What interesting questions about fashion! And funny you should ask them because tonight I was rifling through some papers and came across a bevvy of j-career advice I compiled a few years ago.

I asked veteran journalists to share their thoughts about all sorts of stuff, including "professional attire and personal grooming." Have pasted below what C.J. Woodring, an editor and freelance writer who has worked in Indiana and Florida, wrote.

My thoughts? You don't need a big salary to look polished and professional -- and you should strive to look polished and professional. But I must be honest: I don't fuss as much when I KNOW I'm hanging out in the newsroom all day. You're not likely to catch me in a skirt and heels ...

Let's just say that I've had colleagues with interesting taste in fashion (they likely consider mine interesting as well, so we're even). One buddy who appeared to have only two or three (faded and very worn) shirts got a job at another paper. For his parting "spoof page," my colleagues and I decided to produce a top 10 list citing his reasons for heading to another newsroom. One of the items stated, "Finds it easier to change colleagues than to change his shirt."

Ouch!

OK, so here's what C.J. Woodring wrote:

"Consider this coming from the Old Kid on the Block who owns clothing older than most fellow staff members. In addition, i might say I don't believe only entry-level journalists are guilty of these mistakes; they occur at all levels.

"In any event, I have been a journalist for more than 10 years, beginning part-time in 1986 with the Fort Wayne (Ind.) News-Sentinel, and I believe that not matter where I work, or whom I represent, I am that company in the public's eyes. It's my responsibility to represent it professionally in demeanor and appearance. If I were to think so little of my employer, or myself, that I needed to show up for an interview looking like an unmade bed that half the town slept in, I'd figure it was time to move on.

"Dressing well gives journalists access to circles in which they otherwise might be excluded. Perhaps it's generational, but I believe jeans and Dockers are not more appropriate for all occasions than is a semi-formal velvet dress. And while Americans, in general, are slobs, living in Florida gives many an excuse to appear in public as some don't appear in private.

"Another offensive trait, at least to me, is to have a journalist or photographer show up smelling like the bottom of an ashtray. Smokers will smoke. But for those of us who refrain, this is one instance in which offenders need to lighten up, not light up. They should air out their vehicle, spray their clothing and hair, suck on an Altoid, whatever it takes. Interviewees should not be able to tell by their nose whether a reporter smokes."

I haven't had as much a bad experience of what I wore to the newsroom, but a traumatic shopping experience for proper clothes.
I applied for my first out-of-college job in February 2005 and got the job in March - 2 months before I could start because I was editor-in-chief of my school's daily newspaper.
That stretch of time was nice to prepare - but it also made me stress out over small things. Such as clothes.
I headed out to the malls three weekends in a row trying to find the correct, professional clothes. But I burnt out most places - finding only frumpy, shoulder-padded suits! I finally found some more comfortable clothing at Ann Taylor - but only after many frustrating hours.
Since I've been working, though, I've relaxed a bit in what I wear. No, I don't wear what some others do (how could someone trying to impress their colleagues and uppers think that jeans and converse will help?). But, I will wear some of my favorite and large vintage earrings and bracelets - and I wear some of my favorite brightly-colored tops.
I figure that I shouldn't stop being who I am at work, I should just look more polished and poised.

Editors don't have the guts to ask reporters to dress appropriately.  So some do, most don't. And they wonder why sources like TV reporters better.

I agree with Woodring about the need to represent your company. This may sound cynical, but I look at a reporter as not only the face of the newspaper, but as sales clerks. Sales clerks at retails stores are almost always dressed sharply, and in a way we are selling an image when we hit the streets.

I also agree with Christine about the all-day thing. For most of my short career (like many other reporters with short careers), I've had to be on weekend shifts. On those days, you can sometimes afford to be a little more casual, especially if you're just covering outdoorsy community events. And especially on the days when I know I'm not going anywhere, I dress down a little bit.

It's also been difficult for me to find a balance, since I've worked mostly in sunny, hot areas (i.e. California, Guam, Hawaii). I mostly wear long-sleeve shirts, but on those really hot days, I break out the short-sleeved aloha and polo shirts.

My first J-job was at a suburban weekly in Vegas. I started in the summer of '05 and shudder to remember the day I wore a way-cute, but way-too-short skirt to work. With sandals! Even Vegas's sweltering heat can't excuse that.
I soon found that dressing up was always better than dressing down. I'm one of those weird people that really 'gets' the psychological aspect of looking well-put-together. It's true that our subjects will feel more at ease with us if they don't think we're just some punk kid. We've already got our young faces and stammering speech working against us, we don't need our clothing working against us too!
Here are some stores I found some awesome official-looking attire at: New York & Company and Express are great for the trendy set, and Ross Dress For Less or TJ Maxx for those who want to save money and still look good. Whatever you do stay away from American Eagle ... It's where I got the skirt. :P

Express is great. I usually end up shopping at Hilo Hattie (since I'm trying to assimilate my clothing with the local culture) and Ralph Lauren. Most of my wardrobe (even my jeans) are RL. Natalie's right though. Young reporters sometimes stutter and stammer during interviews, so you gotta at least look polished, if not sound it. :)

One thing that caught my eye about Woodring's comments was the smoking bit. I used to smoke 30 sticks a day, but I always made it a point to pop in a breath mint after I smoked, and I never smoked in the car either.

However I did often smoke on assignment, usually when it involved man-on-the-street interviews. If you are in an area where there are many heavy smokers (like Guam), I found it helpful because people warmed up to me more, and that I wasn't one of those stuff "nonsmokers," which I ironically am now since I quit in September. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, especially nonsmokers. Please dont' take it as advice, but just as an interesting anecdote from a bewildered journalist in a tropical paradise.

Ladies, here's a cool place to shop: www.laredoute.com. This French clothier will help you add European panache to your wardrobe (i.e. you'll score unique finds) -- without having to drop big bucks.

OK, I'll go ahead and share another of my secrets: www.goodorient.com. I don't recommend that you wear the "Black Dragon" dress to work, but surely you'll find some very cool separates that will punch up your basic black (you DO have basic black, don't you?). :)