IT Work Attire

Hi folks, I'm going to be beginning my first job in the IT field as an IT Assistant. I'm curious to know what your everyday work clothes consist of. My impression of the company I'm going to work for is that the IT department dresses more casual. Of course it all depends where you work and what your position is but for the most part, does IT = Khaki + Polo shirt?

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Jinuyr

I work in a hotel that's a bit more corporate so I dress up with slacks and a buttoned shirt. Depending on the function a jacket with tie.

I still have to get on my hands and knees and do wiring at times though... I'm suprised my clothes are still presentable after that, lol

geeksquad09

Slacks and Button-Up shirt.

vCole

Alif_Sadida_Ekin wrote: »

I wear shorts, tshirts, and flipflops to work. Lately the AC has been blasting so today I wore jeans, a Foo Fighters t-shirt, and my chuck taylors. This probably isn't the norm for most people, but then again, my company keeps free beer, sodas, and snacks in the break room for us too. I love this place...

Same here, to all of these things.

We have Beer Bashes on Friday @ 3:30 too.

zenhound

So after the pleated pants discussion of the other day, I am curious how people dress for work. Not the details like pleated or flat-front, but casual, dressy, etc.

I've only ever worked in super casual environments, jeans and a button down type of environments. Actually lots of people I've worked with don't even do that, jeans and t shirt is popular, but I try to dress up a little more. I'd love to get into an environment where I could dress more professionally--business casual at least. But I suppose on the lower rungs when you might be crawling under the floor to trace wires it makes sense to be casual.

Also, I have a theory that different areas of IT have different cultures in terms of the way people dress. Whenever I deal with software developer types they always seem to be wearing ties. Any other areas that people work in that are more or less dress or casual? Just curious.

cxzar20

Real casual - jeans and sneakers with a polo or button down. I will usually wear a sports coat with the button down.

dave330i

CodeBlox wrote: »

I'm beginning to wear dress shirts and ties though.

No pants? That's a bold fashion statement.

CodeBlox

You betcha. I show up, briefs flapping in the wind.

NetworkVeteran

zenhound wrote: »

So after the pleated pants discussion of the other day, I am curious how people dress for work. Not the details like pleated or flat-front, but casual, dressy, etc.

I try to dress in a similar manner to that of my customers. Sometimes that means dressy, and sometimes that means casual. I adapt, though all my clothes are unique to my tastes.

But I suppose on the lower rungs when you might be crawling under the floor to trace wires it makes sense to be casual.

That's a fallacy. I've seen many people who barely make over minimum wage "dress to impress"... while CEOs pull in huge wads of cash while wearing jeans. If dress is important to you, it's more about finding a workplace that embraces or at least tolerates your style.

I'd love to get into an environment where I could dress more professionally--business casual at least.

Are you sure people mind you dressing up? In some places, if you're not customer-facing, they don't care too much how you dress (business casual vs. t-shirts). They may tolerate your business casual attire as long as you tolerate their t-shirts! Give it a shot.

Whenever I deal with software developer types they always seem to be wearing ties.

That's probably peculiar to your circles--I've known thousands and thousands of software developers and that's not a trend I've noticed.

drkat

I'll wear a polo and khakis and leather shoes not dressy dressy but leather non-sneakers or cords and a polo untucked of course

jamesleecoleman

When I was working (finished work study) I wore plain tshirts, athletic shoes, hoodies, and khaki cargo pants. I even got away with wearing a hat indoors.

Xcluziv

Business casual usually.....buttons down and chinos/khakis. I'll be glad when I start working remotely one day #shortsandflipflopflow

ptilsen

We have a business formal dress code. Nice shirt, pants, and tie. I take it fairly seriously, and always wear nicer clothes and not just the minimum to meet the letter of the requirement. I have co-workers who wear short-sleeve button downs or no belt, and I think it reflects poorly on them, given our image.

However, if it were a more casual environment it would be very different. At my previous position, it was pretty much jeans and any shirt I wanted (had to be long pants for safety reasons). I think how well you dress really needs to be reflective of the culture in which you work. Wearing a nice suit in a business casual workplace makes you look out of place. Wearing a nice suit, sports coat, or vest in a more professional environment is smart.

SteveLord

ptilsen wrote: »

We have a business formal dress code.

What kind of business?

I wear polos or button downs with jeans or cargo pants for the most part. No ties. Extra nice for board or CIO meetings usually.

paul78

zenhound wrote:

So after the pleated pants discussion of the other day, I am curious how people dress for work.

