Women Invited to Wear Neckties at Fashion Mixer

This just in from Vjollca Hysenlika:

In response to Enterprise Florida's new marketing logo featuring a necktie - which has raised objections from professional women throughout the state - Femfessionals Tampa Bay is inviting its April 18 all-female event attendees to wear neckties.

The "Fem-style Fashion Mixer" is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 18 at Fresh Threads Designer Consignment Boutique on 1543 S. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa. The event will feature style expert Wendi Braswell giving professional fashion tips, networking, shopping and light food and beverages. Attendees are invited to wear neckties, and Femfessionals will have ties on-hand to lend to willing participants, as well.

Several weeks ago, Enterprise Florida, the state's economic development organization, unveiled its new marketing logo, in which the "i" in "Florida" is a necktie. The logo has received extensive media attention, primarily addressing negative comments from professional women.

"We're not judging whether the logo is offensive or exclusionary to women, because everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion about that," said Noelle Anderson, president of Femfessionals Tampa Bay and owner of True Blue Communications, a PR and marketing firm. "The message we're sending is that regardless of obstacles women face in the workplace and business community, we're going to keep forging ahead. If most think neckties are only supposed to be worn by men, then we'll show that women can wear them, too."

Femfessionals is a national organization for professional women, with more than 50 communities throughout the country. Femfessionals Tampa Bay launched in August. Its more than 50 members come from a variety of industries and business sectors, including law, finance, marketing, nonprofit and more.

The organization provides opportunities - primarily through monthly events in varying formats - for its members to connect and endorse and support one another in business. The group has hosted luncheons featuring successful businesswomen as guest speakers, such as Tampa Bay Technology Forum CEO Heather Kenyon, PostcardMania CEO Joy Gendusa and WFLA News Anchor Gayle Sierens.

"At the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether we wear a dress and heels, or a pantsuit and necktie - we professional women have to do our best to be deserving of our achievements, have the courage to pursue equality in the workplace, and do what we can to be fairly recognized for our efforts," said Anderson. "A logo doesn't matter - we define our own standards and our own success."

For more information, go to www.femfessionals.com.