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Ask Slashdot: Is There a Professional Geek Dress Code?
First time submitter KateKintail writes "I'm being promoted to be a director of a computer/web services department at work with staff members (not yet hired) working under me. My workplace doesn't have a dress code 95% of the year. Is this the end of my days of jeans and enjoyably geeky t-shirts? Is there a way to dress professionally in the workplace as a boss (the kind that doesn't need to be defeated at the end of a level) while still showing my Browncoat or Whovian love as I crawl under cobwebby desks to check that equipment is properly plugged in?"
In the computer contracting field, which tends to be semi-profesional dress, what you are shooting for is bussines casual Slacks, black shoes, button up shirt (short or long sleeve) with no patterns on it.
Remember two things, you should not be climbing under things anymore. Directors direct others to do this work. Secondly you are now going to have to play interdepartment politics. this means you are going to have to make sure people take you seriously. this, unfortunatly for humans, means a dominance display in the form of your clothing. You are not going to win a budget fight and be taken seriously wearing clown shoes no matter how correct your argument is.
So accept that in your new world clothes still donates status and ability. You need to adapt because you are not going to change the course of human evolution overnight.
Papa Legba come and open the gate
I don't think that "First time submitter KateKintail" was planning to wear a tie. I mean, she could, but...
Kate: consider a geeky mug on your desk (I have ":w! saves") and geeky accessories (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc - I even have a purse made of computer-keyboard keys). You can also totally geek out on your fingernails with nail pens. Mine right now have the Pirate Party logo.
"... Sean Hannity, whose surgery to remove those bolts from his neck was apparently successful,
If he had common sense do you really think he would be asking a bunch of nerds for fashion advice?
You are assuming it's a He. You fail common sense (see submitter's name for reasonable doubt).
(Belts are always black, by the way)
No. Belts match shoes: brown shoes, brown belt. Black shoes, brown belt. For guys anyway.
It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
But the key thing to remember is that people WILL judge you based on what you are wearing. So don't dress on how people should act, dress on how they will act, if you care how they act toward you.
That's true. When people dress in suits, I always assume they're going to try to steal something from me, but don't want to get their hands dirty.
Some will rob you with a six-gun, some with a fountain pen.
-Woody Guthrie