Management LineWhy do people wear suits to work? Does it make you work any better?It's a point raised by Mark Cuban's blog in his entry Why I Don't Wear a Suit and Can't Figure Out Why Anyone Does!:"I'm not a suit hater, I just could never think of any good reason for any sane person to wear a suit in the first place. Exactly what purpose does a suit serve? Why in the world are so many people required to wear a suit to work? Do the clothes make the man or woman in the western world today? Does wearing a tie make us work harder or smarter? Is this a conspiracy by the clothing, fabric or dry cleaning industry to take our money? Or are we all just lemmings following a standard we all know makes zero sense, but we follow because we are afraid not to? If you are a CEO, are there not better things your employees could spend money on than multiple suits, ties, dress shirts, dress shoes, dress socks, dry cleaning, and all the other associated costs? Gee, no suits would be the same as giving your employees a tax free raise. Think that might make them happy? Or do employees consider having to spend money on suits a perk?"On the other hand, companies in the US are now bringing in rules on "dressy casual" styles that have, in some places, seen employees turn up in knee length shorts, micro miniskirts that finish just below the groin, thongs and sheer tank tops.So do we need to wear suits or more professional gear? Should we drop the rule to wear these outfits? Would it do any good? Would it change the way you work?I'm fortunate that I work in scientific research. The only restrictions on my clothing are that I wear closed toed shoes. This prevents damage should I drop a bottle of something nasty. Otherwise, we are free to wear what we like. I don't see the point of Nike Free a suit, my brain won't work any more effectively Air Jordan 3 Retro if I'm wearing one. The only reason I see for wearing one in the regular office setting is if you are dealing with the general public. You'd much prefer your solicitor to be dressed in a suit, rather than shorts and a t shirt. But, if Air Jordan 10 you have no interaction with clients/general public, dress should be based on what is most comfortable. My supervisor normally wears jeans and a shirt. But on days when he's meeting university big wigs etc, he wears a suit. It's appropriate for those kinds of meetings, but for every day work, it really doesn't matter.I don't necessarily believe in suits, but I'm OK with a dress code. Having been self employed or able to telecommute, I find that getting dressed is like stepping through a door: "Now I am at work". "Wearing a tie" probably doesn't "make us work harder or smarter", but Air Jordan 12 just turning up Air Jordan 11 further blurs the distinction between work and home, and I suspect a lot of us don't want that.Some people look great and natural in a suit, but a lot of us don't and shouldn't be forced to make ourselves look worse. In the meantime, you might like to consider what men think is a double standard, that women have more "freedom" to choose their clothes. I don't think it's a particularly great "freedom" as a larger lady I think it's a freakin' nightmare but I certainly understand their complaint.I've worked in a host of places with a range of dress codes. I've worn the unofficial designers' dress code of black t shirt, combat trousers and trainers, through to asuit and tie, complete with French Air Jordan 9 Retro cuffs and collar stays.I think what you wear does affect how you work by changing your attitude it's like a uniform. Even when I work from home I make an effort to dress up, even if what I wear is pretty casual by office standards.If I had a choice I'd wear a suit every day, Nike Shox but that's just because I like the way I look in a suit yes that's vain.Right now I'm working in a casually dressed office. No one, from the Director down is wearing a suit. But then it is not expected in the industry I work in. I believe that the people who come to my office wearing jeans, t shirts and thongs are doing themselves a career disservice, because despite they look like they're going to a footy match, not work. On the flip side, were someone to wear a full blown suit, I would wonder if they were lost.I think its important to dress appropriately for your industy (when I was working at an investment bank, I wore a suit everyday. it was simply the office culture to do so, and as Jarrod says, showed a respect for my collegues and industry). I also think that no matter what you do, looking neat and professional conveys to your co workers and boss that you are a neat and professional person. Wearing a t shirt and thongs conveys the impression Air Jordan Women that you got lost on the way to the cricket.When we dress, we dress for ocassions. The outfit I wear to beach with my friends is not the same one I wear to the office on monday. I also don't speak to my co workers and boss like I speak to my friends (certianally less swearing takes place.) because I understand that work and beach are not the same place. You wouldnt go to a friend's wedding in your thongs, and you wouldnt wear your ripped jeans to sunday mass. You shouldn't wear them to work either.Suits and dress standards (read self respect) are not synonymous. Suits as we Nike Shox know them evolved in the much colder northern and western Europe and are utterly unsuitable for our climate. The fascist bosses who force employees to wear these ridiculous outfits (the tie especially is the single most stupid piece of clothing ever invented for men and I flat out refuse to wear them) remind me of the recent British psychological study that showed as many as 50% of managers have personality disorders.However, Australians generally are such sheep I have no reasonable expectation of change for the better anytime soon.Everyday on the train I see men in dark suits. They look like an army of pall bearers. There is Air Jordan 14 Retro scarcely the ability for individualism (and throwing on a bright pink tie doesn't make you look like an individual). I see men in suits on 40 degree days. That just seems wrong. I have worked in the corporate world (as a contractor) for many years and have avoided the suit. In my current role it's "business casual" Air Jordan 3 Retro and it makes for a much more enjoyable work environment, while in no way does it diminish the professionalism of the people that work here.If Air Jordan 6 you need to wear a suit to make you feel good, that is your issue. I don't believe it makes you work any harder. What's the point of someone wearing a suit when they sit inside an office all day with no client contact and no one sees them?Suits are a subtle form of discrimination against women. It makes them uncomfortable as the air conditioning and heating is set for the guys in the suits.I have no respect for the salesman wearing the suit. If its a cheap suit, he will look like an out of work waiter or a conman and if if its an expensive suit, it means I'll be paying too much.There is also the problem that women who wear male style suits and Nike Heels Boots ties have the same heart attack risks as men who wear ties.The richest businessmen I know (the ones that have their own money, not playing with other peoples) never seem to be wearing a suit.Australians are more casual about clothing. I like it that way. When I was working for a corporation in Turkey in Air Jordan 9 Retro 1980s, suit and tie was compulsory. It used to symbolize obedience. Lets face it, any kind of uniform is open to abuse by the bosses to enforce obedience. I see suit+tie as the next thing after a military uniform.Even in Australia nowadays, managers are made uncomfortable by their superiors if they dont wear the uniform. It is a symbol of oppression. Techies can get away with neat casuals. It is also used as a sign of wealth. Thats why it makes some people feel good. They see themselves as different from other losers. Specially an expensive suit can give you an aura of wealth and power.Get over it guys. It is old fashion. A symbol of oppression. Be yourselves. Free yourselves from the money freak bosses. I know it is easy to say, hard to do. Specially if you have a mortgage hanging over your neck. You have to obey the bully.I have experienced business life from multinational corporate offices in St Kilda Road to sawmills in Queensland and have found competence and intellect are not determined by dress. In fact often the person hiding behind a suit needs it Nike Shoes to try and prove their superiority.I consider there is no excuse for poor personal hygiene or uncared for clothes. However, simply wearing a suit and tie does not make a person better at their job.For those who are worried that casual clothes encourage casual work performance let me assure them the analogy would be letting children loose in a lolly shop. Wear casuals everyday and the novelty is gone, you just get on with your job.