Professional attire (10 Viewers)

OffenhamSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
Some of you have probably seen the stuff in the media about the MP Tracy Brabin and her decision to wear a very "off-the-shoulder" top in Parliament the other day. Twitter has gone into meltdown about it, on both sides of the argument: those saying she looks like a tart, slapper, etc, and those who are defending her right to choose what she wants to wear, female subjugation, and so on.
My view is that what a person wears in the workplace should be based on the expected standards, so if you are in a professional environment, you should dress in a manner that projects a professional appearance, rather than looking like you are going to the beach, nightclub, farmyard, etc. It isn't a case of sexism or misogyny - it should be the same for both sexes.
Bercow only let men off wearing a tie last year, and the expectation is still that they still wear a suit. But all MPs should be "smart casual" at least.
Where I work, we are expected to wear "professional attire", and the men mostly wear a suit, or shirt and trousers (no T-shirts, jeans, trainers, etc). But the stuff some of the women wear (particularly during the summer) is FAR from professional, and often pretty scruffy by comparison to the blokes.
I disagree with the organisations that have been reported as requiring women to wear heels rather than flats, skirts rather than trousers, or to make sure they "look nice for their male customers", but women want equality, so should be expected to behave equally with regard to standards of clothing.
Discuss!
 

Mcbean

Well-Known Member
Made me smile a bit as she had clearly been out for a night on the tiles - I used to wear a tie every day every day even with my overalls on , my Irish father in law wore a tie and jacket everyday of his life . The company I worked for changed it demands and while making it more comfortable I think standards slipped and people didn’t see the same level of attention - I unlike others never gave anyone a bollocking for wearing Jeans as sometimes they were more practical
 

mrtrench

Well-Known Member
I absolutely support anyone's right to wear what they wish and personally I think anyone angry about Tracy's choice is a nob. However, wearing an off-the-shoulder dress is a bit odd for an office environment and subsequently probably also for the HoC.
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
I think the premise that "I wear a shirt and trousers therefore I'm professional" is a load of bollocks. I find that the smartest dressed people are often quite superficial and the dress is just a front.
I do think that women though, particularly in summer / warm conditions are given far more leeway then men to wear something comfortable. I think that balance should be redressed.
 

Adge

Well-Known Member
Not sure it’s that important as long as you are competent and the best person for the job. Obviously as a tradesman that would be slightly different as hard hats/PPE come into play for the safety aspects regarding their jobs.
Think on this occasion it’s more a case of the old “knights of the round table” needing to keep the “women in check” which is a very dinosaur attitude in this day and age.
 

Nick

Administrator
I wear Jeans, T Shirt and a Hoody every day.

I couldn't be doing with a shirt, trousers and tie. Fuck that.
 

Nick

Administrator
I used to work with a lad who wore a shirt and trousers every day (even though nobody else did).

He was fucking god awful at his job, regularly late and pulled sickies.

I can understand that with some jobs there is a correlation to what should be worn but not all the time.
 

skybluegnome

Well-Known Member
I am from the generation where females wore suits/smart blouse and skirt and men wore suits and ties every day to work. It then went to dress down Friday and now things have changed completely and it’s smart casual every day. The problem is smart casual means different things to different people. In the company I worked in the men in most cases seemed to pretty much get it right, with the exception of a few. It was mainly the females who seemed to struggle with it. I have seen strapless dresses/tops, string vests with shorts. Some looking as if they had come straight from a clubbing session. Then there is the dreaded leggings with baggy t-shirts. In my opinion we have turned into a very scruffy nation, I guess it’s a generation thing. For me I was more disgusted at the reaction to Tracy Rabin’s attire (which I didn’t agree with) I won’t repeat the language used against her., as you have all seen it. But when Dominic Cummings turns up at No 10 with his backside hanging out of his trousers very little is said. In fact some seemed to think it was amusing.
 

olderskyblue

Well-Known Member
I wear Jeans, T Shirt and a Hoody every day.

I couldn't be doing with a shirt, trousers and tie. Fuck that.
shame, I have a job going I was considering you for, £60k, company car and all the perks, but....suit and tie is obligatory.
Oh well, I’ll find someone else...
 

Nick

Administrator
shame, I have a job going I was considering you for, £60k, company car and all the perks, but....suit and tie is obligatory.
Oh well, I’ll find someone else...

To be honest, that would play a massive part in if I took a job. Mainly due to comfort (especially in summer).

