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
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"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 ...
The nicest (ie, most comfortable) clothes I own are work boots, jeans, and flannels. I feel absolutely great when I wear them. And I'm a lot more productive.
You wear khaki and golf shirts and want to know what use a tie is? ( BTW if you are going to use words like raiment at least spell them correctly).
What use is khaki and golf shirts in an air conditioned office or car. If you work in a hot humid city the best dress is nothing but a speedo. Are you really saying people should wear speedo's to work?
You argue against style and then proceed to use style to determine what you wear.
Yep, misspelled raiment. But style over substance is still silly. That is to say, a tie serves no purpose other than adding color to a drab outfit.
I view clothing as gear/equipment. Your mileage may vary.
Cheers
I work at a place where a Ph.D. is a government executive and a Retired Army Colonel. He is a stickler with the dress code but yet you see many people coming in with blue jeans including me. His direct reports are held to his tight leash. The dress code goes as far as to dictate long sleeve shirts even on a 100 degree F Summer day.
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