My facility is business casual. But some most wear a jacket but no tie. I do miss wearing a suit because at a certain level, it's a lot easier to just wear a suit. At other facilities, it extremely casual, jeans and sneakers are a norm. But it largely depends on the type of work that's going on at that location and the size of it.

I do prefer a more formal dress code but it largely depends on the level of the person and the business. I've worked at business (startups) where I really didn't care if someone wore shorts and sandals to work (usually the developers).

I am curious - do most people consider the dress code a benefit (ie. do you prefer to work someplace with a relaxed dress code?)

Rakurai

Suit and tie, not bold, or out of the normal for "business". On certain weekends we may be able to wear business casual.

ptilsen

SteveLord wrote: »

What kind of business?

Consulting firm/managed service provider.

TLeTourneau

Business formal dress code for our division and they are serious about it.

EDIT: After reading N2's post I have to update to agree with that. When not in meetings most of us don't wear the coat.

N2IT

Business formal when I am attending meetings or giving a presentation.

Business formal (-tie and suit coat on a regular day)

Alif_Sadida_Ekin

I wore a Nirvana t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops today.

zenhound

Interesting, I see there is a wide variety.

I saw the pants discussion got removed for some reason. But it is related to jobs/career, no? Oh well.

ptilsen

Actually, after reading up on this I guess the definitions of the various levels of formality are really not universally agreed upon. My organization's dress code is closer to business casual. We have to wear ties, but not suits.

Zartanasaurus

Jeans, polo, sneakers. I'd wear bball shorts and tank tops if I could get away with it.

NetworkVeteran

paul78 wrote: »

I am curious - do most people consider the dress code a benefit (ie. do you prefer to work someplace with a relaxed dress code?)

Any dress code--relaxed or formal--is obviously a negative for the individual perspective as it doesn't allow one to dress as they otherwise would have. Most people are understanding when a dress code is driven by business requirements, especially if the company provides a clothing allowance. It's very rare I've ever been subjected to a dress code--most companies trust my judgement--but I remember one short-lived manager who asked me to nix my $200 shoes for a $35 pair that "looked more professional" and was "better for my feet". My feet feel sore just thinking about them. My clothing has been subjected to great scrutiny before making television appearances--but that seemed fair to me. And the company did cover any wardrobe that they felt was lacking for those television appearances.

YuckTheFankees

I get to wear whatever I want

.I usually go with shorts and a t-shirt, maybe a polo if I'm feeling lucky.

ptilsen

NetworkVeteran wrote: »

Any dress code--relaxed or formal--is obviously a negative for the individual perspective as it doesn't allow one to dress as they otherwise would have.

Actually, the lack of a dress code has the same effect. Given no dress code, someone who wants to dress formally despite no requirement to do so will very likely be viewed differently based on that.

afcyung

Blues on monday, ABUs the rest of the week. Pretty casual I would say.

JustFred

In a suit or proper business attire. I never wear a tie but all my colleagues do. It's funny when i first started working at current company i always wondered why IT guys wear suits even when they are just going next door to fix something, but i got used to it and in fact i like it.

afcyung

Probably the image the company wanted to display. Perception is reality, so if you look like a slob you probably are one, if you look well put together you probably are squared away.

a.a.!4life

Zartanasaurus wrote: »

Jeans, polo, sneakers. I'd wear bball shorts and tank tops if I could get away with it.

This....could also apply to strip clubs.

Business casual for me, occasional "aloha fridays" every now and then.

DevilWAH

Currently sitting in shirt and trousers with smart shoes. I think of it on the smart side of Business casual.

When I go to visit my clients then its full suit and tie, (with time taken to iron shirt

)

my new job is a science lab where you only deal with internal customers and managements. Scientists have a different attude to dress code, mainly becasue the lab i work at they have to wear work provided clothes. So the official dress for office workers is smart/casual. So for me this is smart jeans and a clean top.

I like to look like I have thought what I will wear and not just thrown on the first thing that comes to hand, I also cycle to work so I either have to take a change of cloths (that wont get screwed up in my back pack) or wear some thing I can cycle in.

But I do agree with one of the former posters, if there is no official dress code then dress how your customers dress, unless of course they are scruffy, always look "smart" and well turned out in front of customers.

And just wearing a suit does not make you smart, I have see people wearing jeans and t shirt, that are clean and tidy, looking far better than people dressed in suits that look like they went to bed in them .