From stilettos to flats, suits to dresses and blazers to bangles, the University’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers is working to broaden workplace fashion choices.
Mechanical engineering senior and president of SWE Wariya Pala said her freshman year consisted of an inner battle of appropriate versus comfort every time she attended a professional function.
“We’re here to show girls you can do both,” Pala said. “I had no idea what ‘business- casual’ was, so my mom bought me a black suit, and I hated it. I didn’t feel comfortable in it.”
Biological engineering senior and SWE vice president Amy Braud agreed.
“A lot of girls just aren’t aware, I think, of how many options we really have,” Braud said.
Pala said the main goal of the Women Impacting Style in Engineering event is to create an atmosphere for a fun evening where participants can feel comfortable networking and not be afraid to ask questions.
The University’s Society of Women Engineers partnered with Dillard’s this year for the event.
The models spent one day shopping for business professional, business casual and social event outfits with their stylist, doctoral candidate Yuwa Vosper.
Pala said Vosper made sure all the models were 100 percent comfortable in the outfits they chose before they left the store.
“She could tell ­— if one of the girls was hesitant or didn’t 100 percent love the outfit, she would make them choose something else,” Pala said.
Pala said her first WISE night was the first time she ever felt at ease networking. Before, Pala said, she felt uncomfortable and unsure of what to wear and what questions to ask.
“It’s about more than just clothes, too,” Pala said. “There is a big focus on style, but mostly that’s just a common ground we can get all these students and industry workers together on so we can talk about something bigger — comfort and leadership in the workplace.”
Braud said although membership of SWE is not required to participate in the show, she strongly encourages engineering females to join because the organization provides many benefits.
Pala said the style show itself isn’t restricted to just engineering majors. Women in fields like construction management and computer design are also encouraged to participate, too, because there aren’t enough female leaders in those areas.
SWE faculty adviser Sarah Jones said the current enrollment of women in engineering at the University is about 20 percent, and the number is usually higher for freshmen and sophomores.
“We really try and target freshmen with this show, because a lot of them end up dropping the field,” Jones said. “We want them to know we’re here to help and mentor them.”
The first WISE event was in 2010 and had 60 participants, Jones said. In its fifth year, participation more than doubled, and 150 women attended.
Braud and Pala said the WISE event provides females in engineering with a night full of fun, learning and opportunities.
“This show is about showing female engineers that they can be expressive and creative in the workplace and that they’re not limited to that basic black-and-white suit that everyone seems to think we are,” Pala said.
Female representatives from big industrial companies like Entergy, ExxonMobil, Dow Chemical Company and Halliburton attend the WISE event because they know what an impact it has on women in the field, Pala said.
Michelle Green, project manager for Halliburton, said she thinks the WISE event is a provides opportunities for University students.
“I think the WISE event is a wonderful thing for these ladies because they can come out and mingle not only with themselves but with us, too,” Green said. “So much positive feedback comes from this night, and I’m glad Halliburton can be a part of it.”
“I think it’s a really relaxing night because we all have the same insecurities, and we’re all there for the same reason,” Braud said.
Ten women modeled in the WISE event Wednesday. The evening began with a networking period followed by dinner and the style show.
Assistant Dean of the College of Engineering Jada Lewis kicked off the night with one of her favorite quotations, “Intelligence will never stop being beautiful.”

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Raegan Labat

Assistant dean of LSU College of Engineering Jada Lewis speaks at Women Impacting Style in Engineering Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2015, in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom in Student Union.