Bicycling
Stuffy dress codes hamper healthy urban choices
The dress code at many federal workplaces simply doesn't make sense anymore as the standard in professional attire. How is anyone supposed to ride a bike to work in a tailored skirt or a starched dress shirt?
Photo by Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious on Flickr.
Secretaries Sebelius, LaHood, Donovan and Administrator Jackson: No doubt, you have plenty keeping you busy over at HHS, DOT, HUD and EPA. However, you have an opportunity to lead in promoting more health, better transportation, better cities and a sustainable planet by changing the federal employee dress code.
For a long time, convention required suits, ties and pantyhose. Before that it was a lot of gloves and hats and powdered wigs. (Don't get me started on the corsets...) But the fashion police have moved forward, leaving federal agencies hopelessly out of style and out of step with their own missions.
Environmental sustainability, smart urban growth and public wellness are at the very top of the agenda. But most of your employees can't live out the very values that they work for; they're too busy fetching their dry cleaning and keeping their shoes shined.
Let's relax the professional dress code in favor of something a little more practical.
Secretary LaHood, it would be nice to get more people out of the morning gridlock and onto a Metro, right? Employees who choose to walk or bike to work might put a dent in the diabetes and obesity numbers, isn't that true, Secretary Sebelius?
If more people chose to wait for the bus instead of hopping into a private vehicle, I bet the environment would have no objections, right Ms. Jackson? For that matter, I bet your cooling costs (and your carbon footprint) wouldn't be so high if people didn't wear wool all summer. I get warm just thinking about August in DC.
Undoubtedly, some of your employees make great choices already, out of necessity or otherwise. But you aren't making it any easier for them. And it wouldn't cost you a dime to make the change. In fact, it might save everyone a few dollars.
Of course, all of your workers would see some returns if they didn't have to suit up for work every day. In addition, a more active, health-conscious employee workforce would help to reduce your organization's insurance overhead. In turn, employees would enjoy lower premiums and, eventually, fewer reasons to see the doctor in the first place.
And, Secretary Donovan, you know better than anyone, as more and more people find themselves living in urban areas, individuals' choices regarding their health and their habits The very concept of what it means to look like a "professional" needs a makeover. Lest you think that this would mean lowering standards, let me assure you on behalf of the fashion police: it would not. We love good style, and we love great clothes. But even we don't think that respect for a person's professionalism should hinge on whether he or she showed up in khakis or couture.
More often than not, when it comes to game-changing strategies, the private sector leads and the public sector follows. It's no surprise. Bold moves often require more risk than a government agency like any of yours can reasonably and responsibly agree to take on.
Here, then, is a rare opportunity. This is your chance to be taste-makers. Relax your dress codes and start a movement. Many fixes are expensive and challenging to implement. This one costs nothing at all and promises some big potential returns, from healthier, happier employees to cleaner, greener cities. 
Ksenia Kaladiouk lives in Southeast DC, where she spends her time writing, sketching, running, taking photos, scheming and studying the flying trapeze. She is particularly interested in the history of urban development, education, the effects of space on the rise and fall of cultural and commercial institutions, and vice versa. 
Comments
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I really don't think its that big a deal.
Also, its possible to get a summer weight suit made of something lighter than wool.
by MStreetDenizen on Jun 20, 2012 2:06 pm • link • report
And maybe it's for this reason, but I don't really get the larger health and environmental impacts that would come from more relaxed dress codes.
by Elle on Jun 20, 2012 2:07 pm • link • report
Where did you get that government has a business formal dress code?
by gotryit on Jun 20, 2012 2:12 pm • link • report
by ceefer66 on Jun 20, 2012 2:14 pm • link • report
by darren on Jun 20, 2012 2:18 pm • link • report
Shower at work. Problem solved.
by Michael Hamilton on Jun 20, 2012 2:27 pm • link • report
Indeed. It should be encouraged that employers provide changing room and showers. And yohoo! That is already a requirement for LEED status of buildings.
by Jasper on Jun 20, 2012 2:30 pm • link • report
[Deleted for violating the comment policy.]
by charlie on Jun 20, 2012 2:32 pm • link • report
by Fitz on Jun 20, 2012 2:33 pm • link • report
A little perspective-taking may be in order here. If I live four blocks from work, I might be tempted to exhort folks who live in Gaithersburg to walk to work too. Why not? Sure they may have to leave a little earlier than they would otherwise. But if I can do it, they can too!
