Kari Shipman has spent 14 years at Storm Creek watching women’s corporate apparel grow from a smaller men’s polo into pieces purposely designed for women. Storm Creek is a women-owned, certified B Corp. More than 60% of the company is women, so they understand what women want to wear in and out of the workplace. We cover everything from bladed collars, cropped hems, thumb holes, and styles that start from how women dress.

Men’s corporate wear has stayed simple while women’s retail fashion grew, and the industry answered with smaller men’s cuts. Storm Creek keeps focuses on purpose. They add a few styles each season and go deep on fabric, fit, and color, then build true women’s companions with bladed collars, V-necks, and cropped hems. Kari walks through the team’s favorite pieces, from the teddy fleece and Altitude jacket to Comfort Zone knits and Pace Setter colors. They also cover decoration, discussing default left-chest logos on fitted pieces and plan hip, cuff, back collar, or hem.

Women’s corporate apparel is not successful when you treat it as a smaller size run of the men’s order. Pick true ladies’ cuts, sample the fabric, and use Storm Creek’s relabel and zipper-pull programs when a client needs a custom look. Watch the replay, then reach out to Goodson for samples you can put in people’s hands.

Watch The Episode

Key Takeaways

• Stop ordering smaller men’s polos. Pick a true women’s cut.
• Retail details sell wear: bladed collars, V-necks, cropped hems.
• Companion pieces should match fabric, not copy the men’s cut.
• If a ladies’ style isn’t feminine enough, replace it.
• Put logos on hem, cuff, or back collar on fitted pieces.
• Leave layering tanks blank. Decorate the jacket or piece on top.
• Pictures undersell texture. Sample Storm Creek so you can feel the fabric.
• Women’s bottoms work when they travel from plane to meeting or work to a kids sports game.
• Relabel and zipper pulls customize a piece without a huge minimum.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction of women’s apparel with Kari Shipman
• 00:28 Why women’s corporate apparel lagged for decades
• 01:38 Kari on Storm Creek’s women-owned design culture
• 01:52 Retail-inspired corporate wear for new generations
• 04:43 Recycled bottles, B Corp, and sustainable production
• 07:02 Women’s-only teddy fleece and fashion details
• 07:50 Companion polos with bladed collars
• 11:23 Logo placement on back collar, hem, and cuff
• 12:35 Altitude jacket, Comfort Zone, and Pace Setter
• 18:52 Relabel program and custom zipper-pull options