The debate topic for today IS:

[mscherries]

Is dressing well a lost art? I go to message board with a debate section and this was one of the topics and it got me to thinking. Does the way a person dresses effect your perception of that person? The woman who started the topic went to view a pre-K for her son and when she got there all of the teachers were dressed sloppily. Sweatpant, SHORT

Comments

[vubeanie]

I agree with you... Everything is about first impressions.

I work in a very casual office environment. Denim is acceptable and widely worn. That being said, I never wear torn or stained clothing, I usually have heels on and I look presentable.

I think you can give acceptions in cases of Transit Strikes or Inclimate Weather.

[mscherries]

I don't think there is ANYTHING wrong with casual, but messy/sloppy...THAT is where I have a problem.

Hey, when you're in NYC and the weather sucks or the subway isn't running I think most of the city gets a pass....but suburban Michigan...driving to the office, I expect a lot out of my employees. As a matter of fact, I have to have a chat with someone tomorrow about dress ( I LOVE how they waited for me to come back to do this)!!

[a_is_for_amy]

I agree. My son's Pre-K was at the local elementary school, so perhaps that has something to do with it, but his teacher would never have been permitted to look just plain sloppy.

I actually have complained about a teacher's appearance to her boss before. My kid was there to learn the alphabet and stuff, not sex ed. He shorts were so brief, they could have passed for underwear one day. I don't care if she's got the body to carry something like that off- it's a kid's class, not a strip club.

I think that as parents, we not only have the right to demand excellence in our children's education, but should exercise it.

*Gets off soap box*

[mscherries]

OK, so it's hard for me to understand teachers dressing this way becasue I went to Catholic school...I'm fairly certain that nuns aren't allowed to wear hot pants.

I can't blame you for complaining! I don't get why teachers are wearing shorts at all!

I couldn't agree with you more!

[nyydesignsync]

It's all about impression and dressing for me. I definately agree. Since I'm an Interior Designer, when I meet with clients, or even in the office when I'm just in doing work and not meeting with clients, I'm always dressed accordingly. It's not even buisness casual. I can wear jeans on ocassion but I know that if someone, especially someone who could be a potentially new client, comes in and I'm in jeans I'm going to be perceived differently. Especially in mid-high end residential design. I also take forever to get ready because the hair has to be in place, the makeup just right and not a wrinkle shown. I love to lounge around on the RARE weekend I get off, but if I go out, I take the sweatshirt and sweat pants off, makeup and hair is done, and go out. I just guess it carries over from work that I continue to dress that way. I'm also matched like you wouldn't believe. From the accessories, to the bag, to the clothes, to the shoes, it all coordinates, and I also have to make sure that I don't wear the same thing all the time when I

[mscherries]

You are so right! Our clients don't want to pay us $350 an hour and have us dressed in jeans or sweats...we no longer have casual Friday, too many clients in on Friday.

It's funny how becoming a mother has mafde me MORE careful about my style of dress. I just recently started wearing makeup (to cover dark circles from late nights) and I was surprised at how much better I like how I look...I never cared about makeup before.

make-up?

[vubeanie]

I nearly fell over when you told me you started wearing make-up.

I've been working on this for years!

Re: make-up?

[mscherries]

Yeah I know! It appears that once you reach 32 with a full time job and a 3 month old, it is unavoidable! Oddly enough it's no where near as difficult as I thought it would be!!