https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:48:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2163816 Fri, 01 May 2015 10:54:49 +0000 psw27 2163816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Strange.... but not surprising. DH works in a very conservative office - no facial hair/beards, suits every day, etc. My DH has been told to "never" wear red to any meetings involving one person he works with. He isn't allowed to have a red notebook or use a red pen either. The man is very superstitious apparently. DH just rolls with it for the most part but rolls his eyes about it at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2163780 Fri, 01 May 2015 10:40:04 +0000 Truth Bombs 2163780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know too many men who feel "shown up" because another man wore a patterned shirt.... It sounds like you don't want to hear any other explanations than that your husband's boss is a jerk. But regardless of his motivation, this guy has some power over your husand's career, so why not just play along and wear more conservative clothing? Is showing off his fashion sense really more important to him than advancing in his career? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2163718 Fri, 01 May 2015 10:10:23 +0000 LindsayInNY 2163718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: He worked for a Big 4 firm and dressed the same...</p> <p>TBH, I think boss felt showed up and that was his way of dealing with the insecurity of it. Or cultural awkwardness. DH asked the other male who was at the meeting and he said there was nothing wrong with his outfit and boss has made weird comments to him before too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159452 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 10:44:01 +0000 BrandNewMom 2159452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband works in upper/middle management, and he would never consider wearing red to work. He can't handle white shirts (they "make him feel like a sheeple"), so he sticks to shades of light blue, with black or grey ties.<br /> As he likes to say, "my boss' boss doesn't car about my personality, he cares about my work and how I represent the company. " </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159372 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 09:55:05 +0000 Smurfette 2159372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah if you are having a meeting with the CEO you play it safe. Sometimes you just have to play the game, whether you like it or not.</p> <p>My DH would love to wear more patterns and colors to work, but since he is going to client's offices every day and working, he has to be conservative. He works for a big 4 firm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159370 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 09:54:52 +0000 BKCaribBaby 2159370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband works at a higher level in a very conservative work environment and that would be a little odd to hear that. I think there are other things involved in this comment from the boss. DH is pretty careful with what he wears though, so maybe's he's lucky to not have experienced this. I'm pretty particular about my clothes too and tend to look better than I need to most days, so I would be surprised if someone pointed out a color I wore or the pattern of a shirt if I looked otherwise professional and well-dressed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159366 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 09:49:58 +0000 PinkElephant 2159366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I realize my opinion isn't going to be popular...but to show the other side of this, I can totally see how a comment was made on the dress shirt (even though it dounds to me like DH looked dashing :)!) my. DH would definitely catch flak for wearing anything other than a white dress shirt or mayyybe a light blue one to a high level meeting (CEO/board, client presentation, etc). It's just what is expected (very conservative dress) in his industry. I think it's out of line if his boss reports his fashion sense to HR, but reasonable to mention to your DH that he (the boss) thinks it'd be better to wear something else. That does, to me, seem like looking out for DH more than picking on him. But I do absolutely get why you and he would be annoyed or offended!</p> <p>I worked in finance pre kids and once had a boss (male) tell me my winter coat made me look like a fourth grader....I'd specifically bought it for my new job. So I do understand how a comment like this can be offensive and feel for your DH!</p> <p>my DH is a great dresser also and had lots of custom tailored shirts with fun prints on the cuff/collar linings, but he saves those for days when he doesn't have big meetings, and keeps a fresh plain shirt at work just in case. I once had to car-service him a suit/shirt for an unexpected meeting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159340 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 09:36:07 +0000 blackbird 2159340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: That is seriously every man over 50 in my office. Save Fridays (which are hawaiian shirt day) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159316 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 09:16:24 +0000 Mae 2159316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sort of odd but I could see it happening. Law is such a conservative field, in my experience I can't ever remember a male lawyer wearing a patterned shirt. Generally not even a color beyond white/pale blue.... Women get away with a lot more for business attire it seems in law world, but men pretty much have to stick to charcoal/navy suits, maybe tan in the summer, and white/light plain shirts.</p> <p>It really shouldn't matter but I could see an old school guy not liking it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159315 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 09:16:01 +0000 Truth Bombs 2159315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If his boss felt that the shirt was too fashion forward to qualify as "business" dress, he's well within his right to say so. And it would be the same with a female employee. Commenting on the appropriateness of someone's attire for the situation does not mean sexual harrassment is taking place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159306 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 09:09:33 +0000 littlebittyhouse 2159306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>very very odd esp given that the shirt was a small check and the rest of his attire was quite conservative. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159274 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:49:44 +0000 Anagram 2159274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is my favorite part...it actually made me laugh. </p> <p>"Step into any menswear store and you’ll likely see more colors than a Crayola crayon big-box. Your first step is to ignore most of them. If you’re starting out with a professional wardrobe, the easiest mistake to make is to buy fashion colors – like pink, or brown – or intricately striped shirts. Not only are these colors unprofessional, they make even the simplest suit and tie ensembles difficult to pull off. Court is not a nightclub.</p> <p>So as I see it, you want to focus on two colors: white and blue. Let’s talk about each." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159270 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:49:04 +0000 Anagram 2159270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: I'm guessing his boss has similar rules to this blog! <a href="https://philawdelphia.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/looking-like-a-lawyer-part-2b-mens-shirts/" rel="nofollow">https://philawdelphia.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/looking-like-a-lawyer-part-2b-mens-shirts/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159266 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:47:58 +0000 Anagram 2159266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I have a friend that says the same thing about her law office (in Dallas, where you'd think maybe it would be a bit more relaxed?). For women and men both, only the plainest and most traditionally professional clothes will do. Women have to wear pantyhose of some type with their suits if it's a skirt, closed toe shoes only, high necked traditional blouses or button up shirts for women and only the plainest of men's dress shirts for men. No crazy ties of any kind. Also no dressing "like a waiter" (black tie on white shirt with black pants--tie must be a different color like cream, gray, or blue). No getting creative with attire.