Business Dress Code: Dressing down in summer

crackersa said:
never really understood why people think they need to dress up to the 9's to do their job.
Click to expand...

Exactly the reasoning behind this thread.

Of course certain circumstances demand a specific dress code such as the corporate environment.

Geography also plays a role - I do think If one is in Jozi/Gauteng, one does tend to dress more sharply than let's say Bfn or Dbn or Cape Town.

I think the main consideration is weather.

No one would be expected to wear a suit or even just a tie in a place where the humidity in summer is 78-85% and temp is around 30deg.

Especially more so when it is the silly season (Dec holidays).

Maybe it's just me, but I do think that one does not have to look or dress a specific way to do one's job.
 
Well you can't wear open shoes, that's way off the table in any business setting, so you're stuck with wearing closed shoes and shorts and looking like a twat...
 
ShareMosselBay said:
Exactly the reasoning behind this thread.

Of course certain circumstances demand a specific dress code such as the corporate environment.

Geography also plays a role - I do think If one is in Jozi/Gauteng, one does tend to dress more sharply than let's say Bfn or Dbn or Cape Town.

I think the main consideration is weather.

No one would be expected to wear a suit or even just a tie in a place where the humidity in summer is 78-85% and temp is around 30deg.

Especially more so when it is the silly season (Dec holidays).

Maybe it's just me, but I do think that one does not have to look or dress a specific way to do one's job.
Click to expand...

over the years companies have been relaxing their dress codes as they realize that dressed up=/= skill level.
 
crackersa said:
never really understood why people think they need to dress up to the 9's to do their job.
Click to expand...
Outside of a few special categories (such as military, or visible public policing, or where hygiene requires it), I don't think anyone has ever believed that dressing up is needed to do your job, or to do it better. That's a straw man.

But it is one of the ways of demonstrating respect for the person you are dealing with. Not the only way, or even the most important way, but simply a way.

Without using words or making a song and dance of it, it can be a way to communicate that you regard this relationship as important and worth taking trouble for. We do exactly the same for special occasions. Of course wearing PT shorts and flipflops to an anniversary dinner with your wife doesn't prove anything about your love or regard for her, and dressing up more than you ordinarily do doesn't make you love her any more or less. But it can demonstrate in a non-verbal way that you regard this occasion or this relationship as special and valuable, as something out of the ordinary and therefore also to be marked by taking extra trouble in how you prepare, present and clothe yourself.

When you're planning to persuade someone to part with a large sum of money - such as selling them a property - dressing up can send a message that you feel pleased and privileged to have the opportunity to engage them on an important issue.

Of course it certainly can't prove that. And it cannot replace real and genuine professional respect and good manners. Neither is it an infallible sign of respect. And of course no-one thinks for a seconds that it can make you a better salesperson. Or lawyer, or doctor, or president. Or whatever.

Personally, I'd not be entirely comfortable if I only ever saw my personal brain surgeon in shorts and slops. I know he's no less competent because of his dress. But I might begin to wonder whether he approaches his work of digging in my brain with the right degree of gravity and seriousness.

You get the point.

That is all.
 
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