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 ...
Are you a traffic cop?
Well, I used to know a chick who had this big, disgusting birthmark on her rather enormous cleavage, but other than that, I find that last statement hard to visualize.
LOL. It always seems like there's one in every office, one large chested lady with questionable taste in clothing options.
I was almost stampeeded to death in the crush of male humanity that decended on her when she went to the breakroom.
Being a lady, I won't be crushed in that stampede to the workroom, I'll be relishing the momentary peace and quiet. ;-)
I try to dress halfway decently; if not, I just don't feel like I work as well or am taken seriously when dressed like a slob.
Right you are. I keep telling my kids, who are pretty good and fair-minded anyway, that ANY job, done with class and as well as you can do it, ennobles them.
As for all the tie-bashers here...I guess we must have an inordinate number of low-achievers registered at FR. Go ahead, guys, bitch about suits and ties and good shoes. Yeah, let's hear it for "comfort." But you know what? All the guys and gals who wear first-class businesswear aren't all that uncomfortable in it...because they're up there in the top-executive class of the top corporations, making more money in a year than you'll make in a decade.
As for the notion that you are "rebelling" against their "control" by all wearing the same damned thing--khakis or Dockers with a golf shirt...hey, they like it that way. You have all chosen to dress for the middle or lower, and there you will remain.
Have a nice casual day, all.
100 years from now, almost every man in our generation will be wearing a tie.
Exactly, and it will cycle back in. And out again. I think my BIL would like to wear a suit, at least once in a while, but it's polos and casual dress pants and he conforms.
These trends tend to cycle in and out. LOL, you could well be in a suit and tie working off those SS benefits, and your grandkids will be wearing jeans to their interviews! I like the corporate casual, and even the dressing down, I hope it hangs around. Some jobs are just better handled in casual clothing. I remember at an office I worked at in a rural area, a decade ago when casual fridays were ramping up, wearing a suit was greeted with suspicion by the locals.
It's amazing how stable the format of the male suit has been. Look at old movies from the 40's. Someone wearing one today would not look all that out of place. When something becomes that static for so long, death cannot be far behind.
I'm in IT and I wear a tie 3-4 days a week. Maybe a quarter of the guys in the office do. We seem to get the majority of the promotions, but that may just be a coincidence.
When I started, the women would wear dresses and heels and makeup and do something nice with their hair. Sue me, but I miss it. The flip flops and grunge look just isn't one-tenth as appealing to the eye. Well, I suppose the nice look is more work with less comfort, so it would be selfish of me to expect it. But still, does aesthetics count for anything anymore?
You could say the same about scientists, researchers, and other types of jobs--they're a bit introverted, but all of them could benefit from a more formal wardrobe. You can't tell me that these people were just naturally sloppy, and the IT profession came along at just the right time, in order to fill their need to be a brilliant slob and receive a paycheck!
If you've ever seen newsreels of sporting events from the early 60s backwards, there were very few women in the stands, and most men were wearing suits, ties and hats. And smoking.
Or maybe many of us realize that substance counts for more than symbolism.
All the guys and gals who wear first-class businesswear aren't all that uncomfortable in it...because they're up there in the top-executive class of the top corporations, making more money in a year than you'll make in a decade.
I'm sure Bill Gates and Steve Jobs would be fascinated by your theories.
I remember Bever's dad coming home from a long day at the office, taking off his suit coat and putting on a sports coat. Didn't even loosen his tie.
Ain't THAT the truth.
Shalom.
A "properly-knotted tie" always restricts blood flow to your brain, and jackets in hot weather are ridicuously uncomfortable (particularly when you are in a hurry). You can be well dressed without wearing unhealthy, outmoded clothing.
Maybe so...but I wear them quite a lot.
I have quite a collection...my fave being a circa 1953 Chocolate brown Champ Featherweight. Very dapper.
Same here it's sickening. I know I'm not going to go up the ladder anywhere lol It's not within me to suck up to anyone or kiss any ass. I'm not into social networking either.
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