I haven't had to wear a tie to work in >10 years.

[madbaker]

Willie Brown, when he was Da Mayor of San Francisco, upped the municipal dress code from the prevailing "business casual" to "business". (Easy for him - he didn't ever pay for his suits and custom fedoras.) What's your opinion?

Edited to add: "Business" is suit and tie. "Business casual" is typically no tie and khakis.

[Poll #1367109]

Comments

[fionnbharro.livejournal.com]

Ties are a good thing. I prefer wearing one -- even when working as an engineer doing manufacturing floor-support.

Especially if the tie is extra-wide, and I've got a white short-sleeve shirt to go with it.

And my held-together-with-tape pocket-protector.

[fionnbharro.livejournal.com]

And it's times like those when I make sure the tie is polyester, and use a *very* loose full-Windsor.

[fionnbharro.livejournal.com]

And plaid.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

I have my doubts that anyone not in high finance in California understands what the difference is between "business" and "business casual."

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

Hm, that's probably true on the East Coast anyway. Explanation added.

[roswtr.livejournal.com]

We had an unwritten rule when I worked for law firms - you dress to match your client. If your clients are inclined to business or even business formal, then you want to look at least as professional as they. Since coming to the corporate side, it's not uncommon for me to get a call from our law firms (especially when we're throwing open a case for bids -- the "beauty contest") asking how they should dress.

[ldyanna.livejournal.com]

Before I can answer -- A higher standard than whom?

Although I guess I don't have much sympathy for ya. We have to dress in business all the time, even when the State employees are in shorts and flip-flops. Friday is the only day we get to do business casual.

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

Than equivalent corporate, I was thinking.
We don't get to dress down on Friday, though. If I'm feeling daring I can wear a blazer instead of a suit jacket.

[joycebre.livejournal.com]

heh. I work in software, in Silicon Valley. I don't ever see customers. So we pretty much wear whatever is comfortable, allows you to sit in front of a computer all day, and isn't pajamas. This can be khakis, jeans, shorts... For those who are management track, a slightly higher standard is followed (sort of business casual)
I don't even wear suits when interviewing anymore, and most of the people I interview don't either.

[fionnbharro.livejournal.com]

My mind reels and my gefloygen boggles at that last statement of yours.

[joycebre.livejournal.com]

my work here is done. :-)

[mad-duchess.livejournal.com]

I also work in Silicon Valley tech--I don't even own a suit and haven't for over 20 years. My last interview I got really *fancy* and wore a metallic green blazer and black jeans. I kid you not. And I got the job. :-)

[fionnbharro.livejournal.com]

Are you accepting resumes?

Seriously -- are you?

[mad-duchess.livejournal.com]

Currently we are looking for Software Engineers. The company is Ericsson, so Telcom experience is a big plus. I'd wear a suit to this interview though--when I got hired it was into a smaller company that later got bought up by Ericsson. Once you get hired on, however, jeans are the standard dress code in the lab. :-)

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Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or Computer Science & Technology and 5 years of experience in the IT or telecommunications industry. Two (2) years out of the 5 years of experience must involve working with: (1) programming in Java; (2) client-server distributed computing using CORBA; (3) GUI development using Java & Swing; (4) Element Management Systems. In lieu of a Bachelor's degree and 5 years of experience, Entrisphere will accept a Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or Computer Science & Technology and 2 years of experience in the IT or telecommunications industry to involve working with: (1) programming in Java; (2) client-server distributed computing using CORBA; (3) GUI development using Java & Swing; and (4) Element Management Systems.

[freewaydiva.livejournal.com]

Ditto that, except swap out The Empire in Redmond for Silicon Valley. I think the dress code here is "don't show up naked."

[garlicknitter.livejournal.com]

It took me an extra minute or so to read your comment because I had to keep looking over to see what your icon said next. Love it!

[naadhira.livejournal.com]

I need to steal that icon. So many of my pet peeves summarized in one place - delightful!

(sigh) I mourn for what the Internet has done to language, grammar, and spelling...

[aastg.livejournal.com]

I'm a terrible person to ask these questions of. So I'm going to qualify my answers - *white collar* municipal employees should wear business dress. Those who deal with the public especially. I could go either way on the back office question, but really, if let people look like slobs, they frequently do.

I was converted to business dress so long ago that I can't even wear dress pants to work - I need to be in skirt and stockings or I feel like a slacker. However, if I feel extra-rebellious I don't wear makeup.

[roswtr.livejournal.com]

Ooh, scandalous!

[naadhira.livejournal.com]

I'm another techie who hasn't owned a suit since I sought out my first job 20 years ago. My first job, in public relations, was full business attire. My second job, tech support, was "come clothed." Since then I've settled into business casual, wearing the female equivalent of khakis and button-downs most of the time.

I just started a new job. My interview attire was slightly dressier than I usually go, but not much. My boss (the CEO) was wearing jeans and a polo shirt. He's wearing much the same today. However, I'd bet large amounts of money that he puts on a suit to deal with our big ISP and Telecom customers.

The last start-up I worked for had a written dress code that stated that "obtrusive piercings might not be appropriate when meeting with customers."

[farmount.livejournal.com]

Hmph. My work has stated dress code rules.

Doctors are to wear the Banfield white coats. Button-up shirts of a solid color or conservative pattern are to be worn. No ties for men anymore since they found that ties actually spread infections because of the rareness that they get cleaned. (Imagine dog slobber on a tie. Now imagine the vet seeing another puppy, etc.) Pants are to be of a conservative color and cut. Shoes should be dark, closed-toe, flats. No more than 2 piercings per ear for females, no more than 3 total piercings between both ears for males. No other visible piercings. No tattoos or other body modifications should be visible.

Mildly annoying, but doable.