Biologically speaking, appearance is very important. Just look at the life-threatening lengths the peacock goes to in an attempt to attract the attention of the opposite sex.
It’s not exactly a safe way to meet friends and influence people – yet evolution often drives birds and animals to lose the ability to hide from predators in exchange for greater attractiveness.
As human beings, we don’t have that much apart from hair and eyes naturally going for us in the flashy stakes, so it’s not surprising that we use clothes to grab attention. But this does not excuse the painful nature of many dress codes.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older and grumpier (I sometimes think Nature Network’s blogs should be renamed ‘Grumpy Old Scientists’, with apologies to the younger contributors), but I just can’t be bothered with places and events that demand a particular level of dress any more.
I gave up ties for pretty well everything but weddings and funerals a while ago with a huge sigh of relief, and general speaking, I admit, I’m no fashion icon. But on the rare occasion I visit somewhere that specifies ‘jackets will be worn in the dining room’ or ‘we don’t insist on ties, but jeans of any kind are not allowed’, it raises a distinct urge to rebel.
In the unlikely event that I am ever invited to a white tie occasion or anything else of such pompous, self-inflated indulgence I really don’t know how I will respond. Probably, sheep-like, I would go along with it. But it would be with extreme reluctance. Frankly, the whole concept is painfully primitive when you look beneath it – it’s almost an attempt to work magic. You have to wear the right clothes to make an occasion work. Ridiculous.
Well said. And it’s ironic that occasions requiring the smartest dress (e.g. student balls, weddings) are often the ones at which people behave with least dignity.
Agreement In Escelsis. And I think that it’s not so much as Grumpy Old Scientists as the naturally Aspergers-ish tendency in all scientists not to conform; to see the ‘fashion industry’ for the vacuity it is; and to view all conformity with suspicion.
" And I think that it’s not so much as Grumpy Old Scientists as the naturally Aspergers-ish tendency in all scientists not to conform"
Ha ha. I like to wear a tie to the lab, just to surprise people.
Nature Editorial has a casual dress code (unlike Advertising and Marketing in which the poor things are obliged to dress up like sick turkeys… er, actually, that’s probably in bad taste, isn’t it? Oh, never mind). Like Richard, I have been known to come to work in a suit and tie just for the hell of it… and to make my colleagues wonder if I have a job interview elsewhere … :)
My benchmark for dress codes is that a policy is too strict if I can’t get away with wearing my “Hated by the Daily Mail” T-shirt.