Are dress codes outdated?

Yep absolutely hate it, casual dress is something I usually look for when job hunting. Any kind of strictness with dress codes or things like tattoos is a massive red flag for me and a place I wouldn't want to work in.
 
You see, I don't get all this 'smart' and 'smart casual' crap this because 'smart' and 'casual' are entirely subjective. Example, in my last job the dress code was 'casual', but apparently black combats and a (non-offensive) t-shirt aren't casual. Yet to me, they're the epitome of casual.
 
Surely those amongst us who currently work and is going into work base still have to wear office clothes or a uniform? I work in a hospital's admin building and it's still smart shoes, trousers, shirt and a tie.

I get you guys though if it's regarding clubbing. Early 2000s was still office wear for the blokes (minus the tie) but early 2020s/now and anything goes really and I've been to 5 clubs this year so far. The only 'rule' I've seen in one of the clubs was no tops with football teams on them.
 
I still have a load of shirts.
I haven't worn them in ages. Keep meaning to sort through them.

A few old dark suits too that are hand me downs. Probably should get rid of them too.

Wouldn't work in a job I had to dress smart now.. Too many options where you don't.
 
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I do own a suit which I get to wear once every two years if there's a wedding.
I do have trousers and a shirt in my works locker in case I have to go to the Chief Exec's Office however, and Malevolence will testify, I wear cargo shorts and a polo neck if I walk around the hospital getting reports and stuff.
 
The dress code for York Races recently was interesting -

Men - suit, shirt, tie

Women - no dress code.

I even got stopped by a steward as I had my jacket over my shoulder whilst I attached my pass…
 
stuman said:
The dress code for York Races recently was interesting -

Men - suit, shirt, tie

Women - no dress code.

I even got stopped by a steward as I had my jacket over my shoulder whilst I attached my pass…
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This is what really pee's me off.
At the hospital with the job I'm in I should have a dress code which is shirt, tie and trousers all year round but women can dress how they like.
Like I said above I usually wear shorts and polo shirt, will even wear my rock band t-shirts for the first hour and nobody bothers me.
 
Pawnless Endgame said:
Surely those amongst us who currently work and is going into work base still have to wear office clothes or a uniform? I work in a hospital's admin building and it's still smart shoes, trousers, shirt and a tie.

I get you guys though if it's regarding clubbing. Early 2000s was still office wear for the blokes (minus the tie) but early 2020s/now and anything goes really and I've been to 5 clubs this year so far. The only 'rule' I've seen in one of the clubs was no tops with football teams on them.
Click to expand...

I'm office based and ever since the company started to make polo shirts available for departmental purchase most guys will wear polo shirts matched with dark jeans. There are still quite a few shirt, trouser and smart shoe types and an even smaller number of suit wearers. Some of the women tend to be far more casual, especially in the summer, when strappy dresses and flipflops appear to be the order of the day.
 
No one bothers anymore which is quite sad imo, especially when you see junior members of staff walking around the office in tracksuit bottoms.

Even if the rest of the company doesn’t(including the ceo), as a senior director, i make sure I have on at least a crisp white shirt(sometimes paired with a 3/4 zip jumper or sports jacket) and some chinos on the days I'm in the office. I’ll often dress it down with white trainers, though. The rest of the company doesn’t bother but it makes a difference, particularly in the eyes of clients. Presentation is very important to me, especially these days when no one else bothers.

Sadly tailoring is now associated with car sales, a day at the races or a day in court but I have a couple of well altered suits that get brought out for events that I enjoy wearing.
 
Do own a suit but seems to have got smaller since last worn to a wedding about 5 years ago, last interview i had wore a polo shirt.
 
I get it for more serious business stuff and appreciate classic tailoring. In reality this only applies to a small minority of people though

It’s supposed to be business casual at work on the office days (2 a week). I found it a bit annoying initially and wished it was smart casual given for men the dress code stated shirt + trousers (avoiding a suit pair since it looks like you’ve forgotten your jacket all the time) + shoes but woman could seemingly get away with wearing a myriad of things as long as they were wearing shoes as well. In reality I just had to use a bit of imagination; as long as it’s not too garish any sort of button-up shirt works, all sorts of non-suit trousers as long as they’re passably smart (e.g. not 5 pocket sort of things) and any sort of shoe, although I’m partial to fancy shoes now and like to flex whatever I’ve gotten in the Herring or AFinePairOfShoes sales.

It’s nice not to wear the same thing all the time; I can loaf in loungewear when I’m working from home. The only thing I don’t like with smarter stuff is the ironing!
 
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Although I was happy when things got more casual I do sometimes miss the days of going to work in a nice suit and tie. I could wear them today of course. But I would be the only person in the whole building to do so. Now it's chinos and a shirt like everyone else.
 
I took part in a virtual interview about 4 months ago - so not even a real person, predefined questions and you record to webcam.

I was wearing a polo shirt - not shirt and tie.

I didnt get through the stage but general feedback to all was the standard stuff, plus the "remember you are interviewing for us - dress code is important" l. It was an airline cadet scheme.

Outside of that, i have only worn suits to weddings and funerals.
 
SexyGreyFox said:
This is what really pee's me off.
At the hospital with the job I'm in I should have a dress code which is shirt, tie and trousers all year round but women can dress how they like.
Like I said above I usually wear shorts and polo shirt, will even wear my rock band t-shirts for the first hour and nobody bothers me.
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Just identify as a butch lesbian you can wear what you want then.
 
I'd say they are outdated in many environments, but not all.

Before the pandemic I went through a phase of buying cheap off the rack suits in sales so I feel like I need to wear them to get use out of them (I probably have about 10 of varying fit), and I kind of like wearing a suit except for in warm weather. I've recently starting mix and matching a bit e.g. Blue jacket with grey trousers, totally not because one day I'd misplaced the matching grey jacket...
I've never liked wearing a tie however, years ago I had a crap non customer-facing job that required us to wear a tie, until a new MD took over who didn't like wearing a tie so he abolished it.
 
On an interview last year it was over teams and they wanted applicants to be dressed. Put on a shirt, tie and jacket and was in shorts. Glad they didn't ask me to stand up.

Find the whole thing pointless in most situations. Just uncomfortable, I won't apply for anywhere that has dress codes apart from "don't look look like you have just rolled out of bed". Even shirt and trousers is too much, shirts are so uncomfortable and formal shoes are crippling.
 
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