Manpris.

This week, my boss's boss's boss was in town, and for the first time I've been here in eight years, I was told not to wear jeans to work. I actually had to go out and buy trousers. (Not khakis. I hate khakis).

I don't mind there being standards of office attire, but it's possible I've been corrupted by The Man. Or, in the case of my office, The Woman.

I'm good with office dress codes. The idea doesn't bother me, and some people need all the guidance they can get. Sure beats a spork in the eye.

Manpris.

::shudder::

Maybe I was just taunted a little too much as a child for wearing high-water pants....

If anybody's in downtown Chicago today and would like to participate (or just watch), there's going to be a pillow fight flash mob in Daley Plaza at 2:00.

Yeah, see, I'm a grown up and think that telling grown people EXACTLY what they can and can not wear is ridiculous.

Well, maybe, but if I'm going to get "talked to" about what I wear I'd prefer the code was explicit rather than implicit. I am fashion-impaired, though. As a further caveat, I've only had actual dress codes when I've been waiting on customers or a receptionist so was, in some sense, representing the company to the outside world.

And, well, eff that. Why do we require starchy, uncomfortable clothes as markers that We are Serious Workers. This is Serious Company?

Hearts Plei

I'm going to work much more carefully on my job if I'm comfortable and not distracted by feeling like I'm going to choke because of this stupid tie (or more to the point, the collar being closed). I occasionally wear shirts that I button all the way up, but that's because the collar is so loose that a tie would look silly on it.

Also, I don't see any shorts, even formal bermuda shorts, as work-appropriate in a business-casual environment. I don't even like to wear capris, though I've been wearing them to move books the past couple of weeks. The library director wears capris a lot, and I think to myself, I know we are in academia, but you should not look like you are at the beach!

They are considered business casual in Bermuda. I only know this because a colleague of DH's was trying to recruit him for a job in Bermuda. One of the perks was getting to wear Bermuda shorts to work.

They're actuaries, though. They all have seven pairs of khakis in various shades and a closet full of button down, plaid shirts. Only upper management wears anything closer to business formal (suits, dress shirts w/ties). DH is middle management.

Carrot Top in manpris. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Sometimes I think manpris are cute. THERE I SAID IT.