A good dressing down
“What is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it. ”
I’m not a conservative dresser. I like bright colours, tutus, clashing patterns, too-high shoes, hats and wigs and I’m not afraid to wear what I like, when I like (“It’s not fancy dress you know” is a regular comment on a night out). I do however understand the need to tone it down for work i.e. I am not going to rock up to the office wearing a huge Rococo wig, fuchsia tutu and green platform trainers. But what is ‘professional business attire’ these days? And how much does it matter? Having been out of the office for a while I am having to think about it again.
There is a proper minefield of dress ‘codes’ to pick through these days – ‘dress for your day’, ‘dress down Fridays’, ‘you can wear jeans to work but only if you wear them with a company polo shirt’. And what about ‘smart casual’? I find that a particularly difficult concept. I can do smart and anyone can do casual. But surely ‘smart casual’ is a juxtaposition?
And what is it all for? My view has always been – as long as you are doing your job as you should be, and you’re not offending anyone, who cares what colour your tights are? And what colour you dye your hair. And whether you are wearing a nose ring…
I have previously been advised not to wear coloured tights to the Head Office as it creates the wrong impression, and “you wouldn’t want that to damage your future career”. What? How would purple tights damage my career? And very recently I had an interview where I was asked if I had jewellery in my nose and whether I was normally allowed to wear it to work. I have to say I was pretty surprised that (a) it should matter and (b) that the interviewer felt she could comment on what I was wearing.
I want to add that I feel the same way about how men are treated. Yes, it is probably documented more for women but I know men are judged too. I love this story about a guy who was sent home for wearing shorts and went back to work in a dress. Good on you I say.
Maybe I have been sheltered from the business world for too long and these things are still a big deal? And I know the subject reaches far beyond the world of work, definitely too many controversial topics to discuss in this little blog, but one story in the Manchester Evening News stood out for me recently. A young girl who was being bullied in school dyed her hair blue as it made her feel more confident and she was immediately expelled for breaking school rules.
I am not advocating rule breaking but what a stupid flipping rule! Surely giving kids the freedom to express themselves is more important than trying to make everyone look the same?
“It’s ridiculous – she’s dyed her hair not her brain.”
It’s like the school uniform debate. I am not against uniforms, and actually they are probably pretty good for parents wanting to save money and washing, but I think there should be a choice. And they need to be affordable. I read an article recently about a high school where every item had to have the school logo - costing a family over £300 to kit out their child!
I hear the debate about people being more likely to act professionally if they are dressed in what is deemed to be ‘professional attire’ (and likewise with kids and school uniform) but I have to say I don’t fully agree with it. And surely it should be taken on a case by case basis? I know that I am more likely to do my best work, and have the confidence to deliver a board presentation or have a challenging conversation, if I am comfortable in what I am wearing.
The debate will rage on I am sure but this response from the father of a girl in Birmingham kicked out of class for dyeing her hair red totally sums up how I feel on the subject –
“It’s ridiculous – she’s dyed her hair, not her brain.” Exactly.