She wants to look sexier at work…
A recent client said something that made me pause.
As we were talking through her style goals, she mentioned that she wants to look sexier at work. She works in an environment where style is part of the job, and where she feels a little sexiness can actually be useful. It caught my attention because it was the first time a woman had named that as a professional style goal.
When clients describe their office wardrobes, I usually hear words like polished, pulled-together, and professional. But at the same time, workwear has shifted toward comfort and conformity, and for many women, that shift has elevated frumpiness as the default. I see this across age groups, industries, and roles. Style disengagement has become normalized.
Meanwhile, pop culture is sending a different signal. We’re watching stylish and sexy professional women on screen and debating whether it’s realistic, appropriate, or even allowed in real life. Shows like Reasonable Doubt and All’s Fair spark fascination because they surface questions many of us are already carrying. Can women actually dress that way at work? Does it undermine credibility, or reinforce it?
Have you ever used sex appeal, consciously or unconsciously, as leverage in a professional setting?
What I’ve learned over the years is that sexiness has less to do with how much skin you show. For many women, it shows up in more personal ways, like feeling strong in your body or wearing beautiful undergarments under everyday clothes...
And that brings me back to my client. What she was really naming wasn’t about dressing provocatively. She was talking about wanting to feel more alive, more visible, and more present in an environment where image already plays a role.
How do you tap into your sexiness and sensuality?
I’ve used boudoir photo shoots as one way to tap into that for myself, and I’ve shared parts of that journey previously. Those experiences continue to shape how I think about sensuality, style, and confidence.
It’s also why I’m re-releasing my guide, Behind Closed Doors, which is rooted in reconnecting with your sensuality on your own terms. It’s designed primarily for women considering a boudoir photo shoot, but it’s just as useful for women who simply want to explore that part of themselves—whether or not a camera is involved.
Valentine’s Day is less than a month away…
With Valentine’s Day less than a month away, this can be a moment to think less about romance and more about your relationship with yourself. Exploring sensuality doesn’t have to start in public or at work. For many women, it begins privately and influences how they show up everywhere else…including in their professional lives.
I’ll be releasing the guide soon, so stay tuned.
With style and gratitude,
-Lauren