People no longer have pride In how they drsss.

[Welliesandtweed]

I've increasingly noticed that people are getting scruffier and scruffier in how they dress.

Some of the secretaries where I work come in, In trainers, band t shirts, coloured hair, loose fitting, cheap tops. I wouldn't do the garden in some of the outfits I see. They aren't typically patient facing but on occasion are. I think it really lacks professionalism to turn up scruffy to work.

Same for people out for an evening meal in jogging bottoms.

On Saturday we had sports day at school and every woman was in a nice dress and men in chinos / short chinos and shirts. Children all in proper PE uniform. It was so refreshing to see.

It's great that people can work comfortable clothing and color their hair (can't imagine a bass being allowed to tell an adult how to do their hair) and not be limited to a narrow idea of "professionalism" that actually makes no difference. Next stop, getting rid of school uniforms and rigid rules on appearance in schools 🤞🏻

Do you not know very many nurses?

You would be shocked at some of our consultants! The horror!

I’m 43.
My hair is currently lilac but it was pink a few weeks ago.

I’m a senior academic at a university and will be in meetings with my vice chancellor tomorrow… with my purple hair 😂😂😂
I’m planning on wearing palazzo pants, a fuchsia jacket and funky trainers.
🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

OP you sound a bit stuck up tbh 😬

I think it’s good that people no longer conform to what others expect from them. Does wearing a band T-shirt and jeans affect how they do their job? I very much doubt it, in fact feeling comfortable probably helps them do their job better. I think it also shows that we are all individuals with individual personalities.

I don’t really take much notice of what people are wearing, though I guess if the gardener turned up wearing a skirt and fish nets I would wonder if they could actually complete the job safety 🤔

I think you’re being given rather a hard time here OP. The tone of your post is a bit off - but I don’t disagree with the sentiment. The number of people wearing pyjamas or those giant fleece hoodie things (that make everyone look like a jellycat tardigrade) in the supermarket is genuinely baffling to me.

I understand wanting to be comfortable - but I get comfortable like that in the privacy of my home - when I’m out in public I like to have my public-facing armour on - and that means looking sufficiently put together / appropriately clad for the occasions that no one would notice my clothes. Jeans and a clean sweatshirt + brushed hair for the supermarket. A blazer and a tinted moisturiser if meeting someone for something slightly smarter etc etc.

I appreciate that being sloppily dressed doesn’t mean someone is unproductive. I genuinely don’t care what colour anyone’s chosen for their hair. But I do think appearing put together sends a message that you take your job seriously…

I live in band tees, jeans/midi skirts, doesn’t make me any less professional and certainly doesn’t mean I look “scruffy”, I often get compliments on my outfits, life is too short to wear uncomfortable clothing!

I cringed reading this.

I should think a fair few are shocked by your own sartorial selections, if your username is anything to go by. Unless you are a groundskeeper?

As long as people have good hygiene and their clothes are clean I could not care less if they wear t shirt, jeans and trainers all the time or what colour they choose to put in their hair...

It does not affect their ability to do their job.

It depends on the types of jobs you are applying for, I would have thought.

OP can’t even take pride in how to spell the word “dress,” so I’m not convinced we should take her word for much tbh.

You are not in charge. Nor are you the main character in anyone else’s life.

Not your business.

I can't put my hair in a bobble or style it at all. Physically this is. I can run a brush through it. I struggle with buttons that go up past probably my nipple line. I struggle with anything tight over my head. And 'proper' bra fasteners. Therefore my work office outfits, when I go in for the 2 days a week I do, consist of over sized t shirts and mostly leggings, flat shoes, pumps.

I am disabled you see. Not that you'd know it at first glance. I can't tell you for fucking free, how I dress does not impact my work.

So… your children go to private school then?!
no dress code- but as a private school parent we know it’s the expectation to dress smartly at events.
whats it got to do with you what people do or how they dress? Stop being such a snob.

Cries onto my (Uniqlo) chinos…

It depends where you work. There are dress codes in some places, not difficult ones but ensuring that people look decent, men and women. It is possible to look smart/casual without too much effort, even in this weather. Your colleagues need a good HR person/manager to tell them to get their acts together.

You’re not going to do very well in the sports race in a posh frock - shorts are the way to go!

You’re not the only person who thinks this. I agree as does the rest of our school. I got a new dress for our sports day and look forward to the occasion ☺️ Not a ‘funny little school’ either, whatever that means.

The thing is, Koolaid, you shouldn’t feel the need to explain any of that. Leggings and a top are widely recognised as appropriate office attire. I am a millennial, and if someone walked in to the office wearing high heels, pencil skirt and a blouse we’d look at them like they’re a UFO.

Oh the secretaries were in band t-shirts were they? Why does that affect their abilities to do office admin?

You sound stuck up and misogynistic. Should they wear a pencil skirt and heels?

I am sorry; I should have prefaced my post by saying that I was talking about people who are perfectly capable of completing basic tasks but don’t bother. I apologise if I touched a nerve and I am really pleased to see your post. I was speaking generally and there are exceptions to prove every rule.

DT’s were at a private school but shorts and T-shirts were the norm from parents on sports day - major sporting event of the term!

Yes, depends on the job. My company has no lack of candidates for our roles.

At my workplace, if someone with coloured hair was hired, it would be inspite of their appearance. Hasn't happened yet. It reflects on a person professionally that they did not understand how they are coming across and knowing how to behave in a work setting.

I agree with you OP, but from previous threads like this I know we're in the minority.

I went to an evening event a little while ago, and amongst all the randomers there was a group of young people who just looked fabulous. Not identikit young-people-smart outfits (I'm not even sure what those are, these days!) but stylish and quirky. It was lovely to see people with a sense of style.

Nope I shouldn't. But apparently its required, even in 2025.

There are 2 people who still wear heels in the office and both come in in trainers and swap!