Dress code in 21st century

It is safe to say that everything changes with the times and the dress code is no exception. Much has changed just 19 years into the 21st century and looking back 5 decades ago, the changes in dress codes have been great. The question does the “dress code” still exist in the 21st century “?” To reasonably answer this question, it is first significant to define what a dress code is. A dress code can be interpreted as an accepted way of dressing for a certain social group or a specific occasion. It can also be defined as a set of rules for what one needs to wear, or what they can wear at a specific time.

The answer to the question above is yes, the dress code still exists to this day s. Nevertheless, the preciseness that formerly came with dress codes and peoples' adherence to them has been reduced significantly. This paper will look at why this event is the case, along with various examples that point to the existence of the dress code, even so, many having a different impression of this topic. It will look at notable changes over the past few decades, aspects that are considered the norm today, with the patterns that point to the future of the dress code as time passes. It will evaluate various aspects of dress codes, various environments, and settings, along with various factors that many may argue or accept. Dress code is a vital issue that requires urgent attention in this 21st century. Many have been subjected to different harassment and sexual abuses due to the dress code. Much been said, one needs to know the way to dress especially the ladies. Many sexual cases of abuse are as a result of the dresses most ladies wear that is showing half nakedness which can attract much attention, especially to an abuser.

The Office Dress Code

Since long ago, office jobs have been associated with formal wear, a dress code which is characterized by button-up shirts, ties, suits, and leather shoes. Up to a certain point formerly, no one would imagine a professional in a formal job showing up to work in a t-shirt, a hoodie, and sneakers. It was the case ultimately, so much, so that the stereotype of the average salaryman became one where he was dressed in a suit and tie, associated with a briefcase, reading a newspaper.

This event still is an image that is fixed into people’s heads regarding formal wear, and it is still enforced in certain areas of the world and certain jobs.

Nevertheless, along came casual Friday, and what many have referred to as the “end of the office dress code.” In an article published in the New York times back in 2016, they pointed out that the world today has business moguls (valuable or powerful people) dressed in hoodies and t-shirts. It is defined by more people working from home in their pajamas, and the line between “work” and “everything else” is becoming similar, related, and hard to differentiate. What used to be “work clothes” have so far lost their meaning, and this has punched holes in dress codes that used to define a certain profession, and a certain class of individuals in the society. It is a change in people’s outlook for dressing and getting work done. However, does this event mean that the dress code is as good as dead?

By no means.

A modification in dress codes from one to another does not mean the death of dress codes, rather the simple gradual transformation of the same. Casual wear for beginners today is still a dress code. Many people may refer to their Primark t-shirts, jeans, and trainers as their work dress code depending on their line of work. This event shows that the concept of dress codes is not dead. Instead, it has just modified into something more fluid, more relatable for those who are directly affected, and more accommodating given how people live their lives today.

Looking back at the idea of showing up to work with a casual outfit, it dates as far back as the 1960s. This was the dawn of Hawaiian shirts, guerrilla marketing, and Dockers khakis (Sumerau, Cragun & Mathers, 2016). Just like that, suits were considered as really boring, and slowly, organizations started accepting casual Fridays, and more casual wear within office walls. Gaber pinpointed that the introduction of casual Fridays served as good a role as a “gateway drug” where the leisure that it offered guided to many questions, why they would not wear the same clothes on other days of the week.

Today, there are many of companies around the world that do not care about formal wear, so long as employees are productive. Such companies bring in billions of pounds every year, another factor that is making others more conservative enterprises to change their stand regarding formal wear.

Once again, does this mean that the dress code is dead? By no means. The dress code has simply gradually transformed from one thing to another. It has not gone extinct. Looking at this topic from a gender belief, a lot has changed as well. In the 90s, formal office wear for women was mainly characterized by short heels, skirts, blouses, and blazers. Moving into 2019, women today can show up to work in flat, comfortable shoes, pants, and comfortable blouses, complete with jackets. In fewer

developed places, women are even showing up in jeans, sneakers, t-shirts, and on bad hair days, they can even show up with beanies and no one would see anything wrong with that. Due to the gradual changes in dress code, many ladies have been subjected to sexual harassment at the office and even on their way to office leading to high sexual abuse at a different level. Dress code needs to look into at different levels ranging from the educational system and also security purposes.

The introduction of a course in schools and colleges about the dress code and how to dress decent will go a long way to curb the high rate of sexual harassment. Also engaging all security operatives to punish all those found dressing inappropriately wIll help reduce the menace in the society.