Is being well-dressed a lost art?

Today I went to visit a potential new pre-K program at a local elementary school for my son. On the phone the woman was very professional, well-spoken, and really knew her stuff. I had high hopes for the place and was really looking forward to the visit.

I get there and all three women looked like complete slobs. The head of the program, the woman I spoke to on the phone, was only slightly better dressed, but still not what I would call professional. In fact, pretty much every single person I saw in the school (not sure they were teachers) were sloppily dressed.

I'm talking dirty tennis shoes, knit 'slacks' that look more like cheesy jogging pants (like those stirrup pants without the stirrups), and a baggy shirt with stains - that was the coordinator. One assistant was in denim short shorts, tennis shoes, a wind breaker, and long greasy-looking hair. The other woman also had on a dirty wind-breaker, tight knit pants, dirty tennis shoes, and a scraggly t-shirt.

What happened to teachers dressing nicely and professionally? I don't have anything against dressing casual. Most people where I work are very casual dressers, but they still look neat, clean, and well-kept. The impression I was left with was not positive at all. I honestly don't really feel comfortable leaving my son there, but I think the program is good. It sounded perfect for my son and he really liked the women. In fact, I liked the women, too, I just didn't like their sloppy dress.

Is it wrong to form an opinion on how well people are dressed? I feel like if they are sloppy in their personal life, they will be sloppy in their professional life.

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I do think how you dress and live effects how you are perceived. I would probably have the same feeling that you did. Shallow or not, first impressions really do matter. I would think the same thing if I walked into someone's house and it was a disaster. It has nothing to do with how much money you spend, it's doing the best with what you have.

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Betsy (36)
DH Wade (41)
DD Chelsea Elizabeth 6/25/03


DD Lindsay Danielle 9/26/07

Well, I have to admit that sometimes when I'm out running errands on a Saturday I truly hope I don't run into anyone I know. I fall out of bed, pull on a ball cap and sweats, and skip the shower.

But at work, during the week, I do maintain a pretty professional appearance. We are very business casual. Today, I have on jeans, for example. But I'm wearing nice loafers, a long-sleeved v-neck t-shirt, earrings and a bracelet. Overall, it's casual but not DUMPY, know what I mean?

Maybe these people think "What's the point in trying to impress a bunch of little kids?" I will admit that on my short stint as a SAH mom, I sort of had that attitude. There were days I didn't get out of my pajamas. But if I was facing the public, I'd not do that (in fact, one of the aspect I like about working is that it DOES force me to get up, shower, make-up, jewelry, dress decent... if not for work, I might be a really big slob).

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Linda
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I can understand not needing to impress kids, and I suppose I would have felt a little less critical had this been a daycare center, but this was a public school. I just always thought teachers dressed well or schools had dress codes. Maybe not anymore.

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Yes, it is a lost art!!! People just don't know how to dress appropriately anymore. My husband hosted a group of MBA students at his business last week (he is also getting his MBA). He couldn't believe but some actually wore jeans!!! And no one knows how to dress for a job interview anymore.

In that situation, there is a way to dress casually without being sloppy, like nice jeans or khakis. Even when I go out and wear jeans, I wear nice shirts, and stilletos, so I don't look like crap. I'm determined to not look like a "mom" when I go out! Now at home...that's another story! LOL!

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All the schools that I sub for have strict dress codes for teachers. Jeans are only allowed on Friday, and then they have to be nice and they are paired with monogramed school shirts. They'd be flat out told to go home if they showed up to work like what you described. Totally unacceptable.

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That would really bug me...Especially the short shorts thing.

I do believe that it is important to be at least somewhat professional even when working with kids. If I saw people dressed like that I would worry about them caring for and teaching my child. I mean what kind of example is that? At the same time, my kids go to a private Montessori school and the teachers are dressed casual/comfortable but they are presentable. Even one of the male teachers who has long hair...he always has it pulled back nicely in a ponytail.

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i agree. you can dress nice and still be casual. unfortunately it is a fact that people will be judged on how they look at. personal time not such a big deal but when you are working, it is stupid not to put your best foot forward.

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