Similarly, for those of us who commute 20-30 miles one way, "go slower" may not be workable. Given a choice between going fast on a bike or driving, I'll take fast on a bike.
by oboe on Jun 20, 2012 2:39 pm • link • report
by Steve on Jun 20, 2012 2:43 pm • link • report
Solutions that one can't implement by oneself are not necessarily solutions. I wish more places had showers at work. But that doesn't make it so.
Though I suppose you could get one of these and one of these and DIY.
by oboe on Jun 20, 2012 2:44 pm • link • report
by Rob P on Jun 20, 2012 2:47 pm • link • report
Solutions that one can't implement by oneself are not necessarily solutions. I wish more places had showers at work. But that doesn't make it so."
but the author is referring to specific federal agencies. I KNOW USDOT has showers available to cyclists, and I would be VERY surprised if HUD and EPA (partners with USDOT on the sustainability initiative) do not.
by MStreet Denizen on Jun 20, 2012 2:57 pm • link • report
If things are really bad (and helmets can aggravate this some), use some dry shampoo on your hair and reapply deoderant.
by Elle on Jun 20, 2012 3:05 pm • link • report
by Federal Labor & Employment Attorney on Jun 20, 2012 3:11 pm • link • report
I wish that many government employees took more of an interest in dressing professionally for work, rather than less so.
by Chad on Jun 20, 2012 3:12 pm • link • report
Instead I think the federal government should lead the country by pushing its employees to get more fit through exercise facilities on-site, healthier lunch options,flexible work schedules to support exercise and sports teams/leagues. Essentially emulate what the Googles and Apples do. America needs to get healthy or we'll bankrupt ourselves and be unable to field a military, policy or emergency response forces.
by andy2 on Jun 20, 2012 3:15 pm • link • report
I work harder in more casual clothing, don't dread the outdoors in casual clothing, and feel better when I can choose what I wear based on the weather rather than cultural fiat.
Thanks for putting it out there; pay the naysayers no heed.
by OctaviusIII on Jun 20, 2012 3:23 pm • link • report
I don't know your genetic make-up, but my heat sensitive North-West European genes go into "sweat profusely" mode just sitting outside in weather like today.
by Jasper on Jun 20, 2012 3:50 pm • link • report
I would wholeheartedly support more bike friendly facilities in all offices: dedicated bike racks that are accesible only to employees and shower & locker facilities.
by nettie on Jun 20, 2012 3:52 pm • link • report
by SJE on Jun 20, 2012 4:16 pm • link • report
by thump on Jun 20, 2012 5:05 pm • link • report
by Tom Veil on Jun 20, 2012 5:06 pm • link • report
by Paul on Jun 20, 2012 5:14 pm • link • report
- Short sleeve dress shirts with ties are just awful.
- Flip-flops are awful.
- There's almost no advantage to shorts over lightweight pants so no shorts ever.
- Sleeveless shirts, polo shirts, and summer skirts are all fine.
- Skip the tie or keep a few in the office.
- No jackets in summer.
- Bike slowly. Or take CaBi, which is impossible to ride fast anyway.
- If necessary, change your clothes when you get to the office.
There you go, problem solved. You're welcome.
by Ward 1 Guy on Jun 20, 2012 5:36 pm • link • report
Paul + 1000.
I take great pride in looking formal and serious at work. When I look good, I feel good, and I get stuff done. Plus, otherwise, a lot of the higher-ups wouldn't pay any attention to me. It's culture, not policy, that might need to change.
But for me, when it gets hot out, I wear a poly-pro shirt instead of my dress shirt, cool down at my desk for a few minutes and then get professional when I'm dry. If that's not happening fast enough, I have deodorant and body powder in my bag to help accelerate the freshness.
I agree, federal policies don't need to change: people just need to get creative.
by MDE on Jun 20, 2012 5:37 pm • link • report
by Crickey7 on Jun 20, 2012 8:08 pm • link • report
I have worked in offices that insisted upon strict business formal attire, that have accepted business casual attire, and that have allowed employees to wear genuinely casual attire. From this, I can report that the clothes my co-workers were allowed to wear never had the slightest correlation to the quality of their work, positive or negative.
