To think rainbow hoodies are unprofessional?

[FullyAwareIMightBU]

I work in an office that doesn't have a dress code (tech field so very casual environment). Most people wear a mix of jeans and plain t-shirts, polos, hoodies with the company logo on it, sweaters etc. All in fairly neutral colours.

We recently had a new transfer to my department. She seems nice, very carefree, and she's good at her job. Today though, she came in with a bright rainbow, tie-dyed hoodie from a popular movie. It's not subtle at all and the quote from the movie is clearly printed on the front. It really stands out! Yes, I will mind my own business and not say a word but AIBU to think this is just really unprofessional?

I was once told by a career coach to wear a 'stronger lip'. 🤣

@FullyAwareIMightBU yes, things have changed and are changing still, but there's more left to do. The UK needs to rid itself of its ridiculous obsession with judging people on how they dress (looking at you, school uniform!) and start judging people on how good they are at what they do.

You'd be horrified at my office when we're in, OP. We're NHS back office and we have people with unnaturally coloured hair (I'm one of them), crazy boots and tights, colourful dresses and shirts. When we have a formal face to face meeting we all know how to tone it down, but the rest of the time it just doesn't matter. Because we are all great at our jobs.

Substance over style is the way to go.

From description the hoodie sounds ok, can you post a picture of it?

You'd have a total meltdown in silicon valley, OP. Do you actually work in tech?

Have you considered moving to a different environment where neutral tailored garments might better reflect the serious nature of the work and staff and life in general? Law, senior civil service, teaching (not primary - too much individuality and way too many bright colours there, in general).

Seriously, you're in an environment where people are known for dressing pretty casually. I'm fairly sure it doesn't affect the quality of their work, or would you disagree? Alternatively, would you prefer that everybody dressed like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates?

Those professional colours are for offices that require a certain level of smartness. And maybe are a bit more flexible now anyway.

No dress code= no dress code.

A bit of colour can be nice.

I was hoping it would be
I'm Here to See My Gynecologist

and for the poster who asked: this is a "professional" hoodie.

Is it a Barbie hoodie from ratchet clothing?

If there’s no dress code and she’s good at her job I don’t see the issue with what she wears.

I call bullshit. There’s no techie worth their salt that would think there’s anything wrong with a rainbow hoodie.

DH works in tech. That hoodie would be absolutely fine. The colleague who used to come to work in full cycling lycra (which he wore all day) on the other hand was felt to be unprofessional, so there are limits.

But you don't have to dress professionally at work. Jeans and rainbow hoodies are equally casual hun

Yeah also the blinding random meme/logo stickers covering and peeling off laptops in tech

I think it is unprofessional. But those saying it isn’t probably show up to work in a tracksuit or their pjs.

came back to add… tie dye will never be profesional. Sorry.

https://www.ratchetclothing.co.uk/products/barbie?_pos=1&_sid=621765b0c&_ss=r

something like this?

What's shocking about a rainbow hoodie? Be specific OP!

I mean the actual garment is horrible, but as long as it isn't dirty or indecent, you have no dress code so there isn't really much you can do.

I went in to the office today wearing rolled up jeans, silver trainers and a white vest with a pink fine knit silk jumper over it.

I managed to do my job professionally.

Fully aware I'm probably BU btw just a shock from what I'm used to when it comes to dressing

A rainbow hoodie has come as a shock. Maybe you need to get out more

I work in an office setting at director level and we dress casually unless supplier/customer F2F.

I am now buying this hoodie to keep me snug during winter months. It's fabulous.

Idgaf what the staff wear (providing nothing external is going on) as long as they get shit done. Can bring in their slippers as far as I'm concerned, I find people much more productive when they feel comfortable and I can't see how different this hoodie is from wearing jeans and trainers. People bring in their dogs, have footstools, and work as flexibly as they need to 🤷🏼‍♀️. Staff turnover is low, we attract talent and productivity is high.

We are not slobs, we are a global organisation and very successful at what we do. We're not tech either.

Gone are the days of blazers and shirts, court shoes and ballets, tights and skirts. Now is the reign of casual Friday every day 🥳.

How long ago was that?

But you’ve said yourself, you don’t work somewhere where there is a dress code….?

One of DD’s sports team is just back from an out of town tournament, and everyone got to wear the ‘I am Kenough’ hoodie one day. Was one of the highlights of the trip.

If it’s ok to wear hoodies then it’s ok to wear hoodies?! Some people just prefer wearing bright colours, I can’t see that this should be an issue!

Yes a lot has changed since then. It is seen as a bit old fashioned to impose dress codes officially or unofficially. Offensive clothing is obviously not allowed, but usually someone's professionalism is now primarily determined by the work they do.

I work somewhere with no dress code, most of us wear jeans and hoodies. Some of the hoodies are bright and patterned.

I'd find it a bit surprising though if someone came in wearing a tie-dyed 'I am Kenough' sweatshirt, seems to be testing the limits a bit.

Aw, you should go and work in my old London job OP - we were only allowed to wear black, white and navy blue, no open toe shoes, and no unnatural coloured hair.

I got the hell out very quickly because having rainbow hair and dressing like a toddler on acid has exactly zero bearing on how good I am at my job, and I hated having to work with people who were snooty about my style while not being able to produce the same level and quality of work that I did.

Plus some of them very obviously thought they were better than me for dressing incredibly boringly and identically to each other - but sounds like you'd love it there! Although I left fifteen years ago so even they might have moved with the times a bit!

Bitchiness aside, do you seriously think what someone wears matters or makes a difference, dress code or not?! Do you apply the same pointless snobbery to tattoos, piercings, hair colour? I'm fascinated by the thought process as to how it impacts, well, anything. And I'm 37, not stupidly young.

Oh , I would think OP would be fine with the facial tattoos as long as they fit into the scheme of “navy/grey/beige/cream and solid dark/pastel colours” that her school careers counselor warned her about. I hope this helps your colleague with future facial tattooing decisions, as we all know body modification decisions should be made with 20-year-old input from someone else’s school counselor. Ha.