day and we regretted not having expressed ourselves in a more comfortable, but no less professional, manner.

As the day progressed, I saw that most of the interns, like the full-time employees, were dressed casually, relatively speaking. Girls were wearing everything from jeans to sundresses to high heels to flats. Boys were wearing everything from polos to collared button-downs to jeans to pleated slacks.

While everyone was dressed differently, SMG employees had one thing in common: they were all expressing their individuality in a tasteful, semi-casual manner that truly reflected the youth and diversity that SMG is known for.

By the end of the day, I realized that my one-size-fits-all paradigm about suits and the workplace didn’t quite fit into the Starcom mold, per se.

From that day forward, I came to know and love the SMG Dress Code Policy and exploited it at every chance; wearing sundresses or jeans and cute sandals, refusing to put that suit on again, unless the circumstances called for it. The unique dress code at SMG has allowed me, the other interns, and all of the employees to express ourselves in a way that is tasteful and comfortable while representing the lively culture at SMG.

               

Below are photographs of some SMG employees who aren’t shy about their love of the Dress Code Policy.