SJE is pretty much on the mark with the "peacock" analogy. We deem certain clothes to be "professional" and "attractive" solely because we wouldn't wear them for any practical reason -- otherwise, people would wear them without a dress code. It's a way of showing off one's social status and willingness to submit to authority, nothing more. (Yes, I have worked with a lot of scientific and technical people; why do you ask?)
That said, I can't imagine the lawyer- and bureaucrat-driven culture of DC is ready to assess the quality and value of people's work without taking into their skill at wearing impractical and over-warm clothing, so we should probably push for office showers instead. But in an ideal world we wouldn't be having this conversation, because nobody would believe that wearing an outfit of a clean t-shirt, shorts, and sandals would render someone unfit to engage in the upper-middle class professions.
by cminus on Jun 20, 2012 8:34 pm • link • report
by Kolohe on Jun 20, 2012 10:43 pm • link • report
Formal dress as the standard -- Government, Big Banks, Lawyers
Which is the group that performs better on virtually every measure -- productivity, innovation, success, growth, ethics, etc.?
As countless companies have shown, there is little need for professional dress to achieve professional success (other than the need to conform to prevailing standards).
by Falls Church on Jun 20, 2012 10:47 pm • link • report
Back when I worked for a federal agency (granted, a scientific one), casual and business casual (at most) were the norm. I don't know of any agencies that require suits outside of congress and lawyers who show up in court.
Even private lawyers I know (granted, patent lawyers) don't wear suits unless they have a court appearance.
by Tyro on Jun 21, 2012 3:02 am • link • report
I'm glad it isn't just me. I always envy people who can expend even moderate energy outside in weather like this without getting drenched. I saw a guy in a full suit (lightweight, but still) walking along briskly yesterday afternoon, not a drop of sweat on him. Whereas I, in my polo shirt, got damp during my 3 block walk to the bank. Unfair.
And, @Ward 1 Guy - Sleeveless shirts? Really? For women, maybe, but I'm sorry, I can't think of a sleeveless shirt for a man that would be appropriate an office.
by dcd on Jun 21, 2012 6:58 am • link • report
Likewise, DoD varies by work site. The Pentagon specifically requires business dress (going so far as to require military personnel to wear Class A uniforms rather than cammies/ACUs/BDUs). But many DoD sites are biz-casual.
My own opinion is that biz-caz should be the minimum. When I visited another agency and see people in jeans/sneakers or t-shirts, to me it looks sloppy and indicates a casualness that might also infect their work habits. In the hot summer, I don't think full suits are necessary, but closed-toed shoes and pants other than jeans I don't think are too much to ask.
Tank tops--good one!
by Federale on Jun 21, 2012 8:30 am • link • report
by Federale on Jun 21, 2012 8:32 am • link • report
Also, please don't encourage people to dress any less formally than they do now. Dressing professionally can be done while maintaining your cool. I work in one of those agencies Tom Veil mentioned above and people here dress dreadfully. One day I saw a woman in a pair of sweatpants with the brand across her butt. Come on.
by rdhd on Jun 21, 2012 8:36 am • link • report
by rowsdower on Jun 21, 2012 8:57 am • link • report
One day I saw a woman in a pair of sweatpants with the brand across her butt. Come on.
One day I saw this guy called Steve Jobs wearing jeans and sneakers. I'm pretty sure he was some loser with poor work habits who would never achieve professional success.
by Falls Church on Jun 21, 2012 9:04 am • link • report
I shower at work. I run downtown. I don't bike, I'm a bit too far for that, but if I did...no one would have a problem with how I'm dressed. You only have to dress up (to polo shirts) if you're meeting with an Assistant Administrator.
I agree with her premise...what is and is not professional has nothing to do with ones appearance. It has only to do with ones work product.
by Redline SOS on Jun 21, 2012 9:04 am • link • report
Lawyers who don't wear dress shirts, ties and at least nice slacks are the exception, not the rule. And, most lawyers do still wear either a suit or blazer. Even if they don't go to court, lawyers are expected to look a certain way.
by Fischy (Ed F.) on Jun 21, 2012 9:32 am • link • report
No. But the question is what a professional appearance actually is. You can seriously question the practicality of wearing coat and tie in a city where it is 90-100 degrees outside, with high humidity. That attire comes largely from Europe where the weather is much cooler.
