Suppose some employee changes his shirts every day but doesn't change his jackets or cardigans often. Says he wears them several days in a row. Is it considered a bad manner? Is it considered that one must change all of his items every day (jackets, cardigans, ties, pants, belts, shoes)?
How often is one supposed to change clothes for the office?
take_five
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Suppose some employee changes his shirts every day but doesn't change his jackets or cardigans often. Says he wears them several days in a row. Is it considered a bad manner? Is it considered that one must change all of his items every day (jackets, cardigans, ties, pants, belts, shoes)?
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I don't know that it's bad "manners" necessarily, however it just makes sense to have more than one full set of clothes that you can at least alternate from day to day. When I first had to start wearing a suit to work I luckily bought a navy and mid-grey which I alternated. However I had many different shirts, which I changed each day as well as many ties. I only had two pairs of shoes, which I also alternated.
Not wearing the same thing each day will certainly make the item last longer and also won't make people think the individual lacks clothes, which might make the person come off as somewhat socially awkward, I think. As long as the clothes are maintained and clean, I don't think it's something that would necessarily need to be addressed with the employee, however. It may depend on the place of employment, though, and how much importance is placed on clothing.
Not wearing the same thing each day will certainly make the item last longer and also won't make people think the individual lacks clothes, which might make the person come off as somewhat socially awkward, I think. As long as the clothes are maintained and clean, I don't think it's something that would necessarily need to be addressed with the employee, however. It may depend on the place of employment, though, and how much importance is placed on clothing.
I think it depends. A young employee just starting out is usually not going to have a large wardrobe. So if he wears the same suit everyday, but rotates shirts and ties, I think that would be acceptable. Someone in their 40's, not so much, as one would assume they would have assembled a wardrobe in the past 20 years.
One thing I've noticed is that people may buy several suits and rotate them, but have only one pair of dress shoes they wear every day.
One thing I've noticed is that people may buy several suits and rotate them, but have only one pair of dress shoes they wear every day.
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Desirable? Certainly! Bad manners? Perhaps not, perhaps he is just poor, in which situation he's to be understood. Or just doesn't wish to spend much on clothing. His habits wouldn't be my choice, but I don't find them bad manners unless he is visibly dirty, unkempt or has a bad odor.
I don't think it would be bad manners, but it is seldom wise, both for esthetics or for the clothing to wear a suit or a sport coat two days in a row.
You should certainly not wear a shirt two days in a row unless you wash it. There are one in a million circumstances (stuck out of town overnight unexpectedly or something like that) where it might be okay, but for the most part, at least a few people will probably notice if you wear the same suit or sport coat two days in a row. It is not a good idea to do so.
You should certainly not wear a shirt two days in a row unless you wash it. There are one in a million circumstances (stuck out of town overnight unexpectedly or something like that) where it might be okay, but for the most part, at least a few people will probably notice if you wear the same suit or sport coat two days in a row. It is not a good idea to do so.
A regional question
Previous threads have included comments to the effect that Europeans apparently wear the same suit several days in a row. In the US it is customary to wear different suits or jackets and dress pants each day. When I worked daily in a municipal government office it was standrd practice to wear a different suit or sportcoat, and a different tie each day. One needed three or four suits and a couple of sportcoats, as well as two or three pairs of dress/business shoes to maintain a respectable appearance.
As others have noted, changing shirts and wearing different neckties daily is a desirable practice from the standpoint of appearance and personal hygene.
My sense is that things changed dramatically here after the war. I understand that before World War II men in the US owned fewer suits than is now the custom.
From what I have read over the years men in the former Soviet Union were not expected to have many suits. I imagine things are changing in Russia and that not only are more consumer goods available than previously, one would not be criticized for wearing a different suit every day or having several neckties.
I hope this is helpful.
Regards,
Gurdon
Previous threads have included comments to the effect that Europeans apparently wear the same suit several days in a row. In the US it is customary to wear different suits or jackets and dress pants each day. When I worked daily in a municipal government office it was standrd practice to wear a different suit or sportcoat, and a different tie each day. One needed three or four suits and a couple of sportcoats, as well as two or three pairs of dress/business shoes to maintain a respectable appearance.
As others have noted, changing shirts and wearing different neckties daily is a desirable practice from the standpoint of appearance and personal hygene.
My sense is that things changed dramatically here after the war. I understand that before World War II men in the US owned fewer suits than is now the custom.
From what I have read over the years men in the former Soviet Union were not expected to have many suits. I imagine things are changing in Russia and that not only are more consumer goods available than previously, one would not be criticized for wearing a different suit every day or having several neckties.
I hope this is helpful.
Regards,
Gurdon
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The change may have begun a little earlier, but that's generally true. Even mid-century popular press and humor often used the stock element of the Saturday night bath in the plot. Consider the world in which my grandfather grew up; no indoor plumbing, electricity or central heating. All washing required going to the yard to pump the water, carrying it indoors and heating it on a wood or coal stove by lamp light. Rather time consuming and arduous after your 12 hour work day. Not something to approach casually.
I recall a packet G.I. excursion to Paris in the late '60's. It was done on the cheap, and the hotel proprietor demanded an extra $5 per head because "Americans take too many showers!"
