Something that I have noticed over the last 10 plus years has been the continual decline of professional dress in all areas of business. I have always worked in professional offices and professions', so dressing the part was very important years ago. Today, the idea of dressing to impress has taken a turn towards dressing down to conform more than stand out.
I have noticed an increase in the casual movement in the workplace since the "Dot.com" explosion where dressing down and dressing for comfort was and is the norm; specifically, the T-shirt and jeans wearing Facebook mogul, Mark Zuckerberg. The millennial's seem to believe in expressing their personalities through T-shirts, ripped jeans, and what appears to me to be, really old clothes that I would only wear on a Sunday afternoon at home. And, some people seem to think it is perfectly fine to wear pajama pants out in public!. It really says something to people whether they realize it or not, or maybe it is that they just do not care what their image is saying to everyone, which is sad. Again, it is an example of how mentally we have changed. We downplay our best assets and express to the world that you have a laissez-faire attitude about yourself.
Conversely, there are some hold-outs in the business world who understand that a well-structured suit, appropriate jewelry and nice shoes, an easy and neat hairstyle, and flattering make-up are main-stays of everyday dressing for work. I am one those. My mother and father both worked in Human Resources, and Professional Employment Recruiting, so I learned from the best. They often coached job applicants they were presenting to companies on how to dress for the interview. They both understood how important image was to a potential employer and for advancement in your present job or career.
