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Casual Friday is so '90s, dressing down is full time
Contra Costa Times ^ | 8/23/06 | Molly Selvin

Posted on 08/23/2006 8:48:35 AM PDT by qam1

On those rare occasions when insurance executive Tara Guizot wears a suit to her Los Angeles office, "people invariably ask me if I'm interviewing for a new job," she said.

The trend toward casual dress has gone so far that Matt Smith, a 27-year-old Los Angeles lawyer, is on a quest to establish "Tie Tuesday." He would like to wear a suit to work but knows he'd be ridiculed. Instead, Smith dons a tie every Tuesday and hopes other men in his office will follow. So far, a couple have.

"It's just something fun," he said.

Forget casual Fridays. In many workplaces, it's casual everyday as corporate dress codes have gone the way of fedoras and white gloves.

Office workers, from executives to receptionists, now wear pretty much what they want, sometimes baring more cleavage, tattoos and body fat than co-workers care to see.

....

Polo shirts, sweater sets and tailored slacks -- what many companies consider "business casual" -- have given way to halter tops, rubber flip-flops, T-shirts and jeans.

The trend has even sparked a mini-backlash among professionals opting for a more buttoned-down look.

"Wearing a tie used to be a sign of conformity. But dressing down is now conformity and dressing up is rebellious," said Robert Stephens, who founded the Geek Squad, Best Buy Co.'s computer repair service. Squad members sport short-sleeve white shirts and black ties.

Credit younger workers, who bring a who-cares-what-I-wear attitude to their cubicles, for the casual-everyday trend

.....

"It really helps us, specifically with Gen X and Y workers," said Miriam Wardak, senior vice president for ICF International, a Virginia-based consulting firm, adding that some younger workers have told her they would not consider a potential employer if they had to wear a suit and tie.

(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: anarchy; bigdeal; casuallifestyle; dresscodes; fashion; genx; geny; notenoughproblems; slobs; stuffedshirts; workplace
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To: ViLaLuz

clip on ties are so tacky


161 posted on 08/23/2006 7:43:51 PM PDT by proust
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To: the OlLine Rebel
I'd just like to have Clinton and Stacy come with me shopping every time! (And it'd be ok bring along that ubiquitous Visa card of theirs.) And to have a Nick haircut. Sigh.

I love that show. They do a great job.
162 posted on 08/23/2006 7:46:26 PM PDT by pollyannaish
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To: Straight Vermonter

I do: I do not wear nooses around my neck, and am VERY suspicious of those who do: they must be thorough scoundrels experiencing depression or contrition [the same thing] and I'm wary of them. One never knows what they'd do next.


163 posted on 08/23/2006 7:59:54 PM PDT by GSlob
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To: MD_Willington_1976

Ok, tell us the story...


164 posted on 08/23/2006 8:03:45 PM PDT by Straight Vermonter
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To: Colonel Kangaroo

Not the entire Boomer generation is responsible for our society's ills, Just the ones that went to Woodstock instead of the Apollo liftoff. Those Boomers for the most part are eternal adolescents.


165 posted on 08/23/2006 8:03:49 PM PDT by ffusco (Maecilius Fuscus,Governor of Longovicium , Manchester, England. 238-244 AD)
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To: Malacoda

I don't know where the idea came from that tatoos look attractive on women. They just look like they're branded...or dirty. They don't even look particualrly attractive on men, but on women, YUCK! I fail to understand why any woman would permanently disfigure her skin like that.


166 posted on 08/23/2006 8:12:04 PM PDT by sweetliberty (Stupidity should make you sterile!)
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To: Colonel Kangaroo
100 years from now, almost every man in our generation will be wearing a tie.

ROFLMAO

167 posted on 08/23/2006 8:34:57 PM PDT by Professional Engineer (The reason humans didn't practice war any longer, was they were very, very good at it.)
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To: pollyannaish
In fact, I miss the concept of gloves and hats and suits.

I know what you're saying. I think people would dress up more if those kinds of clothes were more comfortable to wear for 10 hours a day.

168 posted on 08/23/2006 11:40:52 PM PDT by Hawkeye's Girl
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To: Straight Vermonter

It is called inflation and yes, I have paid more than my father, who paid more than his fater, and yes, my son will pay more than I.


169 posted on 08/24/2006 8:09:51 AM PDT by SF Republican
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To: Straight Vermonter

5'7" tall

~120-130lbs... not fat just well curved, everything fit into place perfectly

blonde hair

blue eyes

very, very nice figure

always wore heels

always wore a pleated or mini skirt

always wore very, very flattering tops

The existing "administrative assistants" were very very jealous...