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I would not consider is bad manners but certainly it could be categorized as a bad habit if someone can afford to buy clothes instead he does not......For me whatever you wear should be neat and tidy.....for longevity of clothes its good if you do alternate your clothes...I would myself only wear a shirt once a week....
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I don't know that bad manners quite captures what I find extremely off-putting about the notion of wearing the same outfit (save shirt) several days in a row, and I'm not really sure what term would capture it better. But there is no doubt that I find such an approach to office dress very off-putting indeed, and can't imagine any office environment that I have worked in over the past 25 years where that wouldn't be frowned upon.
While it is conveivable that someone gainfully employed in an office job could not afford five changes of clothes for a given week, it seems unlikely.
While it is conveivable that someone gainfully employed in an office job could not afford five changes of clothes for a given week, it seems unlikely.
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It's still different across countries - I was on a plane, when a guy from first class in a very nice suit walked back through coach to stow a bag. As he walked by, the guy absolutely reeked of BO.
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I have always kept 3+ suits in my rotation and never wear the same one on consecutive days. I rotate my shirts enough that none of them are ever worn more than once per week. I rotate ties so that I don't repeat them until a couple of weeks have passed. But these are all my personal rules. I wouldn't expect everyone to have the same wardrobe rules.
At minimum, just don't smell bad. If the clothes you are wearing stink then you are breaking everyone's first rule of dressing well.
At minimum, just don't smell bad. If the clothes you are wearing stink then you are breaking everyone's first rule of dressing well.
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Yes, it's bad manners, poor upbringing, lacking professionalism and general poor show
He will look all the poorer for it, invoke ridicule from all ranks, will smell funny since he doesn't let his clothes air properly, wear out his clothes prematurely and will contribute to general slovenliness of mind, body and soul not just in himself but in his colleagues.
He will reflect poorly on himself and his employer.
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Bad manners? No. Bad practice? Yes. Your clothes and their accoutrements need time to air out between wearings, about two days. Ideally you would have at least three sweaters, sport coats, trousers, belts, and pairs of shoes plus a good variety of ties and shirts. Having a decent rotation of items that mostly go well with each other will give you a fresh look every day.
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My sense is that things changed dramatically here after the war. I understand that before World War II men in the US owned fewer suits than is now the custom.
Regards,
Gurdon[/QUOTE]
I once asked my mother why, when my dad built our house just after World War II, there was only one small closet for clothes.
Her reply, that I'll never forget was: "When he built this house, he only had one suit and I only had two dresses"
I suspect that has a good bit to do with my fixation with clothes. I feel fortunate to have a full closet and to live in a country where that is possible.
Regards,
Gurdon[/QUOTE]
I once asked my mother why, when my dad built our house just after World War II, there was only one small closet for clothes.
Her reply, that I'll never forget was: "When he built this house, he only had one suit and I only had two dresses"
I suspect that has a good bit to do with my fixation with clothes. I feel fortunate to have a full closet and to live in a country where that is possible.
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Member take five,
Let us consider instead that there may be other factors involved in relations between persons of good will that are of various kinds.
Persons smell differently to other persons based on diet and cultural influences as often as to their personal hygiene.
This may be off-putting. People who do not drink milk and utilize cheese in their diet find those persons that do use these products to be distasteful and unclean. One example. Some have an aversion to all animal products or evidence of the use of animals that is not clean in their concept of the world as it should be. These are not simple matters that easily lead to answers for ones own situation.
It is not long since we have entered a period of wide availability of some resources and not others. In fact, in many places, the conditions that prevailed since ancient times still are with us. These matters all have an affect on the response one receives from others who are not subject to the same conditions.
These are questions that test the good intentions of others as well as our own.
Availability and cost of services, resources that may be used in one way and then be unavailable for any other purpose...
It is a struggle to live a good life, and it is a struggle to live any life in some circumstances.
Let us allow that there are many differences between and among peoples that have an effect on perception that we may not be aware that we carry with us,
and let us extend a general exception to permit others to be as odd as they may seem to ourselves in order to always honor our welcome to guests and acknowledge their individual unique presence among our community of persons of good will.
That is my own thought about the matter at hand and not meant to represent any particular position other than my own, which one is well-aware is somewhat eccentric.
All are. Be the best person of good will as you may and allow others the benefit of the same courtesy.
Regards to all, and good 'morrow,
rudy
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Sure. The thing is if you say live in a business trip in another city for a whole week it is hard to take several full sets with you.
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I have the opposite problem.
My current work wardrobe consists of 2 blazers, 3 pairs of trousers, 8 shirts and 3 ties, none of which are worn 2 days running.
The problem is, because it is a supplied uniform, all the items are identical.
So, although I change the clothes everyday, I always look as though I am wearing the same things.
My current work wardrobe consists of 2 blazers, 3 pairs of trousers, 8 shirts and 3 ties, none of which are worn 2 days running.
The problem is, because it is a supplied uniform, all the items are identical.
So, although I change the clothes everyday, I always look as though I am wearing the same things.
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It occurs to me that changing shirts is necessary since men tend to sweat into them so the shirts need to be washed often. On the other hand, no one washes his jackets or ties every day so changing these items is a style issue only that has nothing to do with neatness. As for air time - 8 hours every night is enough except it was completely soaked under rain.
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Nice story.
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