Article on Dress Codes

[geminigirl]

Interesting thread on dress codes.  We don't have one at my work - company guidelines state "The choice of clothing and personal grooming is a matter of personal taste. Employees are, however, expected to maintain acceptable reasonable standards of personal hygiene. Formal standards of dress are required during meetings with external customers and visitors. It is expected that employees will refrain from chewing gum during both internal and external meetings."  In my role as PA to the CEOs, however, I *always* wear a jacket either with a skirt or a dress - never trousers:

1.  I hate myself in trousers!
2. I'm oldfashioned enough to think skirts are better in the workplace.  I would *never* wear trousers to an interview (I told you I was old fashioned ;-)) and would never wear jeans to the office.

We're fairly lax here on dress code - most people will wear jeans and t-shirt, or polo shirts (we have some in company colours and logos) but I much prefer to wear jacket and skirt/dress - I don't feel dressed for work otherwise.  It's also commented on quite a lot that I'm always dressed smartly, and generally with killer heels!

I'm also constantly meeting visitors to the office etc, and don't think dressing down is appropriate if you're customer- or client-facing.  Mind you, don't know whether my (two) bosses would even notice ...

Last comment ... I do think the way one dresses has a (bit of) impact on attitudes at work.  I know that last one could be a bit contentious ;-)

[bethalize]

I absolutely agree that the way you dress has an impact on those around you. I tend to dress up rather than down, but in a very understated way. I once saw a presentation where half the room spent the whole time watching the presenters interesting earings swing to and fro!

Not sure about the logic about skirts though! Why would anyone want to see my legs in a professional situation? Or does the wind around your knees make you concentrate harder . Mind you, I wouldn't have a problem with men wearing skirts or kilts in the office if they wanted to. Is that wierd?

Bethalize
Peer Moderator

[Katie G]

I've been watching this thread and done a lot of ruminating on the subject before I chimed in.  And I the thing I ask myself in the morning is:  is it in line with my workplace and it's objectives?

I used to work in the office of a warehouse that dealt in heavy industrial products -- bearings, pulleys, belts, conveyor equipment, large motors, gearboxes, etc.  Now, in that environment a formal business suit and heels would have been totally impractical for a number of reasons -- and a big one was safety.  Rubber-soled flat shoes (usually leather oxfords) with a neat pair of docker-style pants and a neat oxford shirt or turtleneck was my daily dress.  Often I would have customers coming in the front door, right off their shop floor handing me a busted part, black with grease and dirt, to find the part number.  It wasn't "dressing down" -- it was "dressing for the job" and, in my mind, entirely professional.

In my last position, I was the one who would be on my knees with my arms deep in the bowels of a copier or printer, inevitably getting toner all over me.  I was also responsible for the organization and upkeep of the storage room and did the unpacking of office supplies when they arrived.  I also often had to delve into the archived files which weren't in the nicest area of the building.  So again, I usually wore dressy-but-machine-washable slacks and a simple shirt and flat shoes.  Didn't bother with a jacket because it only spent the day on the back of my chair.  But again, I didn't look at it as "dressing down" but rather "dressing for the job" that I did everyday.

Now would that fly in a law office or high level corporate HQ?  No, of course not.  But I think it's folly to immediately condemn certain items of clothing right off the bat.  That being said, I DO think things like t-shirts and jeans or "over-exposure" of arms, legs, midriffs, and feet or showing up looking like you just rolled in from clubbing all night are definite NO-NOs.

[Jackie G]

Well, if I'm at home doing my self employed thing, and not planning to go out and meet clients, I definitely dress down.  But I do change if I have to go out and see a client unexpectedly.

At the Parliament, on non business days (Monday and Friday) and during recess, most people do dress down, but I find most folk are dressed appropriately for business days so that if you have to meet a constituent or go to a meeting you won't feel uncomfortable.  We had a discussion with another member's staffer just yesterday on this, and he always wears a shirt and tie on business days, but he's in jeans the rest of the time!

Jackie, Peer Moderator
www.iqps.org

[mathwhizchick]

We have a business casual policy in my large corporation, with explicit rules about what is/isn't appropriate.  With call centers in several of our business lines (with hundreds of entry level positions), there were always issues of people taking business casual to the limit (skimpy/see-through tops, ratty/torn jeans/pants, shorts that qualify as underwear, etc).

