ForumsShop Talk

I remember a time when most business men wore nice suits, shirts and ties. Ladies were dressed sharp, too. Over the years, corporate america became more flexible and allowed casual Fridays and then business casual dress...period. But, now...people take it to the extreme - - -wearing flip flops while commuting on trains and coming downtown and holy jeans and graffitti shirts and suggestive clothing. I think it's so silly and unprofessional (and dangerous). I mean...how are you going to run for your life in flip flops??? I once asked a manager....well, aren't you going to send that person home to change? They said "no" - - -we're just so happy they came into work today. If we send them home, we'll lose about 3 hours productivity time and who knows if they'll even return. And when I was 20-something....I was all choked up in a white dress shirt and a tie on a 95 degree summer day! Ha!

Wow.

As I sit here working on a project in blue jeans, a linen shirt and my favorite jogging shoes - I feel so unprofessional. Oh wait! I work in advertising! I guess, this place needs to lose the Xbox 360, the Wii, the massage chairs, they should put some future in the mediation room and send all the dogs home.

But the clients love it - they enjoy coming here and meeting in the themed conference rooms, listening to an expert on online gaming with purple hair. And they really love the numbers they are getting from this place. And every now and then, you catch one of these important clients in a custom suit riding one of the scooters to a meeting.

I think we all need to put our best foot forward. I just think it depends on where you work and what you do. You can go too far either way.

That was all I was trying to get across. Let's stay flexible how we view things. I own some nice suits, but I realized early on clients have an idea of what they are going to see at advertising agencies, and suits and ties do not say creative. I imagine some people would cringe if they saw what I wore to client meetings with some of the huge clients I have presented to, but the clients were cool with it and it did not hinder an exchange of thoughts and ideas.

Now, that being said. One thing some folks don't get - IF YOU WEAR A SUIT, WEAR IT RIGHT! NO STAINS AND NO WRINKLES! AND BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, SHINE YOUR SHOES!
Nothing is worse than dressing up and looking bad.

Now, DomainDiva, they don't have an espresso machine. but we can hang out in the Zen room - I want one of these in my home!! The "Spa" room is cool but I really need the peace and calm more. You would really be happy today - employees are taking pictures with their dogs today.