<p>I am not 40(north of that), but yesterday I did say to a 28 year old, “What’s up with the wrinkled shirt?” Today his shirt was nicely pressed. It just looked nicer to me.</p>
<p>Going out wear is still " dressing up" for those who chose to.
But work wear is much more casual for whole industries.
For those in the Northwest- in computing, scientific research, even CEOs of companies like REI, they barely need a suit wardrobe.
If you are an engineer, all you need is a tie, you don’t even really need to break out your dress shirts unless you are the keynote speaker at the conference in Oslö.</p>
<p>If someone said, “What’s up with the shirt and tie?”, would you dress down so that you didn’t offend your co-worker? S/he could say that a t-shirt just looks nicer to him/her.</p>
<p>The 28 year old had to care that I didn’t like his wrinkled shirt even though I am not part of the “majority work force.”</p>
<p>I am wearing jeans on Friday to make others more comfortable - with a cute shirt and nice flats, and my designer bag.</p>
<p>oldfort, I really like and respect you, but what if your boss said, “I think you’d look a lot better in a long robe and head scarf and face mask. That would make me a lot more comfortable.”</p>
<p>I agree with cromette that with some notable exceptions such as i-banking/finance or biglaw, the workplace has gotten more casual. However, some of this may depend on geographic region and individual corporate/institutional culture. </p>
<p>Worked for 2 internet startups where anything goes except for initial interview or if we’re going to be meeting clients when formal attire was required. That only occurred on a handful of occasions over a year and half. </p>
<p>When I moved over to a medium Boston-based financial company working in their IS department, the hiring manager actually told me to go business casual as only senior managers working directly under the CTO/CFO or those in other departments like marketing were required to wear “monkey suits” as he put it. As long as I wore business casual shirts and docker-type pants or sometimes even decent black jeans, I was good to go. </p>
<p>However, when I started working in the IT department of a biglaw firm, it was very corporate formal. Dress shirt/pants, conservatively colored tie, and if there were clients/outside parties…jacket. Along with other factors…those dress requirements were a factor in why I eventually quit for other opportunities. </p>
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<p>That’s probably because she’s working in a field like ibanking or biglaw where dressing formally is required and hangs out mostly with others in the same/similar fields. </p>
<p>With the exception of friends/acquaintances who are in those “dressy” fields, most of my friends and myself tend to dress more casually unless the venue we’re going has a formal dress code. </p>
<p>On the last part…that has actually become less of an issue IME because of the post-2008 economy. My friends and I found many fancy restaurants which used to require formal/corporate dress codes have actually relaxed them in practice due to slow business. </p>
<p>There were even a few times I even got away with wearing a white t-shirt and shorts because it was a hot summer day and the decision to dine there was spontaneous. Guess what? Those restaurants welcomed us despite being dressed like riffraff according to their once haute past dress code standards. It also helped that we were polite to the maitre’d, wait staff, demonstrated passable table manners, and otherwise acted as one would comport themselves in a restaurant. All that even won over some patrons who initially gave us the “stinkeye” because of our dressed-down attire.</p>
<p>Having walked the campus during business hours at S1’s new job this week, I can safely say that the ONLY ties I saw were worn by the international visitors who were touring. (Could tell they were visiting by the badges they and I were wearing.) Everyone else was in jeans (some higher end than others), techie tshirts or long sleeved striped shirts. Not a polo or blazer to be found. Ditto for the women. A lot of engineers in this area ride bikes to work or from one building on campus to another. Khakis would be oil-stained in minutes. There was a wide variety of facial hair, and a decent representation of ponytails. Even saw a few folks leaving work in bike riding attire (including those fashion-savvy compression shorts!). </p>
<p>Exception to the no-tie rule: Today was bow-tie Tuesday. S wore one. Probably with his kilt. 