170 posted on 08/24/2006 8:49:27 AM PDT by MD_Willington_1976
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To: qam1

I am a freelance commercial writer and work out of my home. I NEVER sit at the computer in my pajamas or any other outfit I wouldn't leave the house in, but when I go to see a client it's suit and tie every time. i haven't been teased yet, but I figure if the folks at any client say, "What's with the suit," Then I'l switch to jeans and a polo shirt. But not until they say something, baby, not until they say something. I also never talk to clients about "it's so great to work at home" because I'm sure that those who would envy me would feel like I was rubbing it in and those who didn't would just think I'm a dip.


171 posted on 08/24/2006 8:58:30 AM PDT by Mr. Silverback (NewsMax gives aid and comfort to the enemy-- http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1642052/posts)
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To: qam1
Office workers ... sometimes baring more ... body fat than co-workers care to see.

I particularly like the low-cut jeans with a roll of fat above and below the beltline.

172 posted on 08/24/2006 9:03:47 AM PDT by JoeGar
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To: qam1

You should dress nice all the time. It just makes you feel good when you've dress yourself well.


173 posted on 08/24/2006 9:05:43 AM PDT by VanDeKoik (Fitzmas Has Been Canceled.)
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To: Melas

"Sadly, you obviously value people based on their incomes. I'll tell you straight up that the guy who makes half as much as I do is entiled to all of the respect I am entitled, and the same goes for the guy that makes twice as much me."

Come on, Man, drop that sanctimonious crap. I never said people who make more money than you do are "better" than you. I said that, often, people who are very successful in big corporations, and make a lot of money, dress up beyond what has become "business-casual." Who was talking about "respect"? I was talking about what I see.


174 posted on 08/24/2006 10:52:10 AM PDT by John Robertson (Even if we disagree now, we may agree later. Or vice versa.)
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To: SF Republican

You can't be serious, can you? How is a smaller generation of workers supposed to support a larger generation of retirees who are living longer and longer?

In 1950 there were 18 workers to every retiree. Today there are 3 workers to every retiree. This does not even take into account the huge added burden of the "drugs for the wealthy" program.

When it gets to 1:1 I guess we could all have an old codger standing behind us with a whip to make us work harder.


175 posted on 08/24/2006 1:59:24 PM PDT by Straight Vermonter
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To: Lou L
In my experience, it's usually the shirt collar that's too tight, not the tie knot.

That may be true, but it's tough for me to find a shirt with a large neck and a moderate waistline in the colors/style I like.

As for hot weather, there are tropical-weight wool and linen jackets, but we're not talking about working outside, are we?

I'm a lawyer. I'm inside most of the time but when I have to be in court in a hurray in hot weather, wearing a jacket of any kind is very uncomfortable.

If you're a professional however, working in an office is your primary environment. Those offices usually have climate controlled areas, and the time you spend outside is minimal. There's no excuse.

My (home) office is climate controlled with fans. Fortunately my boss is very practical with his (my) dress code.

176 posted on 08/24/2006 2:30:55 PM PDT by ravinson
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To: Straight Vermonter
no - I'm joking; Look this SS system has been around for about 75 years. To be honest, it works now and in some form or other it will work in the future. My parents get about $450 a month from SS; my contribution alone pays for that, not including my 3 siblings and what they are paying in. My point is stop complaining because you have to pay SS, we all have and will have to in the future.
177 posted on 08/24/2006 2:31:46 PM PDT by SF Republican
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To: petro45acp

"Butt Hats"


178 posted on 08/24/2006 2:34:32 PM PDT by wordsofearnest (Bring Back Torre (There's new grass on the field))
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To: Conservababe
"Regrettably, a few attorneys have chosen to bring the general decay of civility into the courtroom, thereby making this rule necessary," Lewis said in the letter.

He's probably referring to court-appointed criminal defense attorneys who don't have to worry much about how their attire affects the judges' decisions. Unfortunately, the legal profession has traditionally been one of the stuffiest. (I believe English barristers still have to wear powdered wigs.)

Eventually some maverick judges will figure out a way to engender respect without requiring such ridiculous formalities. It can't happen too soon in my view.

179 posted on 08/24/2006 2:43:41 PM PDT by ravinson
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To: Colonel Kangaroo
100 years from now, almost every man in our generation nobody will be wearing a tie.
180 posted on 08/31/2006 4:54:25 PM PDT by Rytwyng (Only a Million Minuteman March can stop the Bush Border Betrayal!)
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