Quote:
Originally Posted by worth
I could wear jeans and a t-shirt every day to work if I wanted. There are people who do wear that here. So why don't I?
Well, for one, i'm in a business environment, and just because it is somehow now acceptable to wear those types of clothes, doesn't mean you should.
People judge you based on how you dress. Everyone does it. If you meet someone nicely dressed, your opinion of them is most likely higher because they took the time to look that way. Any slob can throw on a pair of jeans.
Style is dressing nice when you don't have to. Wearing a tie when you don't have to.
I will progress in my career. But I don't expect to wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Not saying that you can't, but professional people need to look professional.
Lastly, I want to wear these clothes. Most people I talk to say they hate dressing up. I love it. It makes me feel good. You exude confidence when you know you look good. People compliment you. It's not an ego thing, but it's something you can take pride in.
I made a choice in dressing this way. I actually dressed in jeans and a tshirt for 3 years at this job before I switched my style a bit. At first a lot of people said WTF? But they are used to it and when a client comes in, I can meet them with confidence because I am dressed for the occasion instead of a raggy old shirt.
Every good wardrobe starts at the shoes. You need a good foundation. A $1,000 suit with $80 Aldo shoes look like crap. Maybe most people can't tell. I can, and I guarantee anyone who has spent money on quality clothes, such as your boss or the guy who is interviewing you can tell as well.
I take pride in my dress, and I feel as though more men should as well.
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I don't mean this in a negative way, but that is fine if you are a careerist. I would like to earn/save/invest enough to let me retire early and enjoy more time with family, hobbies etc. The incremental cost of wearing and maintaining expensive clothing throughout a career will set you back 10s of thousands behind me. Now obviously you see a trade off in potential higher earnings based on your professional attire, but I personally don't think it's the best strategy.