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<p>Will add my voice to those who hide their bodies under baggy clothing, regardless of weight. When you are 14 and live on an Army base filled with 19-20 yo basic trainees, catcalling or worse is an inherent part of the experience.</p>
<p>I am surprised by the fact that you, OF, feel the need to dress down for others’ comfort. Where I work we’re allowed to wear jeans on Friday (well, technically students are allowed to wear jeans all week but the rules are complicated so I wear business casual to avoid any issues), and everyone does except one of my supervisors. He likes to wear suits every day. Far more dressed up than any of us on any given day but it’s even more noticeable on Fridays. But I can honestly say that none of us have any kind of discomfort around him. And, since he’s blind, I very much doubt our jeans bug him ;)</p>
<p>Counting, I wonder if that’s why my mom still “dresses down” and hides her figure even into her 50s. She’s always been an extremely attractive woman and still turns heads. Never been one for make up or sexy clothes. I wonder if it’s because she grew up on military bases. Hmm…</p>
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<p>I think that’s a matter of individual preference. For the latter, especially for those who work for companies with strict dress codes, dressing down is a good way to psychologically separate yourself from the work world so you can better enjoy your free evenings and weekends. </p>
<p>That’s certainly one reason why I and most friends avoid wearing a formal suit/tie or even business casual clothes in evenings/weekends.</p>
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<p>Politicians do not really want to exclude anyone other than those whom they are sure will not vote for them. Indeed, showing political supporters from all walks of life (as may be hinted by all kinds of clothing choices) may look better than if everyone dressed like an investment banker who arrived in a private jet.</p>
<p>cobrat, I edited my post because the line that you quoted was not how I meant to convey my message.</p>
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<p>It has gotten more casual in tech companies in this area, although it started out more casual than most places back then. These days, the suits and ties only come out when meeting outsiders (though apparently the Google execs don’t bother even when being photographed during interviews with business magazines). Non-customer-contact technical employees dress however they like, including such casualness as jeans, shorts, sandals, T-shirts, etc. on any day of the week.</p>
<p>“Casual friday” never seemed to make sense – if casual dress on friday is ok, why not every day? And if dressier clothes are somehow necessary the other days, why not on friday? (allowing for specific circumstances like whether one is meeting outsiders, etc.)</p>
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<p>I’d also add that for politicians who not only dress like i-bankers/corporate executives, but also perceived to embody the somewhat popular stereotype of their being stiff highly out of touch elitists who take themselves too seriously, it may be to their advantage to overcome it by dressing down. </p>
<p>Would be really interesting if one prominent politician with that very image decides to forgo such formalwear for something more casual…like PJs & sweatpants. :D</p>
<p>So many comments, so many NOT related to college campus wear. </p>
<p>NO scrubs outside the hospital setting for those of us who worked in them as physicians in the OR. Surgeons change to street clothes for their offices. Anesthesiologists may put a white coat over still clean looking scrubs for rounds instead of bothering with dressy clothes at the end of the day. Cardiologists in and out of the cath lab may keep on scrubs, but only because it is a hassle to keep changing back and forth. In my book scrubs are for potentially messy places or to keep outside of the area dirt out- I sure hope anyone dropping out of the hospital in scrubs changes to new ones when they return. Etc., sidetracked here.</p>
<p>I have learned about so many brand names here on CC that I never would have otherwise. Seems to be mainly an East coast thing to care what brand your clothes and shoes are- status? Who cares, or can identify most of them unless the name is written somewhere (one reason I dislike Coach, I prefer no writing on my purse). For me Rolex watches go unnoticed and I would miss them as an expensive watch- many are ugly as well. We spend our money, and taught our son to, on what something is worth, not just what we can afford. Most expensive brands are just not worth the price. Most clothes won’t be worn for many years- why waste money on them? The fine details are not worth any attention. Many more important things to think about and spend money on (books…).</p>
<p>“Stylish” does not equate with good looking. Too many fashions are not appealing to my eyes. Some of us just don’t care what any majority thinks. Your problem if you do.</p>
<p>Wearing sweats every day on campus does not mean any interviewers will know about them- students dress differently for different situations. Once again- who cares what a kid wears to sit in a lecture, lab or discussion if they aren’t also there. Professors and other teachers aren’t there to judge a fashion show- they should be looking at faces, not noticing the legs under the desk. College is not out in public.</p>
<p>As always, the outsider.</p>
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<p>You mean kind of like this?
[President</a> Bush Jogs with Wounded Soldiers, Discusses Care For Returning Wounded Warriors](<a href=“http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/07/images/20070725-4_p072507cg-0163-515h.html]President”>President Bush Jogs with Wounded Soldiers, Discusses Care For Returning Wounded Warriors)</p>
<p>wis, actually I think you’re in the majority on this thread :). Or at least if not in the majority, you are definitely not an outsider.</p>
<p>btw- just moved from one swing state to another recently. Now in Florida and loving the casual daily wear of all ages. Climate dictates clothing choices (although some of those obese, bronze 80 year olds are an eyesore on the beach while trying to get even more skin cancer chances). Also note the visiting politicians seen in the news are wearing their polo shirts, or no tie with rolled up sleeves dress shirts, to appeal to voters.</p>
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<p>Actually, was thinking of a politician who’s still on the political scene and is popularly stereotyped as a stiff out of touch formally dressed elitist. </p>
<p>Incidentally, W was one of the furthest politicians from who I was thinking about…</p>
<p>“wis, actually I think you’re in the majority on this thread”</p>
<p>^ I would agree. And with a few exceptions, it seems those who say how you look is irrelevant, feel more strongly about how irrelevant it is, than those who feel people notice. Am I getting that wrong?</p>
<p>Wis; we are both physicians Do you think we are perceived the same? Do you think it has nothing to do with appearance?</p>
<p>I assume at most schools athletes have early morning practice, class, lunch, practice, dinner, then study hall. Although some might change into nicer clothes after practice, I bet a good majority just pack sweat pants and a t-shirt into their duffle or backpack and wear athletic type clothes all day. This is what I have observed at universities in our area. I think this sets the tone for other students, especially boys, to dress in the same manner. Maybe it is different at more selective/expensive schools. </p>
<p>Another reason students might wear sweats: the dreaded freshman 15. As kids start to gain weight, sweats still fit. Of course, this is a good reason (as someone mentioned earlier) to wear more tailored clothes and be aware of the added pounds.</p>