Why do people still think that ties and suits are smart?

Question

The tie is a useless and pointless article. Suits are considered smart. Smart casual is without a matching suit. When will the world discard this notion that suits are the top image? Conformity, huh, that doesn't make someone better. The smart people think outside of the circle and yet they become bound by dressing within the circle. Smart thinking and dressing to me is to be clean and to wear what you feel comfortable in. My business has no dress code, just a human approach code. Judge people by there ability and empathy with humanity, not there slavish desire to have there mind ruled by quaint old fashioned business leaders who dare not rock the boat. I will never wear a tie or suit again. That makes me feel so happy, it frees my mind, Nobody can tell me what to wear and if they want to look down on me, that is there problem.

Answer 1

Well, at the end of the day, if your company dictates that suit and tie are expected workwear, you wear that, whether you think it is smart or not.

Personally, I think earrings are a "useless and pointless article", and I do not think they are attractive - but that's the whole point about personal taste.

Answer 2

Let's do a spot of clear thinking here.

You ask a question as to why people think that ties and suits are smart and immediately follow it by a statement that the tie is a useless and pointless article.

Are you looking for an answer or just taking an opportunity to slag off those who, unlike you, either have to or choose to wear a suit to work.

In general terms suits have historically been worn by those who do jobs which have a certain status and which demand a certain amount of intellectual ability. In work of genuinely professional status, a suit has long been and still is the norm, at least at the higher levels.

As far as a tie goes, it's part of the general presentation of someone who has a sharp eye for detail -- something I'd certainly look for in a lawyer or other professional I might be considering employing. Sloppy dress with no attention to detail is indicative of a lack of care which may well spread further into the individual's thinking. I can only assume that you've never mastered the art of a Windsor knot -- another clue to the sort of individual who does a better job than the bare minimum.

You are entitled to your views, but you don't need to decry the views of others.

Before we leave the matter, please take a second look at your last sentence. The penultimate word renders the second part of the sentence meaningless. I assume that you intended to use the word "their" but mis-spelled it.

Answer 3

Unfortunately the suit, seems to have existed in fashion for a long time, although the cut changes, the old suit seems to stay in being.
Gradually I have noticed in the office environment over the last 30 odd years the popularity of the suit as normal workwear has declined considerably.
It does seem to be the fall back, can't go wrong if you turn up in a suit it would seem.
I put on a suit occasionally, weddings and funerals in the main, and therefore I have a £49 suit from Asda, for such events.
As for the tie, that seems to survive and appears with other forms of smart casual dress.
To me the tie is totally pointless, it is, unlike a belt unecessary as it is not required to hold up your shirt.
Ties are more a health and safety risk, too tight can cause glaucoma, dangling in machinery, and they harbour a considerable amount of bacteria.
I gave up the tie many years ago, always hated them, now at least we are not expected to wear them in the office.

But to answer your question I think we have grown up with this idea of smartness, effectively brainwashed from childhood

Answer 4

Suits and ties are smart. Nobody said they were practical though. They look good, like you have a tidy mind, important in most jobs.
We all know that you wouldn't wear a suit and tie in some jobs, but it makes sense to look tidy minded when applying for a job.
As to the person who asked whether I would wear jeans and trainers to a funeral? Yes I would and have, at the request of those involved.

Answer 5

While the suit may be a bit antiquated and it does remove some of your individualality; it is a garmet of sophistiication and polish.
A suit make you look like you have put some care into your dress. It makes you look like you have pride in your work and appearance, Granted they are stuffy, can be boring, and don't allow you to express yourself. If you are in a creative field you should not have to wear a suit. If you are my attorney, my bank manager, or my CPA in court; you had better be wearing a suit, it makes a good impression of professonality.

I, as a woman, always wear a suit to a job interview.

Answer 6

well you know what they say
shiny shoes, shiny mind.
within a business where you can know all your co-workers and bosses the relaxed approach is fine, but in large companies where the directors cannot be on first name terms with everybody the suit acts like a uniform. for instance the boss sees two people they don't really know, one is dressed in a smart suit the other has not ironed there shirt. who is making the better impression?
You must draw good attention to your self to get along in most business.

Answer 7

Because they are smart, just as your casual attire is smart too (sometimes). There is empirical evidence that people work smarter when they are dressed 'smarter' in the classical sense.

Why can't you free your mind in 'smart clothes' ? Sounds like you are the slave. I've tried both and can equally work out my issues. I've just gone from a smart-casual area to a smart area - guess what ? No difference, they are only clothes - I decide my attitude.

This was all tried in the 80's when I was young and dumb - we've gradually gone back to suits and ties, we will again.

Answer 8

Funny thing, I was down town the other day, and i see to men walk by in business suits and black trench style jackets and scarfs......The thing is these guys were my age, and when they walked buy, I thought to myself, they look funny, like they called each other to confirm with each other what they were wearing...or that they were pat of the special suit club...lol....I do like a suit though, I like it when a man puts a suit on every once in awhile, I think it's sexy..when they are worn right....but in today's society I don't think a suit is necessary for every day...I think there are a lot of nice alternatives that look just as "smart" and a whole lot sexier then the production line suit.....anyway that is just my opinion........I am totally pro jeans......

Answer 9

I think they wear suits to show they are serious about work. Thank goodness we have no dress code either. My suit would be crinkly after a long day sitting in front of a computer. Man..that would be a lot of trips to the dry cleaner.

Answer 10

I would advise against it because it will draw attention to your feet which is not really something you want. It may also be too harsh to wear with a pure white suit. If you wore a black tie and black shoes, that would look quite suave and match quite well, but probably not a yes to black shoes and full white suit. Good Luck