# Dress Code at Work? Why no denim allowed? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 10, 2002, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876 "2002-12-10T23:06:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rostfrei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@rostfrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rostfrei)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/1 "2002-12-10T23:06:25Z")
I’ve just gotten a memo at work, reminding everyone about our “dress code”. Among all the basic standards of attire, it stipulates that “denim of any type” is not allowed. All of my other previous jobs had similar rules about the dreaded denim. My question. What on earth is so offensive about denim? At a previous job, I wore a nice blue denim shirt to work one day. I was confonted by management and told that my shirt was not appropriate for a call center environment. Whaaat??? Had my shirt been any other color but blue, they probably wouldn’t have said anything… ---
**Author:** ![rostfrei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@rostfrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rostfrei)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/2 "2002-12-10T23:09:47Z")
I forgot to mention that I work in a small call center and have virtually no contact with people other than on the phone. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/3 "2002-12-10T23:14:51Z")
Well, I personally think it’s a control issue, since you have so little contact with the public. In other settings, it might be easier to forbid denim because there are so many _tacky_ things that can be done with denim. Cut-offs, weird bleaching practices, “over-stonewashed”, and what have you. I doubt that a nice “normal” un-tattered pair of denim jeans would disturb them, it’s the other stuff they want to weed out. It’s a fine line. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/4 "2002-12-11T01:57:32Z")
A few months ago, we were all issued uniform denim shirts to wear at work. But at the same time, we were told not to wear jeans anymore because “denim-on-demin” is a fashion faux-pas, according to someone upstairs in management. ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/5 "2002-12-11T02:20:42Z")
That reminds me of when my sister got her school dresscode. it said that you couldnt wear overalls,when my sister asked one of the teachers why she said “I cant tell you, but just dont wear them”. Confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/6 "2002-12-11T03:30:29Z")
At least you don’t have my dress code. Slacks or jeans with a dress shirt. Jeans may be any solid color except they may not be any shade of blue. Blue jeans are unprofessional but pink, green, red or orange are acceptable. I don’t get it, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/7 "2002-12-11T03:33:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rostfrei \* > \*\*I forgot to mention that I work in a small call center and have virtually no contact with people other than on the phone. \*\* I manage a call-center and finally found out the secret reason why from the HR department. The real reason is that by forcing people to wear “business casual” most of the time they can reward people by letting them wear casual clothing on normal work days. People enjoy it, it boosts morale and it doesn’t cost the company anything! Fenris ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/8 "2002-12-11T03:45:04Z")
Isn’t there a Dilbert cartoon on this? I believe the line is: Jeans are not allowed because they look good and feel good and you already own several pairs. Makes about as much sense as any other excuse. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/9 "2002-12-11T04:35:52Z")
I think it is because denim blue jeans are just too damn comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/10 "2002-12-11T05:15:59Z")
Yep asterion, that’s the Dilbert comic. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/11 "2002-12-11T05:17:07Z")
I’m a lab worker. Jeans and T-shirts every day, baby! Woo! Go science!! ---
**Author:** ![Catfood\_Purrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Catfood\_Purrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catfood_Purrito)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/12 "2002-12-11T05:41:38Z")
At my company, we’ve been informed that we’re required to wear business casual (despite having no contact with anyone outside our department) because it promotes a more professional atmosphere. If we’re allowed to wear jeans, apparently chaos will ensue. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/13 "2002-12-11T05:47:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*I manage a call-center and finally found out the secret reason why from the HR department. > Fenris \*\* And the truth comes out! I guess this refutes the rumor that you’re a famous sci fi writer :). Um, /hijack. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/14 "2002-12-11T07:16:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Obsidian Flutterby \* > \*\*Yep asterion, that’s the Dilbert comic. \*\* And IIRC, the line belongs to Catbert, the evil Director of Human Resources. (Cats are the perfect HR directors, according to Scott Adams, because they’re cute and fuzzy, people like them, and they don’t care if you live or die. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/15 "2002-12-11T18:16:00Z")
I produce TV news. This morning, my anchor was wearing blue jeans behind the desk 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/16 "2002-12-11T18:27:13Z")
I work a back office job with no client contact, yet have to dress formally in a suit and tie every day. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/17 "2002-12-11T18:36:55Z")
We wear business casual M-Thu, and on Fridays we can wear jeans. No t-shirts or shorts, though. ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/18 "2002-12-11T18:47:00Z")
It probably goes way back to the time when the only people who wore denim were manual laborers (farmers, miners, factory workers, etc.). For instance, Levi’s were originally sold to miners during the California gold rush. That hijack aside, businesses probably want to project a “higher-class” image. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/19 "2002-12-11T19:16:56Z")
Laborer, Shmaborer. Work is work. If there’s no one to impress, why bother? I am currently stretching the rules by wearing black denim. I say “tough shit”. I look better in jeans than a lot of people do in their matronly, dowdy, stretch pants and polyester print blouses. There! I said it. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876/20 "2002-12-11T22:18:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Turbo Dog \* > \*\*At least you don’t have my dress code. Slacks or jeans with a dress shirt. Jeans may be any solid color except they may not be any shade of blue. Blue jeans are unprofessional but pink, green, red or orange are acceptable. > > I don’t get it, myself. \*\* I was just noticing a related phenomenon. Our dress code is no jeans m-th, but I routinely wear black Levi’s on those days without anybody saying anything to me. If I had a more visible job function it might be different. Anyway, we had a charitable contribution drive at the beginning of this month where you got a day of casual attire for every dollar you contributed, so I get to wear _blue_ jeans every day this month. Why is it that blue jeans feel better than other colors? 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-at-work-why-no-denim-allowed/141876.md?page=2)