Why do men have to wear suits to work?
- Thread starter MGRJob
- Start date
Completely depends on the company and nature of the business. Oh, and the line manager.
While contracting I've had to wear full suited and booted, jeans and t and everything in between. You have to fit the business image whether implied or stated, it's just one of those things which fairness has nothing to do with. My normal appraoch is to wear what I want / think suitable on the first day and if it's wrong someone will soon point it out!
While contracting I've had to wear full suited and booted, jeans and t and everything in between. You have to fit the business image whether implied or stated, it's just one of those things which fairness has nothing to do with. My normal appraoch is to wear what I want / think suitable on the first day and if it's wrong someone will soon point it out!
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If you turned up with either of the set ups shown. I would sack you on the spot for looking like a metrosexual gimp.
There is only one rule. Wear what your customers expect/want you to wear. Be different if you must but expect people to react to your clothes. wearing normal clothes, whatever they are, stops clothes being an issue one way of another.
There is only one rule. Wear what your customers expect/want you to wear. Be different if you must but expect people to react to your clothes. wearing normal clothes, whatever they are, stops clothes being an issue one way of another.
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I never realised you were such fashion gurus here 
Just remember to have a shave in the morning there are too many scruffy mongrels around these days and its not good
Just remember to have a shave in the morning there are too many scruffy mongrels around these days and its not good
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pen2670
Women have had it much tougher for decades. Until relatively recently even the office junior had to follow a strict dress code of skirt, tights, heeled court shoes and blouse in most offices. Try rushing around town in those in winter. Even nowadays most women's heeled shoes don't seem to have good grips.
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- Original Poster
- #12
I didn't know women had to wear all that. Particularly, heels can be uncomfortable and unhealthy I bet.
I never got the formal dress code thing. Especially in places where the employee doesn't meet any clients. If I was the employer I would think that the workers comfort and morale would increase productivity. It's probably an ego thing, putting on a suit to make things look smart. Looks like monkeys wearing clothes to me.
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Esk247
It's the opposite actually
Allow office staff to wear jeans, hoodies and shirts and drink from cans all day and you tend to get a relatively slack team...unless they're creatives of course.
Management staff should always be suited with correct footwear. It sets the correct impression for other staff, the suits are generally made of stiffer material so they force you to sit and walk properly without slouching.
Make staff too comfortable and they can get lazy, very very lazy, why bother going over to the printer when its so comfy over here? Why bother going to the Directors office when its all the way across the other side of the building..nah...we're fine here..the Directors can come over later and leave their plushy offices.
Trust me...been there
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It's the opposite actually
.....
Trust me...been there
Interesting isn't it?
Originally I was an avid supporter of a re-think when it came to clothing in our office - almost invariably we know when we might be seeing a client so why not 'dress-down' as a standard & then make the effort only when required.
However, I then had a re-think myself & decided I was actually quite keen on putting a little effort in to "putting on my armour" for the working day - it separates home from work to start with!
Never experienced a full time casual dress code (we've always had 'dress-down Fridays but that's it) but actually what Esk247 has said echoes what I imagine the end result would be
[Obviously - we're an office environment with a proportionality low quantity of 'customer facing' interaction]
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My view is when you put on the uniform you adopt the attitude. When working as an engineer when I put the boiler suit on I was in work mode. Same now I'm office based when the suit goes on so does the attitude. Strangely enough I've only worked one dress down Friday and I felt quite uncomfortable going to work in jeans, maybe next time I'll still go suited booted but leave the tie off.
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Its true, women do have much more of a variety when it comes to smart clothing. Although a suit represents your buisness and company, if your dealing with customers or clients you have to look the part.
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I never realised you were such fashion gurus here
Just remember to have a shave in the morning there are too many scruffy mongrels around these days and its not good
Doesn't always impress the Judge though, eh Bob ?
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M
mungry
No suit here, don't even own one - and no plans to. But that's the pleasure of working for yourself. Coupled with the fact I work outside all year and don't have to comply with the required attire.
And when I'm unfortunate enough to have to go into an office the sight of the office wallahs in their smart clothes and monotonous work makes me feel even better in my scruffs.
And when I'm unfortunate enough to have to go into an office the sight of the office wallahs in their smart clothes and monotonous work makes me feel even better in my scruffs.
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I haven't worn a tie for years (funerals excepted) and I only ever had one comment about it - from a client not wearing a tie! These days it's the norm
I don't wear a suit either. At one time I used to wear one when I went to see prospective new clients, but stopped for two reasons. The main one being that it was fundamentally dishonest - after all, the client would probably never see me wearing one again. Second, the prospective client should be making a decision based on what we can offer, not what I wear. If they really think that only somebody wearing a suit can do the job, that's fine - it just won't be me. Hardly any prospective clients wear a suit for day to day work, from one man bands to companies turning over several million.
I don't need to put on a suit to "get into work mode" - simply going into the office is enough.
I don't wear a suit either. At one time I used to wear one when I went to see prospective new clients, but stopped for two reasons. The main one being that it was fundamentally dishonest - after all, the client would probably never see me wearing one again. Second, the prospective client should be making a decision based on what we can offer, not what I wear. If they really think that only somebody wearing a suit can do the job, that's fine - it just won't be me. Hardly any prospective clients wear a suit for day to day work, from one man bands to companies turning over several million.
