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Dressing for Classroom Success

Dress codes may lead to a more respectful society.

Author: Kim Bryant

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When I began my career in 1986, I fully expected a formal dress code for any job that I would receive. I had to buy new clothes, shoes, have a decent hair-do, basically look professional. I was amazed that toward the end of the ‘80s and into the ‘90s folks turned to casual dress for the office, and the jokes flew.

It was hilarious to see what people, business professionals, thought would pass for business casual. I personally witnessed things from baseball caps worn because of no showering (I think business casual was thought also to be grooming optional) to women’s snow boots with sweat pants tucked in, on a man. It was crazy and for some, confusing.

An article in BusinessWeek highlighted business wear with a story about Illinois State University and the launch of a dress code for marketing students. The business department decided to do this so that students would, at any time, be prepared (or at least dressed) for on-campus recruiter visits and job interviews. They thought it would also be a great way to prepare the student for work, practicing ahead of time with clothes deemed appropriate for the office.

Dress codes everywhere have really been lacking in the last 20 years. I am personally guilty of not dressing appropriately at times, mainly on shopping trips to the grocery store. Somehow, dressing for different occasions has become passee.

Even a trip to the White House for a women’s sports team was highlighted when some of the ladies sported flip flops. Folks tend to wear whatever they want, regardless of the occasion. And doesn’t how you dress reflect who you are and your respect for others, wherever you are going?

At the college level, some of the student’s complaints about the new dress code are cost of the new clothing. One student even complained that if they wore the business casual to their marketing class and then had to attend another class soon after, they would stand out from the other students. Why is that bad? It seems to me that the school is on to something. If one student is sitting in class in pajama pants and another in a business suit, hopefully the pajama clad student will think twice tomorrow when selecting an outfit for school.

I’ve read several articles over the years that declare that behavior can be influenced somewhat by how we dress. From personal experience, when I’m “dressed for success”, I tend to stand up straighter and act in a more formal way. Bottom line, dress codes can only be good for schools, and maybe for overall society. If this is one way that we can show respect for each other, I think that only good things can happen.

About Author

Kim was born in Kentucky, raised in New Jersey and has lived in Virginia since 1982. She works for a software development company in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and enjoys writing about her farm, her family and her work. And, being a mother of 3 ranging in ages from 2-19, Kim enjoys a different perspective on life.
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Dressing for Classroom Success