Hawaiians have adapted their 'formal dress' very well to their weather: shorts and Hawaiian shirt. If you show up in a suit and tie there, you get laughed at in your face. Literally.
by Jasper on Jun 21, 2012 9:34 am • link • report
by Petrus on Jun 21, 2012 9:54 am • link • report
Basically chinos/khakis and a polo or Oxford shirt are considered workplace attire where I have worked. Suits are for when meetings where millions of dollars are at stake.
by Tyro on Jun 21, 2012 10:22 am • link • report
Federale, when I hear that someone thinks that, it indicates a lack of rational thinking and a degree of prejudice that might also infect their work. I think that's more relevant than dress preferences.
by Ivan on Jun 21, 2012 10:51 am • link • report
Dress codes say, I don't trust you enough to pick out your own clothes. We're adults, I think we can manage "look professional" if we have meetings with clients or outsiders. I work at a law firm now and we have a business casual policy (sundresses & khakis are ok). No one wears a jacket or tie unless they're meeting with a client or have to be in court. My BFF's firm is larger than mine & they can wear jeans nearly everyday. If law firms are mellowing out the government will too...eventually.
by Kam on Jun 21, 2012 10:55 am • link • report
by caplaw6 on Jun 21, 2012 12:12 pm • link • report
I work at a non-profit that allows jeans and other appropriate casual wear. I'm most grateful for it in the winter months when I can pull on a pair of warm, waterproof boots and a puffy coat. I'm comfortable walking to and from the metro (10-15 minutes on each end for me) and I don't have to take a cab if it rains or snows. Sometimes I'll change into flats when I reach the office, but I can't imagine making my commute if I were required to put on a skirt suit every day.
This isn't just about biking! Pantyhose and thunderstorms just don't mix.
by fairweatherfriend on Jun 21, 2012 12:19 pm • link • report
by Erik Bootsma on Jun 21, 2012 12:48 pm • link • report
Or back when business casual was confined to casual fridays? Again leaving aside the silicon valley love, it seems like theres a lot of room to dress less than full business formal for most of the week, for the months when its hottest in DC, at almost all employers, especially Federal agencies.
Interesting to see the cultural differences among fed agencies. I too am at a research focused one, with relatively informal standards.
by MStreetDenizen on Jun 21, 2012 1:09 pm • link • report
If there's some reason to put on some drag I just put on jeans and switch to a pair of brown Merrells. Ta-Da!
The idea that the clothes someone wears tells you anything about their knowledge or skills is archaic to the point of being absurd.
by James on Jun 21, 2012 1:10 pm • link • report
by belinkskaya on Jun 21, 2012 1:17 pm • link • report
by Tina on Jun 21, 2012 1:21 pm • link • report
It's interesting to me that nobody has mentioned the psychological effect that putting on work clothes has on work productivity. There is research that suggests a link between how we dress and self-perception, which could translate into productivity/focus at work. There's also the subconscious effect that your dress has on other people, which would influence the work environment as a whole. If you go to a meeting with your lawyer and it looks like he just rolled out of bed, do you think the same of him as someone who was more put-together? Many of you probably think you are "above" such prejudice but some research would say your subconscious thinks otherwise! It's the same as advertising and other subconscious forces we may feel we are able to resist.
Not saying everyone should be showing up in a suit and tie to work; it's just another side to the coin.
by MLD on Jun 21, 2012 1:33 pm • link • report
The only lawyer I've ever had pretty much wore business casual and helped me out perfectly. Much opposed to the suit and tie types that wanted $10k first, then kill my case and restart from scratch.
I work with students, and they really show up in everything (or worse, out of everything). Yes, clothing matters in a first impression, but fairly quickly after that achievement should take over. I've had very well-dressed students who are utter slackers, and very inappropriately dressed students who are way too smart. And vice verse. In the end, your appearance says little about your work ethics. As long as clothing is not too extreme, and body odor is under control, it's pretty much ok.