I don't need to put on a suit to "get into work mode" - simply going into the office is enough.
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D
degadar
Some of my staff choose to come to work in a suit, others don't. I love the diversity we have - from Muslim girls in full black, to the gay telesales guy in fluffy pink and a riot of tattoos, piercings, woolly hats, skimpy dresses and arses hanging out of jeans.
The idea of working in an environment with a cloned bunch of grey suits makes me feel very sad.
The idea of working in an environment with a cloned bunch of grey suits makes me feel very sad.
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I think it depends the impression you want your client to have, and in which sector you are working. Would you be a customer of a bank where everybody is wearing a t-shirt ?
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That's why I like owning the company
At least I have some choice in the matter! Some days it is suits, somedays it is jeans, and some days it shorts while sitting around in my home office...
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A
anon154650
I have worked in companies full of software programmers, most of whom looked like they fell out of a hedge/the 1970s and stumbled in to the building. To judge them on their appearance alone would have been to ignore some really nice and immensely clever people. As an IT guy, it tends to be jeans and steel toe-capped boots/trainers. Jeans are harder wearing when you are forced to crawl around on your knees under desks; and sensible footware is required when lugging computers, printers, servers, UPSs, etc. Society, and businesses, should really stop judging people on their looks.
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I once worked in a 'creative' sector in London where everyone was in jeans and t's.
If I put on a (black linen) suit I could get up to 50% more than my normal day rate. Look expensive and get expensive.
Branson gets away with scruffy tat. The rest of us mere mortals will pay for it.
And remember, importantly, dressing up is showing courtesy to the client, which is why they will treat you better.
If I put on a (black linen) suit I could get up to 50% more than my normal day rate. Look expensive and get expensive.
Branson gets away with scruffy tat. The rest of us mere mortals will pay for it.
And remember, importantly, dressing up is showing courtesy to the client, which is why they will treat you better.
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Why not? I don't happen to think that what you wear affects what you do. I'd judge the bank by the service that they provide.
If you call a customer service line, do you want them to send you a photograph so you can decide if they are helping your or not? So why would it be different for any other kind of service?
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I
iArtist
Men's clothes are restrictive in every regard in and out the office compared to women. This is why some men like cross dressing. The fabrics we have are softer, have more detailing, more colour, they are more fitted and so on. Also playing with make up is fun, and back in the days of old, men wore long frocks and wore wigs and makeup just like the ladies. It's crap that men get a bum deal in this day and age but it's not changing any time soon despite the more liberal attitudes. .. sadly.
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- Original Poster
- #30
I think you can't really generalize how other people function psychologically. You might need a suit or formal wear to get into the mode, whereas to someone else it makes no difference. Some people may work better in their attire that they would normally wear in their lives and prefer to work in.
And definitely, I don't care it if you call it smart, in reality, the clothes doesn't make the man, whatever you believe in, it ain't so. Having casual clothes and a bit of colors in the office doesn't hurt anyone. Personally I also find the gray, black suits quite depressing. You don't look going forward to a dull environment now do you.
Personally, having gone to school for years and being required to wear school clothes, it's not very nice to feel like your back in high school with similar requirements. I can understand that an employer may want an employee to look presentable to a client, but if they are not seeing any clients, than whats the point. People aren't ornaments you know to decor your office to your liking. And requiring them to dress a certain way is only a step away from acting like an office pimp, with you trying to maximize money coming in by attracting clients to your "office image".
As long as your clothes are decent looking, clean and not sporty, whats the problem.
Perhaps you are a control freak? Well maybe not you. But they exists, and a lot! Hence the occupation as a boss.
And definitely, I don't care it if you call it smart, in reality, the clothes doesn't make the man, whatever you believe in, it ain't so. Having casual clothes and a bit of colors in the office doesn't hurt anyone. Personally I also find the gray, black suits quite depressing. You don't look going forward to a dull environment now do you.
Personally, having gone to school for years and being required to wear school clothes, it's not very nice to feel like your back in high school with similar requirements. I can understand that an employer may want an employee to look presentable to a client, but if they are not seeing any clients, than whats the point. People aren't ornaments you know to decor your office to your liking. And requiring them to dress a certain way is only a step away from acting like an office pimp, with you trying to maximize money coming in by attracting clients to your "office image".
As long as your clothes are decent looking, clean and not sporty, whats the problem.
Perhaps you are a control freak? Well maybe not you. But they exists, and a lot! Hence the occupation as a boss.
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Interesting concept to put forward on a business forum.
Bosses are control freaks.
Why not just say 'Bosses are psychopaths, or even go the extra step and assert that 'Bosses who wear suits are showing they are psychopathic control freaks'?
And whilst presentation is important, an important factor in suit wearing is that suits become an effective uniform leaving people to stop thinking about what to wear and get on with business. (The same applied to that school uniform you had to wear.)
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Hello Ian I called your office but got no call back !
My door is always open you know where I am !
Stop hiding behind that keyboard you always have something to say about me but never come to talk to me .
Why do you avoid me . Why have you not come to see me ?
Im happy for this feud to go on for ever it will wear you down long before it gets me I promise, but my door is open .Im worried about you. You need to talk to me ,
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