Business Work Attire - Page 4

gertrudecloset · ‎02-13-2021

I think this is a spill over discussion from the one in "Beauty" started by another poster. It just occurred to me. *Duh* on me....

I'm out....the same kinds of discussions over and over and over. Goodness.

A Negative Mind ~ Will give you a Negative Life

Jordan2 · ‎03-16-2010

About a year ago I interviewed at a Yeshivah for a position working with special needs kids. She told me right away the dress code was skirts and blouses and dresses not short hemlines. I didn't get the job, which is just as well because I know I would have hated wearing skirts and dresses to work.

Trailrun23 · ‎05-31-2022

It is sad that employers can no longer assume to their employees will dress appropriately for casual Fridays. My son works at a big corporate HQ here; they have casual Fridays and it is spelled out specifically, and that means no coat and tie, but dress shirt and slacks. Women can wear a sleeveless shirt if it has a collar. How workers present themselves does make a huge difference.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@gertrudecloset wrote:
@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@millieshops wrote:
I think the trend has been arriving for a couple of decades now, and the large percent of workers who tuned in from home during the earlier days of the pandemic may have cemented the trend into place for many more years.

I know those who work from home in my neighborhood virtually always dress casually, just adding a bit of neatness and a bit more makeup for Zoom meetings or a few hours onsite.

About 20 years ago, I was in a conversation with a lawyer in San Antonio when he was asked if his office did casual Fridays. He said they had tried it, but too many didn't understand casual Friday in the workplace isn't the same as a day on the fields or at the beach! Workers in lots of places would do well to think carefully about what makes most of their clients/customers feel comfortable.

I think I am comfortable with a wide range of outfits, but I still believe there's a difference between what I choose to wear when I'm home alone and what I don when I'm headed into a public place. I'd like those I do business with to think more about the message their clothes sends.

@millieshops

I am astounded by the number of women (and men) who don't realize it's better to dress appropriately, meaning business attire, in business environments.

People judge not only you but your employer ... and the business. If people dress sloppy, they aren't taking their jobs seriously .... and can be passed over for promotions and raises.

Of course, there are also the very young who probably just don't know ... and dress only to "express themselves". Big mistake.
If people didn't dress appropriately for the type of business they are employed in they would be fired. I have no doubt about that. The places I worked wouldn't stand for it. The tone of any company starts at the top of the organization. This all depends on where you work too. If you work in the Dollar store no one expects you to be a suit or a skirt unless you choose to wear such attire.

If you're a Barista at Starbucks you're likely wearing khaki's with an apron and the appropriate uniform for the store.

People getting passed over for promotions because of how they dress is absurd. If the powers that be in that person's workplace are not pleased with this ~ at will laws allow them to fire at will.

Some employers, however, PREFER an employee to be good at what the heck they do. I've worked with some men who for lack of a better word weren't taught to look neat. Excellent tax attorney. He was kind of sloppy. He saved the company I worked for lots of money in tax credits and he won company awards in the form of stocks and shares and cash because he was good at his job.

These blanket statements about how people dress are amazing.

@gertrudecloset

Actually, there's nothing absurd about it and happens more than you realize.

At two different companies I've worked at, two female attorneys were quite bright and contributed significantly to their departments.

Unfortunately, both tended to come to work dressed as if they just rolled out of bed. No relation, didn't know each other.

What I happened to know was that senior managment felt they just weren't polished enough to deal with clients, and their appearance didn't best represent their companies. One company was corporate office for manufacturing in NY, and the other was an international cosmetics company in CA.

No need to fire either of them ... just don't put them in the public eye. They definitely served their purpose, but didn't advance the way they could have with better wardrobe and grooming.

It was a shame no one ever took them aside and made a few diplomatic suggestions .... but by that age, they really should have known better.

ETA: I think both women were very bright, but had spent waaay too much time holed up in the library, and didn't give any thought at all to their appearance. In spite of the endless threads we see here about makeup and clothing, it happens.

Enufstuff · ‎03-12-2010

@skatting44 Don't forget cursive writing or just being able to

write your own name .

Oznell · ‎11-08-2014

Now, when there are few rules about dressing appropriately for the occasion, I really notice when someone makes an effort-- is neat, clean and groomed.

People are so approving of stars of classic Hollywood's way of dressing, or Queen Elizabeth's mode of dressing for meeting her public, or Kate's. The Queen and Kate are simply mindful of what is appropriate for what they're doing. And people in EVERY station in life that do that equally earn approbation, at least from me.

It's actually not "superficial", I believe-- it's a matter of respect, for oneself and others.

Just please don't show up in creased pajamas, plastered hair and an unwashed state (it appeared) at the Hampton Inn's complementary breakfast, ha. I observed a young guy in a business group who'd stayed there, actually wandering around in that state, among his appropriately attired colleagues, blithely choosing his cereal and pouring his coffee.

In contrast, I was just watching the online filmed testimony of a homeless man at one of our favorite Chicago missions to the homeless. He was very nervous about giving his testimony, but delighted to do so as well, and he had dressed immaculately-- in a dress shirt, coat and tie-- to give what he clearly deemed was a very important message.

Nothing wrong with honest rags, by the way, because clothes paradoxically aren't that important. But the attitude of trying to present your best to others, that's what's winning to me.

Group 5 minus 1 · ‎03-11-2010

Depending where you work there are different codes. Working in a lab OSHA tells you what to wear(no open toed shoes). Medical setting;different clothing.

RollTide2008 · ‎02-14-2017

I haven’t had to wear anything dressier than jeans to the office in at least 5 years.

walkingal · ‎03-09-2010

@lgfan wrote:
I worked for a company that ended casual Fridays because some workers were too casual. One woman actually wore a bathing suit and a pair of shorts. She also wore a pair of thong sandals.

@lgfan smh No common sense. An example of why there are dress codes.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@walkingal wrote:
@lgfan wrote:
I worked for a company that ended casual Fridays because some workers were too casual. One woman actually wore a bathing suit and a pair of shorts. She also wore a pair of thong sandals.
@lgfan smh No common sense. An example of why there are dress codes.

@walkingal @Jordan2

Years ago I worked in the corporate office of a company that had a dress code, but their code was more than reasonable.

One new employee decided to test the limits and they were sent home to change.

Didn't learn their lesson.

The next time they decided to test the limits, they were sent home to change, and they lost the hours until they came back and showed up properly dressed.

The CEO felt you can dress any way you want on your own time. Since it was his company, and his rules, if you didn't like the dress code, you were invited to submit your resignation.

IMO, More companies should do that.