Dictates of Decorum
- brsc70
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
A Brief Treatise on the Purpose of Dress Codes
Just this morning I received an invitation to attend a healthcare providers’ Christmas something or other at the hospital. At the bottom of the invite was a short note. It said:
Attire: Business Casual.
I had to chuckle. As a school board member, I attended a recent meeting, held annually, focused on our private schools. We received an email a few days prior informing us of the required attire: Dress for Sunday. In our culture that means, in general, dress up as you would for church—dress slacks, long-sleeved button shirt, black Sunday shoes.
Initially I bristled at this. Why would we have to be told what to wear? Did it actually matter so much whether I wore brown shoes or black, dressed casual, semi-casual, business casual, or wore dressy jeans with a short-sleeved shirt?
I am aware that we have been mocked (our Mennonite culture) on social media for our penchant for dictating dress code for various functions. None of us like to be the butt of jokes and memes. Thus, when the missive came, my first inclination was to think, ok, here we go again. Must we dictate dress code when we are all responsible adults capable of common sense?
But then I started to think. Dictates of decorum are nothing new. In fact, they are common practice throughout the business, hospitality, and religious world. They are not isolated to a small conservative Mennonite group.
When I started working years ago as a nurse, I was given a handbook that contained a full section on dress code and expectations. Outlined there-in were the directives that dictated the type, color, and cut of uniform. The women’s outline was even more detailed.
Although this is becoming less common, there are still restaurants that dictate attire: Suit jacket required. Or perhaps the low-brow version: "No shirt, no shoes, no service."
Many religions have very strict dress codes, much stricter than ours and if not adhered to, may get you kicked out of a place of worship. Monarchies, for example, have extremely rigid expectations when it comes to dress and much time is spent making sure protocols are followed to the letter. Thanks to dress code, police officers can walk into any room, and no one questions who just entered; in fact, for some that uniform elicits a sense of relief, in others, behaviors may be modified thanks to their instantly recognizable uniform. The same goes for the military.
We could go on.
But it does beg the question: what is the basis for a dress code? What purpose do dress codes play and why must we be reminded or directed? And then, finally, why do we bristle? Obviously, this is not an exhaustive study on the subject but rather a few thoughts to give some perspective the next time you find yourself groaning and bristling when told what to wear to a function.
A fundamental aspect of dress codes center around respect. Respect for the purpose of the meeting; respect for the location (church, for example); respect for ourselves and others.
Another aspect of dress code is representation, which is closely aligned with this idea of respect. The British Monarchy, to cite one example, is representing something much greater than themselves. They represent The Crown. Who do we represent and is it important enough for us to dress to the occasion?
Restaurant establishments that require a dress code usually do this to protect and preserve a certain atmosphere and ambiance. It usually denotes luxury and class. Once again, enter the idea of respect: respect to the chef and his expertise as well as respect for everything the restaurant stands for.
Imagine a hospital where all the staff wore whatever they wished? Besides being a safety issue, it would cause you to question their competency.
Dress codes limit distractions. Personal preference, style, and socio-economic standing may distract, and thus a dress code limits this somewhat.
Dress codes foster a sense of unity and shared purpose.
I am reminded of the days when I taught school. I required my students, focusing on the young men in my class, to tuck in their shirts and wear a belt (not required on the playground). This was based on research, and I believe it played out: dressing up caused one to sit straighter and respect themselves a little more. This sitting up straighter and respecting themselves and the institution of learning (in this case) tended to better grades and overall behavior.
My notion on this is when in doubt, dress up, not down.
On the other hand, one reason for bristling could simply be that we don’t like to be told what to do. That sentiment is human.
Next time our committee directors and chairmen send out an email stating required dress attire, think on these things. If you bristle, question that as well—why the reserve? It may lead you into some productive areas for growth.
Ben Friesen