Business School Dress Codes?

Earlier today, I had a conversation with a fellow first year about how people dress at Owen. Not surprisingly, he said that the more he sees people dress down (i.e. wearing shorts and flip flops to class), the more he wants to dress up.

Given the fact I tend to agree with him, I really didn't think too much of the conversation. That changed when I came across this story from Business Week about a new dress code for business school undergrads at Illinois State University.

Realizing that “dress for the occasion,” tends to run the gambit in our own business school, what do you think about more business schools considering mandatory dress codes? {author ducks to avoid the incoming hailstorm of vineyard vines belts and sandals}

Comments

[D]

I wouldn't say that some people here are "dressing down" but rather, they are consciously deciding to disregard the unwritten dress code. It's unfortunate that unless guidelines are etched in stone and penalties for non-compliance are stated (i.e. Honor Code), there will always be some that will do whatever they want. That said, I think that most students are dressing appropriately, and those individuals who aren't are only do a disservice to themselves.

Have a good time introducing yourself to the boss of your dreams who randomly walked in today while you're wearing a polo and your "dress up shorts," guy.

New plan: Tuesday='Tie Day'

[Jared]

At this point I would like to point out that I posted this particular topic for the purposes of starting a discussion.

My own stance is that though I prefer not to dress down, it is ultimatley our own choice what to wear, just as it is our choice what message we send to recruiters and potential employers.

That being said, let's hear from both sides as only in discourse is there progress.

[ED]

Chance of a random on-campus visit by your next boss occurring during the next two years: less than 1 in 10,000

Go ahead, try to find an example of when it's happened. Examples where people forgot to check OCNS for long periods do not count.

Chances that Management Hall's climate control will be out-of-whack on any given day: 99 in 100.

[ED]

Chance of a random on-campus visit by your next boss occurring during the next two years: less than 1 in 10,000

Go ahead, try to find an example of when it's happened. Examples where people forgot to check OCNS for long periods do not count.

Chances that Management Hall's climate control will be out-of-whack on any given day: 99 in 100.

[Isha]

I absolutely agree that the manner in which the business students present themselves reflects not only on them but on the environment that they are in. Therefore if some students dress like they are on going to a beach I shorts and flip flops then the whole idea of business school is slightly amiss. There is a Polish proverb “Jak Cie widzą tak Cie piszą” (literally: As you are seen you are perceived) and in this case the rest of the student body is perceived as those few who don’t care. Do I want to be perceived as a person from a different environment? Not exactly. I want my classmates to reflect the professionalism and the dedication that got us all here.

In response to Ed’s comment, last Friday one of the 2nd year women was wearing city shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt and sandals. Although she looked nice, it wasn’t what one might call professional or even business casual. And there comes her dream contact person, a senior partner to a major consulting firm, a person she’s been trying really hard to meet. Result – she never left her study room and never talked to him. Why? She didn’t want to make a BAD first impression with her not professional attire. So there are dream employers showing up on campus is not as rare as one might think. Aside for making his/her classmates look bad, every time someone chooses to dress down they set themselves up for lost opportunities and eventually disappointment.

If you have to wear shorts and flip flops (or jeans every day of the week) then maybe Owen was not a good fit for you…

[ED]

Like I said, only unexpected encounters count. I find it highly unlikely most students who *stay on top of things* like reading OCNS an ODN will be surprised by their dream contact person. For students who expect their careers to stay in Nashville - well, they should dress nice because they might see their dream company's entire senior management team at SATCo one day. That really does happen!

[Sharran Srivatsaa]

Who cares about the recruiters. Who cares about what anyone personally thinks. The dress code is set... it is business casual during business hours. If you come talk to me and ask me for help (which believe it or not, people do often) I am more likely to respect you if you are dressed decently... I am not judging you by what you are wearing, I am looking at you and thinking... hmmm, if he/she does not take himself/herself seriously enough to follow a pre-set dress code and look presentable enough to call himself/herself my classmate, I dont see any good reason to be of any help.

Now if you step up to a tie on tuesdays and a pink shirt on Thursdays, I will give you mega props.

[Jeff]

to Isha's comment - "If you have to wear shorts and flip flops (or jeans every day of the week) then maybe Owen was not a good fit for you…"
-> i am personally disappointed - I was under the impression that Owen was a collaborative,open community, not a community that draws lines by what clothes you wear.

To her other points about lost opportunities - i also disagree - opportunities are what you make of them; if someone makes the choice to not pursue an opportunity b/c of what she is wearing, that's her loss, but it's not because of what she is wearing, it's because of her self consciousness. If an employer makes a negative snap judgment (which I admit is unavoidable) based on what you choose to wear to school, it's still up to you to demonstrate you want to work where those types of judgments exist.

Ed - why get into semantics? some people are sheep, some people are shepherds, and some people have escaped the meadow already.

In my limited experience, presentation is in the way you dress, the way you talk, and equally importantly what you can accomplish. I challenge any of you to find someone who is perfect in your eyes over these 3 dimensions. After all, perception is reality, and perception is based on the individual. For me, I would take a business school full of people who I can trust to own initiatives, act ambitiously, and come to the table with an open mind ready to absorb and learn over a business school where everyone dresses business casual or business formal...but that's just me. I don't dress the way I do to conform, not conform, or make a statement. I dress the way I do because I accept people will make snap judgments about me regardless and I'm more focused on what I need to accomplish in my short time here.

[Edward A. Safaryan]

ok...whoever you are that used ED as a name for his/her previous posts is not THE Ed....i am THE ONLY ED that matters...and although these posts completely represent my views about dressing down..they are not the posts by THE ED...therefore kids, stay away from cheap imitations! THE ED has spoken...i says...if it is nice, let there be dress down!!!

[Edward A. Safaryan]

And btw Sharran, cosmetic presence of success is worth absolutely nothing. Our "prospective bosses" are just as much likely to walk in our our class' weekend escapades and observing many of us in our "not-so professional" mode...granted, you will counter the fact that these escapades do not take place during "business hours"...so i ask you...what is the point of looking professional on the surface if someone is a complete tool and has absolutely nothing to contribute to the educated conversation? shouldn't the criteria for judgment be based on evaluation of one's ability to reason and present himself/herself logically during discourse? THE ED has spoken...