Sense of fashion...am I asking for trouble? (jeans, wrinkles, clothing)

[dreamofmonterey]

ok. Now don't hate on me!!!!. But, what is the fashion sense (for the office, not the local Appco).

As a manager I have to instill dress code- but this is a challenge- in NY people wear blazers/linen March-May--- here they wear Wal-mart sandals.


sunny

[AppalachianAngler]

You said that in NY they wear blazers & linen, and here they wear sandals. That is not a good analogy since they are all completely different articles of clothing. It is also insulting, in my humble opinion, that you assumed it like that.

You said it is an office so I'd say business casual would be most appropriate. No sandals except for maybe Fridays (and even that may be pushing it). Most businesses are going to this (with some exceptions of course, such as law offices). Collared shirt, khakis (possibly jeans on Fridays. Again, it depends on how relaxed you want it to be), loafers, or dress shoes. I don't see why that would be a problem. I don't think you would receive much backlash for that.

[dreamofmonterey]

nothing personal, AA. Its just that they do wear flip-flops- (last week there were like 30-40 people wearing them) and I have to instill new rules. It has to do with liability for the business.

sunny

[mbmouse]

I agree "Business attire" or "business causal" (if you are ok with khakies and a polo type shirt?) should about cover it. However, "sandals" here cover a wide range of shoe. It could mean a pretty little open back or sling back shoe with modest heel, it could also mean beach wear slip ons.

[Godsdove]

Well, I'm in Indiana and we wear flip flops too. I think it just depends on the company and what has been allowed. I don't think you can make a blanket statement about people from certain areas only do this or that. I'm sure there are plenty of people in TN that wear blazers to work too.

I've worked other places where you can't wear a backless sandle...some no sandles at all. If you make a rule people will follow it (or won't), but that isn't because they are from NY or TN...people are people...and I bet if they have WalMart in NY there are people up there wearing WalMart sandles too.

Anyway, my two cents worth.

[akm4]

I used to work at a title company just outside of San Francisco. It was suit central until a new manager introduced casual Fridays. It was still corporate attire M-TH, but "business casual" on Fridays. Well. You should have seen how that was (mis)interpereted. T-shirts, Birkenstocks, faded jeans, the whole nine yards. Even in a fashion-centric city like SF, if you don't spell out the boundaries, you will have those who dress like it's a backyard BBQ.

In other words, it's not geographical, it's human nature. Sunny, just determine your policy, make it crystal clear, and everyone will adjust. There will always be some who grumble, but they're the same ones who grumble about EVERYTHING, right? LOL!

[klosk]

Well, I am from New Mexico and I have been chastised on this site for saying I will be wearing to the office in Tennessee the following:
Western Boots
Long Denim Skirt
Turquoise Jewlery and in the winter an Indian Blanket coat or Fringed suede Jacket. What is wrong with this? Some people think I will look like "Annie Oakley" But it's not that way at all!!! In fact I am dressed well for what people wear in this office. Girls come in here wearing sweat pants, jogging shoes and wrinkled tops and pants. I have people come in and comment on how professionaly dressed I am. So, in answer to your question, wear whatever you want as long as your not over or under dressed for the office. You will get a feel for that once you walk into an office and look around at what people are wearing. In today's society the dress codes are very relaxed compared to 40 years ago. Good luck, I think you will do just fine.

[new28moon]

On a NY salary people can afford to buy blazers & linen.

The pay rates in TN are lower and Wal-mart is probably the only place they can afford to shop.

[akm4]

I don't buy that reasoning. Are you aware of the cost of living in NYC?

[lorelei2873]

Perhaps folks in your area don't value fashion. Maybe they prefer to spend money on their families. I know that's a big thing where I live (Montana). Also, in my neck of the woods, people don't have much use for anything that's not comfortable or not very functional. Linen wrinkles terribly.