I was at a really major research colloquium last week, with people who are serious leaders in a very important field of technology. I mean massively important. Big, big funding.
The women aged between 25-60ish were mostly in smart jackets and skirts/trousers/dresses, with good shoes and bags.
The blokes, well where do I even begin? The most amazing concoction of an outfit was bright yellow canvas trousers, a red shirt and a bright green sweatshirt. He looked like something off Rainbow. I would hardly have been surprised if Zippy leapt out from behind his chair. Yet this guy was probably one of the cleverest people on the planet.
Many of the other blokes wore more muted canvas trousers, but with cheapish trainers and washed-out sweatshirts. Their belongings were stuffed in freebie conference bags. They had made no effort with their appearance whatsoever.
Some of the older men, and I mean over 70, wore suits but fairly ill-fitting ones and ties that didn't really match their shirts.
The older women mostly wore flat black shoes, opaque black tights, bras that didn't quite hold everything up, and poorly fitting cotton dresses (they were generally all quite overweight). They looked a bit unworldly and messy, but their sense of colour co-ordination was better than the men.
In short, it seemed to me like the only people who were expected to make an effort was women between 25-60 and they had to spend a lot more time and money on their outfits in order to be taken seriously.
I am tempted to go along in my gardening clothes next time and see what happens.