</p> <p>I hear about this stuff from her all the time. So different from my job! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159191 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:01:07 +0000 mrbee 2159191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @looch:! It may be less of a fashion thing, and more of a guy thing.</p> <p>There's a trend towards men wearing more fashion-oriented clothes (the Times even launched a Men's Style section lately). But a lot of older men believe that wearing colors and fancy details is feminine (not saying it's right, but it's definitely something I've heard). Older men often wear basic outfits that are more functional than fashionable, but very high quality. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159181 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 07:51:55 +0000 looch 2159181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's an unspoken rule around here that unless you're at a certain level, you can't be creative with your attire if you are a male. Like suspenders, for example. Don't even think of wearing those around here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159110 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 06:45:01 +0000 TheSwissWifeStyle 2159110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not in the business world, DH is, (huge multi-national company) but I myself don't really know anything. That being said, is a patterned dress shirt really a big deal? Jeeze....I mean was it lime green with hot pink flamingos or something? </p> <p>DH has worn tons of patterned dress shirts, and never been called out. Pretty sure even when he worked on the same floor as the top (like TOP) guys. </p> <p>I guess the boss can say whatever he wants, but I still think it's odd! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159096 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 06:07:00 +0000 LindsayInNY 2159096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: Yes but separately! Lol. He will wear pink, patterns and cardigans but definitely not all 3 together!</p> <p>@LemonLong: The thing is, it was professional dress so I don't know how it would come across as anything else? He was in compliance with the company dress code. This isn't FBI Hoover style where only white dress shirts are allowed... And I would think a comment like that to a female could approach a sexual harassment line if not careful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159066 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 23:51:51 +0000 LemonLong 2159066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it's inappropriate. If his boss thinks the shirt doesn't project the right image then he's well within his rights to request that it not be worn to work. I don't see how it would be inappropriate if a female was told they should wear less loud clothes in the office either though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2159036 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 21:56:24 +0000 birdofafeather 2159036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: Now I'm imagining your DH wearing a pink patterned cardigan to work in an accounting office!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2158863 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 18:10:46 +0000 LindsayInNY 2158863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I think that's part of it... DH is the youngest male so the others may be a bit out of touch. It's just weird that he would comment on that when DH has worn some pretty adventurous outfits to work (non-CEO meetings obviously) - like cardigans, pink, patterns, etc. (not all together, LOL!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2158862 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 18:09:42 +0000 LindsayInNY 2158862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: That was kinda my thought... If it was said to a female, especially, it would've been much more inappropriate IMO! I told DH to shrug it off for now. If it doesn't have to do with his work performance, it's not relevant really. It just sucks because it's essentially the 2nd in command of his group and he's always seems to be very critical of DH (not constructive, just a critical person). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2158861 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 18:09:33 +0000 blackbird 2158861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: he should wear only patterned dress shirts from now on lol.</p> <p>Our director always wears a plain white dress shirt. It's like some older guy lawyer secret dress code lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2158859 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 18:07:56 +0000 LindsayInNY 2158859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: Nope, comment was only made to him. And I'm willing to bet he was the nicest dressed one there!</p> <p>@blackbird: Exactly! Literally this was over the pattern of a dress shirt! WTF?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2158856 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 18:06:00 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2158856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: I would tell him to maybe be wary. It could have a been a one time comment but I have often seen office politics start with comments like this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2158854 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 18:04:25 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2158854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Typically unless it's a reoccurring issue and its brought up from the manager to the HR person, I dont think it's appropriate to really say something in that type of situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2158850 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 18:02:31 +0000 blackbird 2158850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When my coworkers wear Hawaiian shirts, I give them crap. But it's more good natured than anything. </p> <p>Honestly I could see this in my group. So stodgy </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2158845 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:58:36 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2158845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At my old location we all commented on each other's outfits frequently- including our boss who was compliment or make comments if something didn't fit the dress code.<br /> But it sounds like my previous office was more informal than yours. </p> <p>I think that's a weird comment cause as long as the person was dressed appropriately- and it sounds like they were- then they met the dress code. The HR handbook would have to save something against patterned tops </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2158837 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:50:17 +0000 LindsayInNY 2158837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hotchildinthecity: Not really? The main/HQ office is business attire but the other offices are all business casual and casual on Fridays. It's really weird. The bad hypothetical is about my husband... He thinks his boss' boss is out to get him for no apparent reason. But with this he thought maybe boss thought he was looking out for him somehow? And DH is actually a really good dresser! Like I go to him for fashion advice. There are times he can be "flashier" or more adventurous but not for a CEO meeting. And he's a lawyer, worked in Big 4 accounting and was in the USMC so it's not like he's out of touch either! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-bees-supervisor-comment-on-dress-attire#post-2158833 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:43:00 +0000 hotchildinthecity 2158833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's.....odd. Is the company super old school/conservative? Like I'm picturing this being said at Goldman or something... </p>