Would this be good/bad/inappropriate/cool?

[jigsy]

In most situations, I would say weird, but it sounds like you have a different relationship with your employees, so why not throw it out there and see what she says.

[zoomzoom]

I don't think it's inappropriate to take her shopping. But I agree with KA that you should let her know the reason. It can be couched with the promotion requires a more professional level of dress and you'd like to help her succeed in her new role.

[berbles]

I think I want to work for you!

[Deleted]

Man I wish you were my boss

I would take her, it sounds like fun!

[eddy]

If a friend offered to do this I would feel patronized.

It isn't really hard to pick up business professional basics.

Can't you just take her out for drinks instead?

[jinkies]

In theory, this sounds like an amazing and generous offer. In reality, I would probably agonize over spending too much, or too little, of my boss's money, or spending it on the "wrong" things. As eddy said, it could also come off as a bit patronizing.

Maybe give her an AmEx gift card in a generous amount, and tell her that you know it's hard to build a professional wardrobe, but you hope she uses the card to pick out some nice things for herself.

[pantsoffdanceoff]

I think this could go either way. Based on your relationship with her I think this could be fun and you could explain that you wanted to give her some more professional and quality items to celebrate her new job. The problem with a gift card would be that at 23 she might want the money to go further and will try to find professional looking clothes at Forever 21 or H&M. Yes they do have those kinds of clothes that might look really nice but they don't hold up as well to more upscale stores.

[ijack]

Can you please take me to pick out some clothes?

[ijack]

Sept 30, 2014 12:49:45 GMT -5 @stpete said:

My thought to tell her it would be to pick up some professional basics. She had great style just no need previously for some of this type of clothes. I'm not concerned about her choices, mostly I think it would be fun and she would appreciate it.

maybe can you say "hey, now that you'll have this new roll do you want to go shopping and find some new stuff?" and then maybe insist on paying in the store.

[papie]

I would hate that, sorry. Like eddy said, it seems patronizing. A GC would be better but again a bit weird IMO. I'd take her out to dinner and drinks to celebrate.

[Deleted]

My bosses took me shopping when I was an intern waiting for bar results. I paid but they advised. I can't remember how it came up, maybe we just went to lunch and transitioned to shopping. But I thought it was nice, not weird. I did want their approval.

[angelaa73]

You're such a mother, st Pete!

You're good people. I vote take her. She's 23. We're like twice as old as her so its hard to remember what it was like to be broke and needing to step up the wardrobe game

[lust2hart]

Sept 30, 2014 13:52:29 GMT -5 @stpete said:

Sept 30, 2014 13:30:07 GMT -5 papie said:

I would hate that, sorry. Like eddy said, it seems patronizing. A GC would be better but again a bit weird IMO. I'd take her out to dinner and drinks to celebrate.

I think is also important to remember that we're 15 years older than her and more established professionally. I don't think would feel patronized. I think I'll just ask her if she wants to do dinner/ drinks/ shopping at the "fancy" mall and then offer to pay if she finds a few things she likes. If she doesn't seem happy about it I won't push the issue. She's fun and I don't think I've ever seen her really offended.

I think you should be more upfront than "hey let's go shopping" and then offer to pay. There's no way I'd let my boss pay for my clothes if put on the spot like that. So if you want to do this, then just tell her you want to take her out for drinks and some new work clothes.

[lust2hart]

Sept 30, 2014 12:57:23 GMT -5 jinkies said:

In theory, this sounds like an amazing and generous offer. In reality, I would probably agonize over spending too much, or too little, of my boss's money, or spending it on the "wrong" things. As eddy said, it could also come off as a bit patronizing.

Maybe give her an AmEx gift card in a generous amount, and tell her that you know it's hard to build a professional wardrobe, but you hope she uses the card to pick out some nice things for herself.

I really think this is the best way to go about it.