If my boss offered me a 5k payrise to wear a suit I wouldn't want it.
 

SBAndy

Well-Known Member
The company I work for introduced a ‘Dress for your Day’ policy last year, effectively meaning if you’re just around the office then wear what you want (mostly t shirt and jeans for me) but if you’re in meetings then dress appropriately. Probably worn a full suit 4 or 5 times this year but enjoy the flexibility, especially as I go to the gym before work and anyone who’s ever tried to wear a suit immediately after training will know it’s horrendously uncomfortable.
 

OffenhamSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
It'd be interesting to know if anyone "had a word" if i chose to use more casual dress at work. I think they'd have a hard job on their hands given what the women wear.
I think the Tracy Brabin thing calls into question her judgement and thought process in choosing to wear what she did - but no more so than a bloke wearing a Hawaiian shirt in the Commons.
 

OffenhamSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
The company I work for introduced a ‘Dress for your Day’ policy last year, effectively meaning if you’re just around the office then wear what you want (mostly t shirt and jeans for me) but if you’re in meetings then dress appropriately. Probably worn a full suit 4 or 5 times this year but enjoy the flexibility, especially as I go to the gym before work and anyone who’s ever tried to wear a suit immediately after training will know it’s horrendously uncomfortable.
I like that approach - sounds like a good company to work for.
If i know i have a high-level committee meeting to attend, i will dress smarter that day than if i am just office-bound, or if i'm going to be climbing around in plant rooms/labs. Or working from home!
 

David O'Day

Well-Known Member
It'd be interesting to know if anyone "had a word" if i chose to use more casual dress at work. I think they'd have a hard job on their hands given what the women wear.
I think the Tracy Brabin thing calls into question her judgement and thought process in choosing to wear what she did - but no more so than a bloke wearing a Hawaiian shirt in the Commons.

John Leech the Lib Dem was written about turning but in trackies and a man city top and no one gave a rasts about that so there is a big degree of sexism in the people who choose to slaughter her for wearing quite a nice dress and not the male mp who turned up in tarckies
 

OffenhamSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
John Leech the Lib Dem was written about turning but in trackies and a man city top and no one gave a rasts about that so there is a big degree of sexism in the people who choose to slaughter her for wearing quite a nice dress and not the male mp who turned up in tarckies
I hadn't seen that ...
 

olderskyblue

Well-Known Member
To be honest, that would play a massive part in if I took a job. Mainly due to comfort (especially in summer).

If my boss offered me a 5k payrise to wear a suit I wouldn't want it.

It depends on the job really. Some dictate wearing business attire if meeting with clients etc, others don’t.

The job I had in mind was running all the social media & PR stuff for CCFC when I buy them, so you’d be ok in casual, except when you had to meet with Nick Eastwood, then a wasps shirt is compulsory..... ;-)
 

olderskyblue

Well-Known Member

wingy

Well-Known Member
I think the premise that "I wear a shirt and trousers therefore I'm professional" is a load of bollocks. I find that the smartest dressed people are often quite superficial and the dress is just a front.
I do think that women though, particularly in summer / warm conditions are given far more leeway then men to wear something comfortable. I think that balance should be redressed.
Redressed!?
Like that.
 

Liquid Gold

Well-Known Member
We wear whatever we want in the office. If staff can't produce because of what they're wearing then either managers aren't doing their jobs or you've hired a load of idiots.
 

Sky Blue Pete

Well-Known Member
Always wear shirt and tie somehow don’t feel as professional when I don’t work dress. Maybe I’m the one that worked with nick
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
I wear a shirt with chinos. I never wear a tie. Used to wear a suit if going to visit customers in London but sacked it off generally as it's not comfortable and most customers are relatively casual anyway.

Sometimes wear jeans, trainers and t-shirt working on site at a customers, their dress policy is far more relaxed.
 

Liquid Gold

Well-Known Member
The only acceptable attire in any situation

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LastGarrison

Well-Known Member
Suit, shirt and shoes (always tan) for day to day office wear although we do have dress down Fridays (which is a weird concept in itself).

When I’m out at exhibitions etc. generally jeans, shirt and blazer.
 

Nick

Administrator
Suit, shirt and shoes (always tan) for day to day office wear although we do have dress down Fridays (which is a weird concept in itself).

When I’m out at exhibitions etc. generally jeans, shirt and blazer.
Are they tan rockports?
 

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