# Senate says goodbye to dress code **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 20, 2023, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409 "2023-09-20T06:05:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/41 "2023-09-21T21:01:01Z")
I hear that. (Perhaps an official dress code could be crafted which requires Republicans to dress as clowns and children.) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/42 "2023-09-21T21:15:13Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Cruz Say what you want about Cruz, he often has a good sense of humor, so [I hope he will be emboldened to show up to congress as he was meant to show up](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-buEREeLLxFM/WSrAtflQbPI/AAAAAAAAmhk/am0puWR0i74K_bHMIMCRVDoaXMwmCOGZgCLcB/s1600/image1%255B2%255D.JPG). ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/43 "2023-09-22T00:11:57Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > But let me ask this: Does Fetterman just have a preference for casual attire, or is there some kind of, I don’t know, mental health/theraputic reason for the choice of style? I don’t know if it’s related, but Fetterman is recovering from a stroke he suffered in May of last year. I gather that the main lingering impact is in auditory processing; he uses closed captioning on his tablet and equipment in his desk to understand speech. It’s possible that it has also caused him some physical difficulty with wearing suits, but it’s also possible that he just doesn’t think the dress code is necessary or appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/44 "2023-09-22T01:10:36Z")
Fetterman just doesn’t like wearing suits, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/45 "2023-09-22T03:10:52Z")
To be clear, I fully support him in this. I hate the way suits are held up as “proper” attire. It’s bizarre to me that our culture still clings to them, especially when wearing a jacket all the time is increasingly impractical in many times and places. If you _want_ to wear a suit, fine, but insisting that it’s required in order to be worthy of respect is archaic, classist bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/46 "2023-09-22T12:50:13Z")
At least two Republican senators have worn casual clothes to the Senate in recent years (I’m not on my computer or I’d Google the names + post the pics). So just like the tan suit (which has been worn by multiple Republican presidents), it’s a manufactured outrage targeted at an ignorant audience. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/47 "2023-09-22T13:00:07Z")
Fox News has been pushing the dress code story as part of their frothing-at-the-mouth over Fetterman. They still can’t accept that voters preferred a candidate with a physical impairment over a slimeball. By the way, what is this Senate “decorum” they speak of? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/48 "2023-09-22T14:54:45Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > By the way, what is this Senate “decorum” they speak of? [![](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/03/02/USAT/ebc08a96-2a89-4612-b64a-a023787283b2-AP_State_of_the_Union.jpg?crop=4484,2523,x0,y0&width=3200&height=1801&format=pjpg&auto=webp) ](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/03/02/USAT/ebc08a96-2a89-4612-b64a-a023787283b2-AP_State_of_the_Union.jpg?crop=4484,2523,x0,y0&width=3200&height=1801&format=pjpg&auto=webp) I know that is the House, but it is still relevant since I believe MTG is one of them howling about this dress code. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/49 "2023-09-22T16:01:38Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I know that is the House, but it is still relevant since I believe MTG is one of them howling about this dress code. Indeed she is. I quoted her in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/50 "2023-09-22T19:38:51Z")
Honestly, the House could use this change too. I’m sure Gaetz would feel far more at home in flip-flops, Bermuda shorts, a t-shirt that reads “If there’s grass on the field, play ball!”, and a helmet with a beer can attached to either side. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/51 "2023-09-22T19:41:52Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > helmet with a beer can attached to either side. I hear Kavanaugh is doing a constitutional deep-dive to learn why he can’t wear his helmet in chambers. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/52 "2023-09-22T22:15:34Z")
All senators to wear baseball caps back-to-front. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/53 "2023-09-22T22:35:04Z")
Trump can send sone of his out as gifts. We’ll see who wears ‘em. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/54 "2023-09-22T23:54:36Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Trump can send sone of his out as gifts. Gifts??? Not gonna happen. I work in a department with some well paid and scary smart people. We dress as we wish. Which is to say the same clothes that you would wear having a casual lunch on Saturday. Or hanging on your deck at home. We wear what we wear. Full Stop. I can’t remember when the last time it was that I saw a suit/tie set up. Well, was probably a wedding but totally not necessary. Colorado mountains here. We are practical. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/55 "2023-09-23T09:22:58Z")
> [@themapleleaf](#): > > Excellent. I vehemently oppose the idea of a dress code in any legislature, as this is supposed to be a bastion of democracy, and that should include freedom of expression. > > If an individual thinks it is appropriate to wear a suit or other formal or business attire to a legislature, then they can do it themselves, but they should not impose their opinion on other members. > > I am a naturalized Czech citizen. There doesn’t seem to be a dress code there, and there have been instances of deputies in the Czech parliament wearing jeans, even one man in camo pants was sighted there. In the unlikely event that I were ever elected a deputy of the Czech parliament, I would also wear jeans there, though I might wear a jacket to deflect attention from the fact, and would tell off anyone who would call me out on it. (And in the even more unlikely event that I were elected President, I guess I would wear a suit to formal occasions, but not to the office every day, and even with the suit I think I wouldn’t wear a tie). > > I have also seen people in sweaters in the European parliament. Well, if a guy wearing camouflage was spotted, it obviously wasn’t very effective. ---
**Author:** ![ASanders](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asanders/32/3367_2.png) [@ASanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASanders)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/56 "2023-09-23T21:27:51Z")
I’m generally against firm dress codes outside of necessary uniforms. But there’s a huge distance between “suits required” and wearing gym shorts and hoodies to work. Honestly, I sympathize with Fetterman completely. Being 6’8" means dressing is a challenge and suits are expensive even off the rack. He’d have to invest a bunch to be able to wear one to work every day, and why should he ( or anyone) have to be uncomfortable? That said, he can do better than hoodies. I love Zelenskyy’s army sweaters (for example) and lots of Big & Tall stores have great casual fleece styles. Throw one over a polo shirt and khakis and you’ve got a nice Casual Friday vibe that doesn’t offend. The hoodies and shorts seem designed to trigger and that is just not helpful. Why do it? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/57 "2023-09-23T21:30:33Z")
> [@ASanders](#): > > That said, he can do better than hoodies. Absolutely. Dress slacks and either Polos or buttoned shirts are comfortable and professional. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/58 "2023-09-23T22:29:07Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > As a machinist, I can tell you that certain clothes just go with the job. What that might imply for the senate, I don’t know. Y’know, on thinking about it some more, the job of Senators (and Representatives) is to represent their constituents. And they can best do that by dressing like their constituents. If a particular senator considers their primary constituency to be business executives, then it makes sense for them to dress like business executives. And if a senator considers his primary constituency to be factory workers, then it makes sense for him to dress like a factory worker. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/59 "2023-09-23T22:40:46Z")
Given the choice between a congressperson who dresses like a professional and one who acts like a professional, I’ll take the latter any day. ---
**Author:** ![ASanders](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asanders/32/3367_2.png) [@ASanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASanders)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409/60 "2023-09-23T23:32:39Z")
Abso-frickin-lutely! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-says-goodbye-to-dress-code/990409.md?page=4)