Ask Slashdot: Is There a Professional Geek Dress Code? 432
First time submitter KateKintail writes "I'm being promoted to be a director of a computer/web services department at work with staff members (not yet hired) working under me. My workplace doesn't have a dress code 95% of the year. Is this the end of my days of jeans and enjoyably geeky t-shirts? Is there a way to dress professionally in the workplace as a boss (the kind that doesn't need to be defeated at the end of a level) while still showing my Browncoat or Whovian love as I crawl under cobwebby desks to check that equipment is properly plugged in?"
Appearance matters (Score:4, Informative)
Contractor wear (Score:5, Informative)
In the computer contracting field, which tends to be semi-profesional dress, what you are shooting for is bussines casual Slacks, black shoes, button up shirt (short or long sleeve) with no patterns on it.
Remember two things, you should not be climbing under things anymore. Directors direct others to do this work. Secondly you are now going to have to play interdepartment politics. this means you are going to have to make sure people take you seriously. this, unfortunatly for humans, means a dominance display in the form of your clothing. You are not going to win a budget fight and be taken seriously wearing clown shoes no matter how correct your argument is.
So accept that in your new world clothes still donates status and ability. You need to adapt because you are not going to change the course of human evolution overnight.
First Party (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Appearance matters (Score:5, Informative)
I don't think that "First time submitter KateKintail" was planning to wear a tie. I mean, she could, but...
Kate: consider a geeky mug on your desk (I have ":w! saves") and geeky accessories (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc - I even have a purse made of computer-keyboard keys). You can also totally geek out on your fingernails with nail pens. Mine right now have the Pirate Party logo.
Re:Dress Code (Score:5, Informative)
If he had common sense do you really think he would be asking a bunch of nerds for fashion advice?
You are assuming it's a He. You fail common sense (see submitter's name for reasonable doubt).
Re:Does it really matter (Score:2, Informative)
(Belts are always black, by the way)
Actually belt color should always match your shoe color. This is a common men's faux pas, to always select a black belt. If you're wearing sneakers, then yes, black is fine, but if you're wearing some kind of leather shoe, match your belt and shoe colors. It's not as bad as it sounds anyway, usually it just means a black and brown belt, at worst 2 brown belts of different shades.
Simple (Score:4, Informative)
No Jeans. Ever. You're not stacking pallets. Unfortunately yes, it is the end of your days of jeans.
Slacks, not Khakis (except, perhaps, on Friday). Black. Maybe grey, depending on how it looks with the rest of your clothes. Black goes with everything, so if all else fails, go black.
Shirt: Button down, opaque, no logos. Undershirt should not be visible (white t-shirt works best). Yes, you are expected to wear two layers of shirt. I would suggest solid colors, although some of the HR and Management guys at my job look decent in plaid and other simple patterns.
The pants and shirt I have in my assigned uniform are a polyester/cotton blend. They don't breathe, at all, but they are nearly indestructible.
Shoes: Black, polishable. Not sneakers. Ask a buddy of yours in the military to help you pick out a good pair of dress shoes / boots, if nothing else. The military guys I work with always have excellent looking boots that they swear are comfortable enough to wear for 16+ hours without killing you. I'm certain some military slashdotter can reply here with suggestions for good, comfortable, decent looking boots.
Socks: Black, not white. Preferably not athletic socks, although you can usually get away with them. You can't get away with white socks. Black.
Tie: Optional for techs, usually. If not, go for a bow tie. Bow ties are cool.
Re:Does it really matter (Score:5, Informative)
(Belts are always black, by the way)
No. Belts match shoes: brown shoes, brown belt. Black shoes, brown belt. For guys anyway.
Re:Your staff (Score:5, Informative)
But the key thing to remember is that people WILL judge you based on what you are wearing. So don't dress on how people should act, dress on how they will act, if you care how they act toward you.
That's true. When people dress in suits, I always assume they're going to try to steal something from me, but don't want to get their hands dirty.
Some will rob you with a six-gun, some with a fountain pen.
-Woody Guthrie
Re:Dress Code (Score:4, Informative)
You said that you were wearing jeans and t-shirts, so we can assume that is within the cultural norm. I would suggest trading in the T-shirt for something with a collar on it. In order to maintain your geek-cred, you could check out the "First Party" line of shirts over at penny-arcade. [penny-arcade.com]
On the other hand, a tweed jacket and a bow-tie would work. [squidoo.com]
Re:Your staff (Score:2, Informative)
This is a bunch of bullshit. Real people know that performance - not appearance - counts. A lot depends on environment and the prevailing culture. For example, you say "if someone sees you constantly in a Hawaiian shirt..." ya know, *IF* you were in Hawaii, it would be expected that you'd be in a Hawaiian shirt. If you came into your Hawaiian office in a bulky and sweat suit you're be seen as the idiot!
In Silicon Valley, the dress is different than in stoggey old NYC.
The Little Things Count - Shoes (Score:4, Informative)
For men, military style tactical boots, kept polished, can be almost indistinguishable from dress shoes, and are an order of magnitude or two more comfortable. In addition, the type with steel toes and non-slip soles are approved footwear for any place I have ever been that required safety boots.
Add a set of comfortable gel insoles to those and you will have foot nirvana all day.
For women, stick with comfortable shoes over pretty/fancy ones. Even sitting at a desk all day, your feet have a major impact on your overall comfort. Low heels or flats that match a variety of clothes can be life savers. And don't forget that you too can use the lovely gel insoles to improve comfort.
In either case, it is also nice to be able to sneak the shoes off under a desk and stretch your feet out while you work. Just keep clean feet and no one will even know. (Except the support monkey checking your Ethernet cables)
If you are sitting for longer hours than standing and moving around, wear a belt that is slide adjustable instead of one that has pre-punched holes. Remember that the longer you are sitting, the more your spine compresses and the more your girth temporarily increases (no matter how fit you are).
If you end up having to wear dress shirts and find them uncomfortably hot or cool, Under Armor and similar companies make thermal regulating undershirts in a variety of colors, including black, white, and neutral/tan that work well enough for desert and cold weather troops. They are well worth the investment in my opinion. They also allow you to slip off a dress shirt if you have to do a desk dive, dust yourself off in the appropriate restroom, and return to full dress without missing a beat.