Also, nobody is suggesting that everyone should work in sport clothing. What we're discussing is what is appropriate at work considering the changing way people come or want to come to work.
Quite frankly, I often find it dehumanizing how corporations demand their people are dressed. I feel bad for all the women I see change between flip flops and high heels when they walk in and out of their office buildings. I feel bad for men who have to wear full suits in extreme heat or cold.
People claim that it's for the effects you mention, but in reality it's more about conformity and exactly the opposite: It sets stature, regardless of achievement.
Look for instance how in the medical world the length of your coat determines your place in the hierarchy. Or how in car dealerships, mechanics wear overalls, while salesmen wear business casual and the manager wears a suit. Usually though, it's the suits that screw you out of your money, not the mechanics.
by Jasper on Jun 21, 2012 2:16 pm • link • report
by dcredhead on Jun 21, 2012 2:22 pm • link • report
I kept in mind all the excellent advice to "ride slow" and that "you're not in the Tour De France" we've been getting here as I rode 35 miles into work this morning, but somehow I still got all sweaty. I can't imagine what I'm doing wrong. Maybe if I traded the Lycra and Coolmax in for a dress shirt and pair of summer-weight wool trousers?
:)
by oboe on Jun 21, 2012 2:29 pm • link • report
The only lawyer I've ever had pretty much wore business casual and helped me out perfectly.
I thought I specifically said, "Not saying everyone should be showing up in a suit and tie to work"? Business casual is perfectly work-appropriate. It's what I wear to work every day. And I bike to work often. But there seem to be a bunch of people commenting who are putting out "Steve Jobs" and "Silicon Valley" as the example, as if everybody should be wearing acid-washed 501s and sneakers to work. Bill Gates is Silicon Valley too and he wears business casual.
Again, the article didn't set any sort of standard so everyone is making their own. If the article was complaining that too many places require business formal, I think that's off-base since very FEW places I know of require business formal and I think the comments here back that up. I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've worn a suit to the office and it was for an outside meeting every time.
@oboe
kept in mind all the excellent advice to "ride slow" and that "you're not in the Tour De France" we've been getting here as I rode 35 miles into work this morning, but somehow I still got all sweaty. I can't imagine what I'm doing wrong. Maybe if I traded the Lycra and Coolmax in for a dress shirt and pair of summer-weight wool trousers?
The people we should be targeting to bike to work, those who are the easiest to convince to do so, probably live within 4 miles of work. And the reason they can be convinced to bike to work is that it's time-competitive, convenient, and doesn't require taking a shower when you get to work. So yeah, this advice doesn't apply to you; that doesn't make it completely irrelevant. Here's a survey done a while ago: http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Library/Moritz1.htm the median distance was 6 miles.
by MLD on Jun 21, 2012 2:52 pm • link • report
Thanks for the link; interesting stuff.
Though I still think in a region where an 80 degree summer day is considered balmy, and where we commonly get up into the 100s, not having a shower is a legitimate issue. And "Slow Down Lance Armstrong" is not a helpful response.
I guarantee I was sweating my a** off by mile 5 this morning. :)
by oboe on Jun 21, 2012 3:12 pm • link • report
by Tina on Jun 21, 2012 3:22 pm • link • report
I love my bike and love riding and I ride all over this city. If you can't convince me to be a rain cape-decked road warrior commuter I don't think you're going to convince many new people to go that far. I think there is a disconnect between what some current bike commuters think we should be pushing for and what is realistic. Some current bike commuters think "bike commuter" means "I bike to work every single day no matter what the weather" and I think we need to be opening things up a little bit more, even if those people may not show up in census journey-to-work data (which has problems).
by MLD on Jun 21, 2012 3:27 pm • link • report
Yes. It is. It is a burden that serves no real purpose.
by David C on Jun 21, 2012 3:41 pm • link • report
So I don't think theres any issue here, in terms of what the author raised. We all know this is a warm city in the summer, and its getting warmer. But I think the agencies in question have responded to that. I don't see long discussions about how to make a K Street law firm more like Apple particularly relevant.
and for the folks with LONG bike commutes, in high temps, they are mostly going to want showers whatever the dress standards are, I suspect
by MStreetDenizen on Jun 21, 2012 3:52 pm • link • report
What is great about working around the World Bank IMF is you see governmental (albeit non-US) workers biking to work in suits, usual attire and dealing with the summer.
