Job Discussion Forums

Alitas · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 187 Location: Maine

At my school there is a dress code--no jeans. We are allowed jeans one day a week (Fridays) and we are made to pay a dollar to the "Sunshine Fund"--apparently the dollar is used to offset the cost of sending floral arrangements to faculty when the situation arises.

In my first teaching job the standard was very high; I owned three suits, lots of blazers, slacks, dresses, etc. A long denim, khaki or cord skirt was considered very casual. I have found at my current job that suits are too dressy (I feel awkward dressing better than my boss). So I wear mostly slacks and blazers, collared shirts, etc. Sometimes I wear a dress but I have found it draws so much attention, it is not worth it--I literally look out of place. One lady at my work wears lace up hunting boots all winter. I do live in a colder climate.....but I slip my snowboots off at work and wear something dressier.

So, what do you wear to work? Have you ever been scolded for dressing inappropriately? Does anyone else have a Sunshine Fund or is that some gimmicky American public school thing?

Bonus question: is there any one at your job you are dying to make-over? (I've one lady in mind, and not even the hunting boots lady. She could take 20 years off her appearance by a simple dye job, a little lipstick, and cracking a smile once in awhile. Oh, and the crumpled khaki pants and shapeless blue pullover have got to go. Alternately, if she is averse to hair dye, she might try growing it out a bit).

foster · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 485 Location: Honkers, SARS

I wear dressy/casual clothes. today, it is a bright red button up blouse and a long denim skirt. We can not wear jeans per se, but skirts are ok. We have dress-down days when we pay money to the HK Community Chest and then we can wear jeans etc.

During exam time, since we are done at noon, many people wear jeans. It's ok.

I usually wear khakis, dress pants, or long skirts with either a long sleeve top, blouse or t-shirt (dressier ones). Some of the ladies in my school wear some of the most odd combinations I have ever seen and I would LOVE to make them all over...but I am sure they think that same about me.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I usually wear skirts and blouses. I only own a couple of pairs of non-jeans pants, and I rarely wear them. Over the summer, when it was about 9,487 degrees, I would wear strappy little tank-tops with light sweaters or lace tops over them in class, and then shed the outer layer/sweater as soon as I left the classroom. No stockings/nylons during the summer, either.

We really have no formal dress code here--or at least, no formal code that I or anyone that I'm aware of has been accused of breaking. The head of the school & some of the Japanese staff wear suits. Some of the male teachers wear jeans. A couple times a year we get all dressed up--suits for the men, nice dresses for the women, and caps & gowns for all!!!--for our students' end-of-term transfer ceremonies.

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Irish · Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 371

My school has no formal dress code, only a little blurb in our manual about looking and behaving like a professional. Some returning teachers have told me that there is great variation among the faculty with a few looking fairly formal and others going for the "business casual" look. I guess I fall into the latter category since I typically wear nice slacks and blouses when I'm teaching, but I brought along a couple of long skirts as well.

Haven't seen anyone on staff who needs a makeover yet, so I suppose that means I'm the one who needs it.

anthyp · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 1320 Location: Chicago, IL USA

Is this only for the ladies, or can guys play, too?

I actually asked this once in the China forum. There is no dress code at my school, but, as the only foreigner, I imagine I must have a lot of leeway. Not that I ever wear jeans to class, but if I did, I could probably get away with it. I used to wear a leather jacket, which must have seemed rather bizarre to my students.

Anyway, I usually wear slacks and a button - down. I often feel overdressed, even compared to my Chinese counter - parts in their jackets and ties (which they seem to have had since the beginning of the Middle Kingdom all those years ago).

My female coworkers all dress pretty well, if somewhat predictably. But a few of them could use a nice make - over. Actually, the head of our dept. recently returned from her studies in Nanchang with this snazzy new haircut, and looked years younger.

Probably a few of us on Dave's could use a makeover. Even Mr. Sperling himself has had quite a few, hasn't he? Maybe we could nominate fellow posters to receive a new "makeover" (in the form of a new avatar)!

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

I generally wear slacks and a casual/dress shirt. No ties or jackets for this guy. I usually leave my dresses and skirts at home in the closet . . . next to Liberace. Laughing

(old Joan Rivers joke)

Ludwig · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 7:30 am Post subject:

What did your tutors and instructors wear at your university (if you actually went to one)? Obviously, whatever they wanted!

It is the same at the two universities I work at here in HK. The only stipulation is that the clothes worn must be clean. Some professors even wear shorts and sandals.

It is how you teach that is of the utmost importance, not what you wear! (I would be very wary of any firm or organisation that imposed any (so-called) dress-code on its employees as it would make it obvious to me that they were trying to make mutton appear like lamb.)

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Shirt and trousers for teaching. Suit for meetings with new clients

leeroy · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 777 Location: London UK

The rules for me are...

No jeans
No shorts (but skirts ok for girls)
No sandals (for men)
No trainers

I'd like to wear jeans now and then, but I can't say it bothers me too much. In a weird way, I actually quite like wearing a shirt, trousers and shoes to work - it gets me "in the mood" somehow Smile

. A tie would be OTT, though.

In a perfect world it wouldn't matter what we wear, but I suspect that for many (image and status-conscious) cultures students expect their teachers to be dressed to a certain level of formality.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

At my previous school in Indonesia, I had to wear trousers (no shorts or jeans), decent leather shoes, and a shirt with tie. Thank God they had air conditioning! Confused

Currently, I've been told to dress professionally, but most of the teachers wear shorts, T-shirts and sandals. I can't bring myself to dress down that much (I think it looks sloppy) so I still wear trousers and a pair of plain black sneakers.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

No one has ever suggested how I should dress.

I think it's wearing what feels good to you--and doesn't offend someone else (at a university on the coast of Oaxaca I actually complained about a chubby little number who showed up to give classes in tight white short shorts--and who looked like a sack full of bowling balls).

It's very hot where I am teaching--so I find a lightweight linen or cotton skirt and shirt or a gauzy dress cooler than wearing pants. And sandals; if you wear closed shoes here you'll have a fungus among us in no time.

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

Lets have a lexical breakdown of "dress code."

Anyway I wear my old ripped Nike's and a shirt and pants. I don't wear T-shirts but I have never been told not to. Yes Ludwig we have been to University (speak for myself) and the jokers that pass themselves off as profs tend to dress like the homeless. I think it's called "derelict chic" . But theres nothing more disgusting than people refusing to shave. 5 oclock shadow is not cool. At least I shave and wear clean clothes. Wink

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

I had a Business Law prof at university who used to teach (in March/April) in a pair of corduroy overalls with teddy bears printed on them, and a Christmas tree print turtleneck sweater underneath. It was hard to take her seriously...

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

I've been called on the carpet twice so far. I was teaching at 2 different ESL schools in New York City. I think their claims were unreasonable, but I know the had to pick on someone to set an example and I'm an easy target.

Joachim · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Posts: 311 Location: Brighton, UK

In my first job (Indonesia) we were encouraged to wear shirts and ties and no sandals, while the women were allowed to appear a lot more scruffy!

In Thailand we had to wear either blue or black trousers and these godawful uniform T-Shirts made of the scratchies, sweat-trapping, cheap material ever!!

In Hong Kong, you pretty much wear what you want, but as people are so image concious here and tend to look perfect all the time I would be very wary of wearing anything too casual.