However, there are several areas that do NOT adhere to business casual, but remain firmly entrenched in business formal (General Counsel and Executive suite come to mind).  Although I don't work in either area, my work does carry me to those areas frequently, so I need to continue to dress in a more business formal manner.  As I'm "old school," this is not a problem for me.   As others have mentioned, I find I'm more in a "work" mood when I dress the part.

[semaxwell1]

Bethalize's comment reminds me of another thread I read on a separate message board. Most companies don't state what the men should wear and what the women should wear. That leaves it open for those who want to "cross-dress", of course culture can play a part in it, too.  Women already "cross-dress" slightly. We can wear pants, flat shoes, not wear makeup, have hair real short. A former female coworker at an old job often wore men's 3 piece suits with a tie, flat shoes, and her hair back with no makeup. However, she was tall with a slender figure and a naturally pretty face so she still looked feminine in a vogue way.

What if a man wants to wear a skirt, heels, makeup, his hair all styled up, nail polish? If the employee handbook doesn't "specifically" say, couldn't it leave the door open? A man can state that wearing a skirt or heels can make him feel more empowered to do his job just like some women feel that way when wearing a skirt or heels. I guess the only way to keep something like that happening, the policy has to specifically say so, or if coworkers/customers claim they feel "offended" if a man-or woman-cross-dresses.

semaxwell1

[gee4]

It's dress down Friday and I am wearing jeans, a casual top, boots and a leather jacket.

I feel less fussy than I do on other weekdays, but I would never dress like this except on Fridays.

G

[ecogirl]

Bethalize, I don't think you're weird but then I've spent the past 12 years working in the tourist/heritage industry where men regularly wear kilts to work.  I think a man in a kilt is a wonderful sight and even the scruffiest of men manage to look smarter.

Personally, I prefer to be in a smart suit at work even if I know I am not going to meet customers. I was once told at a training course that women should wear jackets, if you wore a cuddly cardigan you would be treated like a cuddly cardigan!  However, if I know I have a dirty job to do like rummaging around in the archives, I will dress appropriately.  You can get caught out though.  I was once left a pool car with no oil in it on the day I was wearing a very expensive beige suit.  It was time for the helpless female act in order to find a man to do it for me!  

caroleanne

[jak0215]

I work in a office with a business casual dress code.  The employee handbook clearly states what is acceptable for both men and women - with the exception of cross dressing.  It would be interesting to see how that situation would be handled.  Today I am wearing jeans, a Bass v-neck tee shirt and flip fops.  Now, I don't generally wear my flippies to work but today just screamed for them.  I do have nicer shoes at my desk should I need to really explore the office today.  I don't feel uncomfortable wearing them here as many people do on Fridays.  That being said, I have a new boss being promoted to CIO who is a very smart dresser and always dressed to the nines.  Once she moves over to the office behind me (currently empty) I will put more of an effort to look and feel the part.  

On a side note, Caroleanne - I would LOVE to see men in Kilts.  Although, I'm sure that I would be too distracted to pay much attention to my work.  I know that sounds kind of sexist, but I know me and I would definitely be enthralled!  At a previously position I worked with a man of Scottish decent who wore one at his wedding.  Boy did he look great.  Besides the obvious, I think it was more his pride of wearing his family tartan that struck me the most.  It's a beautiful thing.

Happy Friday everyone!

jak

[gee4]

I was at a wedding about 9 years ago where the guys wore kilts - we were in Norway (nearest we had to national costume being from Norn Iron) and altho it was cold the guys were warm.  Very sexy I have to say!

G

[laurafmcdermott]

RE: the cross-dressing

At my last employer, I worked in human resources and we had a gentleman (?) who was undergoing surgery to change his gender to female.  S/he was taking hormones to grow some female anatomy parts and was intending to start dressing as a woman leading up to the surgery.  It was a very sticky situation to say the least!  It was rather unnerving to see someone you had gotten used to seeing in pants suddenly show up in a skirt.

[kjorg]

I guess I'd consider myself lucky....

We're allowed to wear jeans to work. My office is very small, 4 people total, and we rarely have anyone come in. If they do, they're also in jeans. Even my "managers" wear them.

I do have dress clothes and sometimes I do wear them to work, but I don't notice a change in my work when I do.  Besides, I figure I don't get paid enough to afford the high dry cleaning bills!!

[Katie G]

I don't get paid enough to spend money on dry cleaning on a weekly or monthly basis either.  Machine-wash is a MUST for me!  Even my DRAPES are machine wash!