Have you ever heard those words? If so, it was probably when you were a teenager, and it was probably a parent saying it to you. Perhaps you were wearing the latest style or your bedroom was just a mess. As adults, we don’t usually hear such coarse statements even though it is often THOUGHT by others.
The twenty-first century has seen a shift in attire in the workplace. Though, some might call it a death spiral. And that shift appears to be true whether there is a formal dress code or not. For the past decade especially, employers have been fighting for better dress… without success.
Of course, this goes to the type of environment and corporate culture that has been established. Not everyone interacts with the public or even one another in all business settings. Most of us would agree we tend to be more productive when we are comfortable. But is there no happy medium? I mean, at what point did “casual Friday” become pajama Monday?
A lot of the resistance to dressing up as of late has come from people returning to their bullpens and cubbies after working from home for the past couple of years. Employees were largely left on their own and as long as the assigned work was done, no one seemed to care about what anyone was wearing, except perhaps for online meetings.
The apex of the suit and tie debate was when The United States Senate changed its dress code policy, seemingly to accommodate one Senator. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania had suffered from some medical issues over the past few months, but none of the changes were to facilitate any medical needs. Fetterman is known for his shorts and hoody appearances in an attempt to fit in with the “common man”. But, let’s face it, he looks like a bum, and many say he acts like one as well.
In fact, the U.S. Senate dress policy was not relaxed, it was simply dropped altogether. Any Senator can wear anything on the floor to include a bikini according to Maine Senator Susan Collins. But at what point does being comfortable affect professionalism.
And what of the expectations of a politicians constituents? Typically, people look for a leader who portrays confidence and competence to run the country. It's hard to take someone serious who seemingly does not take themselves seriously. It goes to respect.
I remember as a small child, my father had a meeting with one of my teachers during parent, teacher night. That afternoon I watched him as he was putting on his belt, shoes and tie getting ready to go to the event. It was his Sunday best! But I didn’t think it was necessary to dress up for someone as familiar as someone I saw in class every day. My teacher wasn’t anything special.
I asked him why he was wearing church-going clothes. He stated, “One should always look good when they represent someone they love”. He wasn’t dressing up for the teacher, he was dressing up for me! He was acting as my advocate like a good father should. I never forgot that lesson.
By contrast, it makes me wonder what our leaders in Washington think of us. Are we not worth dressing up? As a nation, do we not want to send people to Washington who are slightly better than the common man? Those who are competent and willing to advocate on our behalf.
Don’t get me wrong, Summers in the South are hot so you will rarely see me in a coat and tie then unless I know I am to be indoors all day. Any expectations for top-tier attire during a Zoom call are pretty much gone as well. And it has become accustomed for those in IT or over-the-line customer service to dress down if they never come within sight of the customer where their looks would definitely be judged.
But it seems a compromise is emerging between comfort and professionalism. According Gallup, 41% of American employees wear “business casual” attire. That is to say, khakis or other nice pants, a collared shirt and loafers. While 31% dress in “street casual” which includes jeans, 23% in uniform and just 3% don a suit. This study does not consider independent contractors, so that last number is probably at least double.
If you see me at one of my events, I will at least start out in a coat and tie. Perhaps I’m old-school, but I believe it goes to the ethos or credibility of being a public speaker. Nonetheless, business casual is here to stay, for a while, at least. But casual can still look nice and present an image of competence and respect.
© MMXXIII, This article is original work and written without the assistance of artificial intelligence. Blaine Little is the founder and CEO of Momentum Seminars Training & Coaching, helping companies remain profitable by investing in their people. Learn more about the power of Momentum at http://MomentumSeminars.com