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Are you forced to dress conservatively because of your occupation?
- Thread starter merkur
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Cary Grant
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By "pressure" do you mean?
- official corporate dress-code
- real peer pressure
- perceived peer pressure (meaning you THINK peers might not approve even though you have no proof)
Kas
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I'm a student, almost everyone around me is dressed like they were just mowing the lawn and went to school in a hurry. My dress is entirely my own choice, but that does put me in the "that guy" bracket. While I am just wearing fairly conservative business dress, I am sure that more extravagant items like bowties and (gasp!) pocket-squares in a conservative environment will be looked upon in the same manner as my ordinary silk ties in school. On the other hand, I'm fairly sure that I can now pull off suspenders and fedoras as well now, since I'm already known as "that guy" - so taking it a step further surely won't damage my image any more.
If you look at those items with envy, then why not try just one of them? Then later on, try an additional item, and so on.
If you look at those items with envy, then why not try just one of them? Then later on, try an additional item, and so on.
Metlin
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Depends on the client.
With some clients, the only statement that I can make is with my tie and cuff links. With other clients, I wear my briskly colored shirts to stand out.
At the current client that I'm at (in the southwest), it's quite casual, so we mostly show up in slacks or dress jeans and a dress shirt. This gives me more flexibility to wear interesting clothes; however, it also means that I cannot use the portions of my wardrobe that I am most proud of (i.e. formal wear).
With some clients, the only statement that I can make is with my tie and cuff links. With other clients, I wear my briskly colored shirts to stand out.
At the current client that I'm at (in the southwest), it's quite casual, so we mostly show up in slacks or dress jeans and a dress shirt. This gives me more flexibility to wear interesting clothes; however, it also means that I cannot use the portions of my wardrobe that I am most proud of (i.e. formal wear).
texas_jack
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So long as it involves a jacket and tie I can wear pretty much whatever I want. Today I'm wearing a vintage bespoke Alexandre suit with skinny lapels, a skinny bowtie, and peble grain Florsheim longwings.
orthofrancis
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Most of the times yes. I'm a surgeon at a major university, and have a variety of patients that I treat.
When I'm seeing pts on the rich side of town, I'll wear my suit, links, PS, and a tie.
When I'm seeing poor pts on the other side of town, I wear a suit/jacket without a tie, no links, no PS, or a white coat over a shirt and tie.
People need to identify with you, and be comfortable with you.
The rest of the week I spend in scrubs, paper gowns, lead apron and rubber clogs(Calzurros, not Crocs), with my suit in my office. No, I have not tailored my scrubs like that train wreck of a surgeon from Dr. 90210
When I'm seeing pts on the rich side of town, I'll wear my suit, links, PS, and a tie.
When I'm seeing poor pts on the other side of town, I wear a suit/jacket without a tie, no links, no PS, or a white coat over a shirt and tie.
People need to identify with you, and be comfortable with you.
The rest of the week I spend in scrubs, paper gowns, lead apron and rubber clogs(Calzurros, not Crocs), with my suit in my office. No, I have not tailored my scrubs like that train wreck of a surgeon from Dr. 90210
globetrotter
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I am the international sales director of a midwestern corporation. what drove me to dress well was, early on (maybe 20 years ago) career options. now, I actually have the ability to dress pretty much as I want. the limitation is not to seem to much of a dandy to my customers (even though that isn't a direction that I am interested in, anyway) . but I have more flexiblity than the guys who report to me, because being higher up on the totem pole gives me some leeway there.
whoopee
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My job (management consulting, first year out of undergrad, at a firm that, according to some, promotes conformity) allows me to indulge in most of my more unusual desires: for example, pocket squares, cream silk suits, ribbon belts, even espadrille-like shoes on Fridays in the office. I don't think I would be comfortable wearing bow ties, braces or a vest, or even a tie everyday (business casual office), but these days I wouldn't be wearing them on my own free time, either.
I do dress conservatively when meeting/working with the client.
Personality and reputation play a big role in what one can "get away with". An abrasive striver who dresses less conservatively will be viewed quite differently from a congenial fellow who dresses the same way. Attitude matters a lot in dressing. And in this case, producing good work also matters a lo
I do dress conservatively when meeting/working with the client.
Personality and reputation play a big role in what one can "get away with". An abrasive striver who dresses less conservatively will be viewed quite differently from a congenial fellow who dresses the same way. Attitude matters a lot in dressing. And in this case, producing good work also matters a lo
Holdfast
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Personality and reputation play a big role in what one can "get away with". An abrasive striver who dresses less conservatively will be viewed quite differently from a congenial fellow who dresses the same way. Attitude matters a lot in dressing. And in this case, producing good work also matters a lotOriginally Posted by whoopee
+1
Agreed totally. I wear more or less what I want to work, and work with a broad range of the public and a fairly broad range of colleageus. Don't be a wanker and you can get away with a lot in terms of dress.
Obviously, some professions are VERY conservative and you just have to knuckle down and dress soberly. But in most, the only thing stopping you is yourself, I think.
0b5cur1ty
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My experience is more of being forced to dress casually/boringly (I work as an IT consultant). When I wear a tie, I'm usually the only one... When I wear a PS, I'm *always* the only one. Hell, I'm often the only one wearing a suit.
On the plus side, I seem to get away with dressing how I like just fine.
On the plus side, I seem to get away with dressing how I like just fine.
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