Happy Hump Day {{first_name | Toaster}} 🐪 ,

When Andrew Tate was arrested this past week, the internet couldn't stop talking about his outfit. Not the horrifying allegations or the years he spent building a brand around hypermasculinity. His purple shirt and capris.

The irony wasn't that Andrew Tate looked "feminine." The irony was that a man who built an “empire” telling everyone else how to perform masculinity became the perfect reminder that these rules are completely made up. And if the rules around masculinity are arbitrary, so are the rules around femininity.

Women know this better than anyone. Before many women even log on for work, they've already completed their first shift. Hair, skincare, makeup, and an outfit that's polished but not flashy. Effortless - but only after an hour of effort.

The workplace has created one of the most frustrating double standards women navigate every day. Wear too much makeup and you're trying too hard, seeking attention, and more focused on your appearance than your performance. Don't wear makeup and suddenly you "look tired," "didn't make an effort," "don't look professional."

What's fascinating is that research suggests these judgments have real consequences. Studies have found women wearing moderate makeup are often perceived as more competent, trustworthy, and professional and can even earn higher salaries than women who don't wear makeup.

There is nothing wrong with a full and pulling up to work in full-glam or a freshly Dyson Airwrapped blowout - many women genuinely enjoy it. (Our team included, we will happily exchange a good beauty product recommendation.) The problem is when something that should be a personal choice quietly becomes a professional expectation.

Appearance is labour. Time spent getting ready, money spent on products, and mental energy. Obviously it is nowhere in a job description but somehow still affects how women are evaluated at work.

The conversation shouldn’t be about whether or not women choose to put effort into their appearance before work. Maybe it should be about why looking "professional" requires so much more invisible preparation for one gender than the other.

Because if one employee can roll out of bed, throw on a clean shirt or the same suit they wore last week, and be considered boardroom-ready while another needs an extra 30 to 90 minutes to meet the same standard of professionalism, maybe the problem isn’t the person. Maybe, yet again, the problem is the system.

Team Toast 🥂

Mark your calendars, the Toast Summit is officially back for our fourth year in Calgary and we're kicking things off with an exclusive early bird sale starting August 4th.

You'll want to set your alarms. Once presale wraps up, ticket prices increase to our regular rates on August 19th.

Check the schedule above for your presale window and don't miss your chance to save. We can't wait to see you on October 1st for another unforgettable day of bold conversations, incredible speakers, and meaningful connections.

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