# So is Casual Day really over? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 30, 2002, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579 "2002-05-30T17:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [May 30, 2002, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/1 "2002-05-30T17:54:13Z")
At least, that’s what’s being asserted in a couple of advertisements I’ve seen from men’s businesswear retailers. Naturally, they want to encourage people to dress more formally, so they can sell more suits, so of course they would say that. But have the Dopers seen any corroborating evidence? Any one work in an office that used to be casual but switched to more dressy, or an office that used to have a dress code which was ignored, but has now cracked down? ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/2 "2002-05-30T18:38:27Z")
Actually my company just relaxed the code a little more. They had already dropped ties. But now polo-style shirts are acceptable every day and women may wear Capri pants for the summer. We are central support for a group of distribution centers so we’re not dealing with the retail public or customers on a regular basis. A strict business dress code really isn’t going to accomplish much. However, some of the older women were upset over the change. They insist people act more professionally if they are dressed in business attaire rather than business casual. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/3 "2002-05-30T18:38:45Z")
I should have shared from my own perspective. But I’m in L.A., probably the most casual city in America. Just as Tom Bombadil would have fallen last, if Sauron had triumphed (how’s that for a geeky allusion), so we’ll probably be the last ones to abandon casual attire. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/4 "2002-05-30T18:38:46Z")
No such sightings. It’ll be jeans for me tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/5 "2002-05-30T18:57:15Z")
If anything, I think we’re even more relaxed during additional days. Here I am on a Thursday in jeans and boots. When I’m comfortable, I work better. Now if there was just a pill to make me work smarter. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/6 "2002-05-30T19:04:24Z")
I haven’t worked for a company with casual Friday in eons. The last few places I’ve worked have had business casual dress dress codes. In fact, when job hunting, I ask what the company’s dress code is. If it’s professional, I don’t even proceed with an interview. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/7 "2002-05-30T19:07:50Z")
We used to have a shirt and tie policy (we’re engineers, so of course they were short-sleeved shirts). Then we went to casual Fridays, then to casual everyday during the summer, and now we’re casual all the time. The only time I wear a tie is if I have a videoconference with some bigshots down in DC. Most days I wear jeans and a polo shirt. The only reall big no-no is shorts. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/8 "2002-05-30T19:15:35Z")
My previous company was completely casual – I could show up in a T-shirt, jeans, and beach sandals, and nobody would bat an eye. Then again, employees would routinely bring in their pets, kids, and video-game consoles as well. My current place is mostly casual; jeans and sneakers are okay, but T-shirts are out. I spent the first ten years of my career wearing a full suit and tie every day, even on casual Fridays. Now I don’t think I can bear to go back to that if I can avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa\_Ann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lisa\_Ann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa_Ann)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/9 "2002-05-30T19:18:28Z")
Always casual! I’m in a matching t-shirt and leggings and sandals. Yesterday we had customers, so I put on dressy slacks, a nice sweater and mules with a low heel. Fortunately we don’t have customers every day. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/10 "2002-05-30T19:23:20Z")
Ha! They’ll have to pry my Dockers from my cold, dead hands!!! San Diego (& SoCal in general) is pretty casual as it is, so it’s probably not the best barometer. But I doubt business casual is going anywhere. Once you gents take off the tie, I can’t imagine you’d want to go back. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/11 "2002-05-30T19:27:02Z")
About bloody time they did away with Casual Fridays . . . People are too goddam casual as it _is_. I am trying to institute Formal Mondays at our office: white tie for gentlemen, and evening gowns and opera gloves for ladies. I worked at one office that had Casual Fridays. I did lower my standards just enough to wear the _faux_ pearls. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2002, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/12 "2002-05-30T19:29:45Z")
We’re a “business casual” office, meaning guys can wear pretty much any kind of collared shirt, casual slacks, and non-athletic shoes. Women can wear whatever corresponds to that in female attire. Fridays are more casual as we can wear jeans and tennis shoes. But… A lot of people, including me, get away with wearing jeans during the week. We generally stay away from actual blue jeans in favor of black or other less “jean-y” colors, but I suppose we’re technically in violation. No one seems to care, however, probably because it’s hard to demonstrate that Dockers really look any better than a pair of clean jeans in good condition. ---
**Author:** ![Aguecheek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Aguecheek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aguecheek)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/13 "2002-05-30T19:40:03Z")
Shirt and tie every day…except Fridays when I don’t have to wear a tie. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/14 "2002-05-30T20:08:13Z")
Every day is casual day when you work at home. I consider it ‘dressing up’ if I get out of my pajamas. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/15 "2002-05-30T20:12:58Z")
Totally casual. Today’s a jeans and t-shirt day. As was yesterday, as tomorrow will be. Ah, a dot-com that refuses to die, despite being beaten like a rented mule. ---
**Author:** ![knarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@knarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knarf)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/16 "2002-05-30T20:15:52Z")
We can get away with pretty much anything but shorts - Jeans, T-shirts, sneakers, sandals, and Hawaiian shirts are all okay. A few folks even do the unnatural hair color thing. ---
**Author:** ![Clever\_Hans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Clever\_Hans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clever_Hans)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/17 "2002-05-30T20:38:30Z")
We are totally casual at my office, I am typing this barefooted right now Muahahahahaha. I do have to wear a suit and tie for business trips though, but that is to be expected I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/18 "2002-05-30T20:57:43Z")
I wear jeans and runners to work most days. A guy in the office frequently wears a t-shirt that says “Buttweiser: King of Rears”. I guess you could say we’re pretty casual 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/19 "2002-05-30T21:05:01Z")
We used to have casual Friday but now it’s casual every day and Fridays are extra casual since they let us out early and nothing really happens. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579/20 "2002-05-30T21:07:33Z")
The agency I work for has a very loose dress code. I’ve been wearing knee-length shorts, polo shirts, and sandals for the past few days. I don’t normally wear sandals but I bought these after I broke a toe a couple of weeks ago. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-casual-day-really-over/111579.md?page=2)