Comments on: Dress, Grooming, and the Effect on Attitude

By: Walter C Gusler

Walter C Gusler — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 03:02:42 +0000

As I am trying to catch up on articles while I was away this is the first one that I read and it falls right into place with some recent situations. My wife and I enjoy going to the Alberta Bair Theatre in Billings as they bring in more culture based performers. This was the one place where a suit and tie were required though it was an unwritten rule. I have noticed recently at various performances men showing up in shorts and t-shirts as well as ladies in cutoff jeans. Very inappropriate for these types of venues. When the Alberta Bair Theatre board proposed to make it a rule, there was an outcry that they were impinging on peoples rights. However as a business they have the right to cater to the class of individuals they want at their establishment and it has since become a rule. If a business man comes to me wearing shorts and flip flops I will not waste my time this goes for sales professionals as well. We have a business here in Billings in which the owner dresses in everything from a chicken suit to dressing up as an old woman. I met him at a trade show and he began talking to me about his business products for my home. He owns a flooring company. I explained to him that I expect to do business with a professional and will not deal with a guy and a gimmick. Dressing the part goes along way in relations with people.

By: Chad

Chad — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 01:53:52 +0000

I agree that today most people lack the desire to properly dress themselves when in the public forum. The only place I ever wear sandals or flip flops is to the beach. At work, I wear scrubs most of the time, despite the fact that I prefer a collar dress shirt and dress pants. Scrubs are far easier to keep clean in a laboratory environment and last longer than more professional clothes. As far as dining, I dress accordingly. For instance to a causal restaurant such as Chili’s, jeans and either a t-shirt or polo shirt fit for the environment. When dinging at nicer restaurants, dress pants and dress shirts are a minimum must. I despise going to a nicer restaurant and half the people dining are dressed in Hawaiian shirts and shorts. Chances are I won’t be wasting my money at that restaurant at the future. If I wanted the Hawaiian shirt and short feel I would have gone to a Tiki bar and grill.

By: Stephen Clay McGehee

Stephen Clay McGehee — Mon, 31 May 2010 11:20:14 +0000

Thank you, sir. Welcome to Confederate Colonel.

Before I started my own business, I worked as an engineer at a defense electronics company. It was sort of a tradition that the women on the assembly line would dress up the day before the Christmas holidays began. The engineering crew would wear a tie that day also (the rest of the year it was usually a polo shirt). One year, I and the other engineer assigned to one product line decided that we were going to continue wearing a dress shirt and tie – and we did. After a few wise-cracks from the other engineers, that became the standard dress for the engineering staff and others who decided it just made it a more pleasant place to work. In some places that will work – and in some places it won’t. It’s certainly worth a try.

By: pacebm

pacebm — Mon, 31 May 2010 04:16:32 +0000

Amen. I completely agree. I hate going out to eat at a nice place and half the men there are wearing sandal or flip flops and shorts. The American society has lost all self respect. Seems like I am the guy who is always over dressed because of the trend of casual dress in business. I work for a major oil company and all levels of management wear blue jeans and T-shirts. Last week the Site Manager wore a pair of sandals to work. I lose all respect for our leadership when I see this type of behaviour. If you dress professional, you will feel professional and act accordingly. I would suggest that anyone who reads and agrees with your articles should read everything they can about Robert E. Lee. He is the definition of being a gentleman; a true class act. Keep up the good work.