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Casual Fridays: A Thing of The Past?

The concept of Casual Friday is an American and Canadian phenomenon that has been around since the 1950’s, but gained most of its momentum over the past decade. Giving employees a chance to dress down before the weekend begins; Casual Friday was intended to boost employee morale in the workplace.

But over the past few years we may have let our love for comfortable clothes go too far. A recent article in The New York Times notes that companies are abandoning the specific formal/casual dress code in favor of week-long “business casual” attire. Although the idea of business casual is old news for most of us, it reminds me of how common jeans, flip-flops, and polo shirts are becoming. I’ve never loved wearing a tie, but I also recognize the importance of first impressions and professionalism.

Simon Kneen, Vice President of Brooks Brothers, is quoted in the article as saying, “It’s mostly junior people who take advantage of Casual Friday.” But I’ve seen the mistake of dressing too far down across the board. While khakis may be comfortable for a regular day at the office, I think meetings require slacks or more formal attire. To arrive at a meeting in sneakers and polo t-shirt (even if it is Ralph Lauren) is inappropriate. First impressions and professional standards of dress apply to all employees, junior and senior.

But please jump in; I am curious about other opinions. Am I outdated in saying that we should dust off our suits and pull them out for professional situations? I just think that in spite of new, more lenient dress codes in the office, a higher standard of sophisticated dress should not be forgotten.

Posted by David Flax, CPA on November 15, 2007 • Email to a Friend

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