Again, if you're biking 30+ miles to work you're doing it wrong. Find a job a bit closer to work -- say two miles. Otherwise give up on your biking. Rather like government jobs that tolerate people commuting in from WV or Fredericksburg. Bad idea.
by charlie on Jun 21, 2012 3:57 pm • link • report
by Capt. Hilts on Jun 21, 2012 4:08 pm • link • report
Don't conflate our opinions. I wouldn't say biking 30 miles to work is a "bad idea," it's a perfectly good idea if you want to do it. But most people won't. I have no idea why you would think getting that much exercise every day could be a bad thing though. That's just ridiculous.
by MLD on Jun 21, 2012 4:15 pm • link • report
My job is extremely close to work.
by David C on Jun 21, 2012 4:19 pm • link • report
It's interesting you mention that. It actually rarely rains in DC. I've actually kept tabs on this for a ull year, and found that during an entire year, I had to flee to a shuttle service 7 times due to (massive) rain. The rest of the year, I walked for 25 minutes twice a day. I got rained on once while walking.
The problem here is that weather forecasters have an interest in making the weather sound much worse than it is, so that you check back with them. They use these terms as 'chance of rain' or 'scattered T-storms' to make it sound we're all drowning. Government provided weather watches and warnings confirm this nonsense. Unfortunately, a lot of people trust their weather forecast or weatherbug on their desk top more than a look out of the window.
So, as long as you don't need more than half an hour or so, you can very safely bet that you're gonna be ok in the vast majority of cases.
by Jasper on Jun 21, 2012 4:21 pm • link • report
by JoshFed on Jun 21, 2012 6:09 pm • link • report
(also featured here: http://letsgorideabike.com/blog/2012/04/convert-your-skirt/)
by E A on Jun 21, 2012 7:31 pm • link • report
by Joe Flood on Jun 22, 2012 9:58 am • link • report
by Kyle on Jun 22, 2012 1:58 pm • link • report
First of all, I only live about 18 miles from work. The remaining dozen or so miles were completely superfluous.
Second of all, clearly different folks have different ideas about what it means to be "doing it wrong". Heh.
by oboe on Jun 22, 2012 2:15 pm • link • report
Why not?
by Jasper on Jun 22, 2012 2:45 pm • link • report
I also commute by bike, every day, year-round. I shower and change at the office -- even if I could wear shorts and T-shirt for my job, I'd be too sweaty.
I wear a shirt and tie every day. I take my shirts to the cleaners up the street. (More often than not, I'm not going to iron them at home, so taking them to the cleaners in DC is just as easy.)
by jd on Jun 25, 2012 7:22 am • link • report
by Michelle on Jun 25, 2012 10:35 am • link • report
When I worked in the Federal Government over a decade ago, my agency had a dress code, but very few people consistently followed it. Because this agency is located close to Capitol Hill, I expected guys to at least wear ties, and many did, but others would show up in football jerseys and jeans. If this agancy were in Germantown, I would have different expectations.
However, do office professionals really want to come to work dressed like a construction worker or a tourist?
I believe that the degradation of office attire is being accompanied by degradation of etiquette and ethics, but I don't know of any studies that have confirmed this.
by The Civic Center on Jun 25, 2012 11:29 pm • link • report
by Steve on Jun 26, 2012 3:55 pm • link • report
After seeing my original comment deleted and noticing that my next 2 comments didn't make it past the censor, I guess I can assume that only "supportive" or "nice" comments are being allowed to be posted here.
But I will say this. As a co-owner of a government consulting firm, we have a dress code.
You want to bike to work? Fine. It's your choice. But you had better show up for work dressed properly. We're not lowering our standards - and client expectations - to suit your lifestyle. End of story.
by ceefer66 on Jun 27, 2012 10:53 am • link • report
What you bike in should have NO affect on what you work in. I cannot imagine working in the clothes I biked in.
by Capt. Hilts on Jun 27, 2012 10:55 am • link • report
by Sydney on Jun 27, 2012 3:03 pm • link • report
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