Active discussions

Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Talk
University staff common room

This board is for university-based professionals. Find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further education forum.

Original poster

Do you dress up for work?

29 replies

teeminus8 · 22/06/2026 11:21

Im very early career in a London university, and I've started to dress up on days I'm going in (tiny bit make up, hair tamed, proper shoes etc). I'm starting to resent the mental energy I give to thinking what will I wear on this day, and I need to buy X or Y.

I'm not extravagant by any means, but I'm annoyed I need a summer blazer- but also appreciate I shouldn't show up department wide talks in a t-shirt and shorts.

My HOD is a lovely lady in her 70s and she walks around in her normal biking into work clothes, and I wish we all could. I do know she's earned that in a way and in a league of her own.

Anyways how much do you 'dress up'? Do you think it adds to your career? If I could see the positive benefits I might not be so resentful!

OP posts:
oliviaAustin · 24/06/2026 15:01

Is it really that much energy to buy some nicer clothes and throw them on in the morning? If so why are you so tired

Athwart · 24/06/2026 15:05

CheeryOchreCat · 24/06/2026 14:31

I’m in a humanities department at a London university.

We’re generally quite casual. Jeans are common for both men and women, as are trainers. Casual dresses are also widespread; I generally only see more ‘dressed up’ looks if someone is hosting or attending an event, like a guest speaker or making a presentation.

I think like with many workplaces Covid made us even less formal than we were beforehand. Some older male profs wore suits and ties semi-regularly before Covid but it’s a rarity now. My female colleagues don’t tend to go for blazers or similar.

I do put a bit of thought into what I wear when teaching, mainly as I don’t want to distract or draw attention away from what I’m saying/doing. So I tend to dress quite boring on those days but will often wear jeans for instance, I don’t feel the need to dress up. I’m on the younger side of the department, though whether that makes me more relatable, or tragic, is open to interpretation from the student perspective!

The last guest speaker I hosted for our regular research seminar is a quite eminent professor, and he wore a black hoodie, jeans and runners. 😀

I think the only time I see much male dressing-up is fir graduations, and that’s probably in part because a Thin Lizzy T-shirt looks pretty dopey with a gown and hood.

CheeryOchreCat · 24/06/2026 15:09

Athwart · 24/06/2026 15:05

The last guest speaker I hosted for our regular research seminar is a quite eminent professor, and he wore a black hoodie, jeans and runners. 😀

I think the only time I see much male dressing-up is fir graduations, and that’s probably in part because a Thin Lizzy T-shirt looks pretty dopey with a gown and hood.

Edited
Show quote history

Sounds familiar to be honest! As are the stories of cycling gear and similar.

My biggest sin is probably turning up with damp hair regularly, as I often swim before work and just throw some product into my (curly) hair and let it dry naturally. It probably does look scruffy. But I think my colleagues (and many students) are used to me by now, also the faint eau-de-chlorine that often accompanies me.

Athwart · 24/06/2026 15:12

CheeryOchreCat · 24/06/2026 15:09

Sounds familiar to be honest! As are the stories of cycling gear and similar.

My biggest sin is probably turning up with damp hair regularly, as I often swim before work and just throw some product into my (curly) hair and let it dry naturally. It probably does look scruffy. But I think my colleagues (and many students) are used to me by now, also the faint eau-de-chlorine that often accompanies me.

Show quote history

It makes you look fit and organised enough to get up early to go to the pool!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page