Dress Code

A dress code is a set of rules, often written, with regards to clothing. Dress codes are created out of social perceptions and norms, and vary based on purpose, circumstances and occasions. Different societies and cultures are likely to have different dress codes.

Dress codes are symbolic indications of different social ideas, including social class, cultural identity, and attitude towards comfort, tradition and political or religious affiliations.

Understandably the puritan laws of wearing pants and ladies not showing their ta-tas seems universally accepted now in public places. Some retail establishments post requirements for shirts and shoes to be worn. More elite events require coats and ties.

Everyone wants to fit in by the clothing they wear, but no one has a restriction on how they smell.

Uniforms help establish conformity like the armed forces and some are fashioned for safety. Office casual Fridays still have certain restrictions like wearing an AC/DC t-shirt and cut off jeans.

In school there were uniforms or self-imposed styles that labeled your popularity status. Clothing is a statement of our personality like a haircut.

Companies have come up with dress codes with detail restrictions on type of blouses or shirts and jackets that are acceptable, length of skirts above the knee or if shorts are ever worn indoors. Don’t remember anyone sent home for a fashion faux pas.

 Haircuts are another statement that when trend change, are they acceptable to the image of the company. The same questionable materials are what are on your desk or the smell from the microwave of your leftovers. Do you wear a belt or suspenders?

Not saying people come into work wearing loincloths or a burka.

Times are different.

What if Bubba comes into work wearing a dress?