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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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1 posted on 08/23/2006 8:48:39 AM PDT by qam1
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To: qam1
I worked for EDS in the 90's and had to wear a suit and tie daily.

Of course that was after they relaxed the 'no facial hair' rules.

2 posted on 08/23/2006 8:50:04 AM PDT by lormand (Nuke the Islamic States, or kiss your @55 goodbye)
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To: qam1; ItsOurTimeNow; PresbyRev; tortoise; Fraulein; StoneColdGOP; Clemenza; m18436572; ...
Xer Ping

Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.

Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.

3 posted on 08/23/2006 8:51:05 AM PDT by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: qam1

Another GenX bash thread. Meanwhile, we'll be in our jeans, paying for your SS benefits for the next 35 years, so lay off.


4 posted on 08/23/2006 8:51:21 AM PDT by mysterio
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To: qam1

Gen Y wants to know which employers have "casual work ethic" Fridays.


5 posted on 08/23/2006 8:51:54 AM PDT by weegee (Remember "Remember the Maine"? Well in the current war "Remember the Baby Milk Factory")
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To: qam1

You mean I should not have worn these flip flops and jeans to work today?


6 posted on 08/23/2006 8:52:54 AM PDT by JFC (Land of the FREE because of our BRAVE)
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To: qam1

7 posted on 08/23/2006 8:53:55 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: mysterio
But when people start showing off their underwear at work, Houston, we've got a problem...

On that subject...

Employers, schools get serious about dress codes

8 posted on 08/23/2006 8:54:54 AM PDT by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: mysterio
Another GenX bash thread - you consider this to be a bashing GenX thread? GenX'ers are so sensitive; we have been paying for our forefathers SS for years, do not think you are so special, it's just we have dressed nicer.
9 posted on 08/23/2006 8:55:02 AM PDT by SF Republican
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To: qam1; xsmommy

How casual are things in Kali?

The other day the judge started his oral decision with "Dude,..."


10 posted on 08/23/2006 8:55:31 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: lormand
Like fedoras - it's never coming back. No one wants the discomfort of a suit and tie, the expense of that wardrobe (no longer explicitly comp'd by employers), or the dry cleaning bills.

I'm not sure when hats bit the dust. Some suggest that images of JFK, who rarely wore a hat, had a lot to do with killing that standard. My father was no fashion horse - and lagged far behind the times, giving up hats in the early 70's.
11 posted on 08/23/2006 8:56:06 AM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: qam1

Happily sticking to khaki and golf shirt conformity. Nothing done in that garb can be done any better in anachronistic vestigial ramient. What the heck purpose does a tie serve. If it was winter and it was a scarf, maybe. Suit fabrics provide minimal protection against the elements, and the whole deal focuses on appearance vice capability. How good can a suit be?...lawyers and used car salesmen wear them!

IMO, clothes are gear. Wear that which supports function.

Incedently, this old fart is too old to be attempting the peacock process where appearance is concerned.

Can't trust a slicky-boy!


12 posted on 08/23/2006 8:56:21 AM PDT by petro45acp (SUPPORT/BE YOUR LOCAL SHEEPDOG! ("On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs" by Dave Grossman))
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To: qam1

Tired of seeing women's tramp stamps sticking out over top of their jeans


13 posted on 08/23/2006 8:56:39 AM PDT by NRA1995 (Zarqawi died, liberals cried....)
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To: qam1
sometimes baring more cleavage... than co-workers care to see.

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.

I'll never forget the time the hot Ukrainian chick came to work wearing the mini-skirt, white fishnets, and the halter top. I was almost stampeeded to death in the crush of male humanity that decended on her when she went to the breakroom. What a wonderful way to die...

Owl_Eagle

If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.

14 posted on 08/23/2006 8:57:16 AM PDT by End Times Sentinel (In Memory of my Dear Friend Henry Lee II)
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To: martin_fierro

no he DIDN"T!


15 posted on 08/23/2006 8:57:20 AM PDT by xsmommy
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To: Wally_Kalbacken

I can understand certain positions that would require it, but we never interfaced with customers, just one another. Yes, it was a waste of money.


16 posted on 08/23/2006 8:57:27 AM PDT by lormand (Nuke the Islamic States, or kiss your @55 goodbye)
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To: qam1

In my job, I can wear anything from a dress or suit to skorts and polos, sandals, white keds, heels etc.

Of course, I don't deal much with people outside of ** ominous music ** the dungeon, my windowless office.


17 posted on 08/23/2006 8:57:58 AM PDT by eyespysomething (How to Do a Roundhouse Kick http://www.wikihow.com/Do-a-Roundhouse-Kick)
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To: mysterio

"paying for your SS benefits for the next 35 years"


or maybe not... 8-)


18 posted on 08/23/2006 8:58:04 AM PDT by kenth
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To: NRA1995

"...Tramp Stamps..."


That is perfect!!!!!!!


19 posted on 08/23/2006 8:58:55 AM PDT by petro45acp (SUPPORT/BE YOUR LOCAL SHEEPDOG! ("On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs" by Dave Grossman))
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To: qam1

When I worked in the private sector, I just wanted to see the 'business casual' rules enforced. For males, your options were pretty simple - khakis and a polo shirt, maybe a button-down style shirt with an open collar, and dress shoes.

If I strayed too far outside those lines, I'd most certainly get called on the carpet.

Women, on the other hand, could wear damn near whatever they wanted, as long as it wasn't jeans, and there was no backlash at all. The worst offenders were the several extremely overweight women who essentially wore pajamas/jogging suits and sandals to work every day, because it was the only thing they could fit into. Pissed me off to no end.


20 posted on 08/23/2006 8:59:21 AM PDT by Terabitten (The only time you can have too much ammunition is when you're swimming.)
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