Comment Re:Why dessing professionally is important (Score 1) 212
Continuing my above response---
3) I think I would have to argue that people will still be judged on their suit; it's not a huge improvement over everyone just wearing clothing that has no printed words nor symbols, so it's not a particularly good reason to prefer suits over "business casual."
4) I'm uncomfortable with the idea of giving others the impression that I earn a lot of money. How much I earn is my business, not my co-workers', and if I'm buying clothes with my income, I'd prefer ones that I like and have high utility. Suits are not good things to wear when cooking, cleaning, nor gardening, but I can still sit at a computer and work wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Making a lot of money doesn't necessarily signal that you're good at your job; most people would describe it as being lucky enough to get paid well for the work you do, something that is more likely but not definite if you're competent in your field. Seeing someone in a suit to me generally signals that someone wants to appear authoritative or is trying to impress someone else; a poor person can always save up for a long time to buy a suit in order to impress people.
5) I don't feel suits are fairly neutral. In fact, by your point #4, you are saying they give someone an appearance of competence and wealth. I think you meant that suits are, at the present time in most circles in Europe and the US, viewed as unoffensive outfits in a typical man's wardrobe. I would argue that clothing free of words or symbols should be considered quite unoffensive.
6) Suits don't make the best uniforms for the very reason that it is not uncommon for a man to go arbitrary places wearing a suit. I know that in the past I have been often classified as an employee by other customers due to my appearance. Nametags/badges with the company name/logo make a better identifier; since they usually can only be seen from the front, some sort of clothing style/color scheme is helpful for customers to recognize potential employees from a distance (which is similar to the point you're making).
7) Eww, I don't think I look good in a suit. I'm told I do, but I'm far more comfortable with my appearance with all sorts of other outfits.
8) Haha. Yes, wearing a suit when you're trying to pick up women does tend to get you noticed.