Clothes, Redux

[telerib]

If you go by the saying that, "Mechancial engineers build weapons; civil engineers build targets," then engineers have been around for a loooong time. And ever since there were centralized governments to want weapons and buildings, engineers have worked for and around the Great and Powerful.

It shows in the clothes. I've spent two years working with computer scientists. Their profession is an infant! It was born in Silicon Valley and raised at universities. At the major conferences, leading lights in the field might show up in shorts and sandals. At work, day to day, jeans and T-shirts were the norm.

Now I'm back with engineers, and it's time to re-learn business casual again.

We've got slacks and shirts, more than I've seen in a while. Jeans with a nice henley or sweater seem all right. Slacks and a pullover are all right. There are a few jeans-and-T's running around, but they are either a) college students or b) system admins. There is one other woman in the cube farm - she seems to favor slacks and a button-down shirt with a sweater over it. Shoes range from brown "sporty" lace-ups to outright sneakers. Black socks can be worn with brown shoes - these are engineers.

Looks like I might need a few more pieces in the closet...

Comments

[hiddenshoe.livejournal.com]

Yep, a lot of it depends on the site. Find out the official clothing code. I've had casual and currently am at business casual. I think if they ever made me wear formal business clothes, I'd run and hide. As a matter of fact, I asked about it in my interviews. Yes, it's that important to me.

As a computer administrator, it is VERY impractical to be wearing nice clothes while shuffling around computer equipment. Can you imagine trying to run wires under the floor while wearing a nice skirt and blouse and high heels?

I'm not sure how hands on you get in your fancy new job, but basically the only folk that can afford business suits are the ones that shuffle paperwork all day. Paper only cuts hands, not ties...

HS

[cmccurry.livejournal.com]

And that pretty much explains why I am so fond of my job. I'm more of a jeans person as it is and crawling around and under floors is not good for slacks.

[cow.livejournal.com]

> There are a few jeans-and-T's running around, but they are either a) college students or b) system admins.

Ha. That's me -- and I'm both (a) and (b). :D