HOW TO AVOID OUTDRESSING THE BOSS | BEING THE BEST DRESSED MAN IN THE ROOM
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- Опубліковано 30 тра 2024
- In this video your host offers some useful tips to avoid causing friction in the office by outdressing the boss and your professional contemporaries.
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#chapsguide #ashjones #mensstyle - Навчання та стиль
I take immense joy and pride in out dressing my bosses, who by the way dress like a plasterer's apprentice
😂
Oh! Such a great comment. You nailed it.
LOL 😂
If you're dressing better than your boss then you need to find a better company.
That’s not necessarily true. There is a thing of overdressing. I have a colleague who wears a suit and tie almost daily. We work in an office at a community college but it’s not necessary to dress that way every day. Yes, there’s times for it during special events, commencement, formal meetings etc. But only for special occasions.
The first thing I thought
Perhaps, alternatively: If the boss is threatened merely by someone putting in effort to their wardrobe, it's time to find a better boss.
some industries, like the "creative" one, doesn't require suits or tie at all, especially in a country like England where, in some subculture, being conformist is seen like a very bad thing. I do agree with Ash, I keep dressing nicely whilst trying not too standout too much. It makes it a little harder true but, if done correctly you'll still look sharp and no-one can ever say that you're showing-off. And that probably bores them......which Is great! ;)
I think it depends on a number of factors - not least the degree to which people are facing the general-public. How people dress can certainly influence the public image of a company or organisation. But if these people are essentially ensconced in some back office out of sight then it is ultimately only performance which counts. If we are talking about a software engineer, for example, I'd rather have someone who is super smart and highly competent but who dresses like surf dude, rather than a nerd in a suit-and-tie who isn't really on top of the job...
I work at a foundry, but I still have a clean uniform everyday, my shirt buttoned up, tucked in, belt matching my work boots. Pens and a notebook in my breast pocket. Thank you for the tip of the hat to us Blue collar workers Ash. That is something sorely missing in most topics about mens style.
Out dressing the boss is awkward. I experience a strange one often, the patients at my doctors dress more formally than the doctors. The doctors wear sports wear! On my first appointment, I almost told the casual doctor ‘when’s the doctor arriving?’ 😂
I've been outdressing my bosses my entire life. I'm not going to stop now!
Yrs back, A manager pulled pulled 5 of us in his office and said that he could tell who the hard workers were by our boots.
He said he didnt think i was holding my own because my boots were so polished 🙄
I started laughing and told him to check the stats. That i was one of the top guys, just took pride in myself and my appearance.
He wasn't happy, for about a week he was a complete ..... to me.
Then he pulled the group of us back in his office and surprised the heck out of me. He apologized to me in front of everyone and pointed out "his" mistake. 🤠
Over the years the extra little touch i add is a pocket watch. I have several "cheaper" yet nice looking ones for the rougher days and quality ones of course.
My pocket watches always manage to put a smile on othes faces.
Thanks for the video!!!
Cheers
/r thathappened
and then evrybody clapped right? haha :p
@@rogerr.8507 nope, we all stood very confused 🤣 and then went back out to sork.
@@rogerr.8507 maybe spend some time outside the internet
You know the boss writes the cheques, he or she or they can wear whatever they want. You should dress for your own standards. I got my first job as a lowly mail boy/runner because I was the only kid who turned up in a suit. Most men on my side of the office in a shipping agency just wore trousers, dress shirt and tie usually with an odd jacket. I wore a suit every day and acquired 4 more in the following months, in a company everyone accepted you held a role for 2 years before advancement I was promoted to 4 new roles in my first 2 years. Maybe not just down to suits but did not hurt I am sure.
I worked in a famous department store for many years , I was called down the office , the director said to everyone how smart I am always dressed 😊, that was a good day 🕺🏻
Thanks for sharing
One of the first things I ever said to the CEO of the organization I worked for some years ago was
'they must be paying you too much as you are wearing the same shoes as I am and they cost a fortune'... If I recall correctly we were both wearing identical pairs of. Church's shoes.
We have been friends ever since. He was obviously as the CEO several grades higher than I was, we still exchanged emails on different shoe shops and makers and tailors etc. On occasion some of the more senior staff were a little surprised when he ostensibly not so much ignored them but sought out my views instead on a particular issue instead of theirs.
I work in a chemical laboratory, the dress code says dress casual, so I wear chinos and a oxford shirt, sometimes a polo shirt, white tennis shoes or loafers, I am the overdressed one here at work, everyone is wearing sweat pants and crocs and a t shirt. Even my boss. The other manager is the same , he takes pride in wearing limited edition Nike tennis shoes, several times people think I am the boss. I refuse to lower my dress standards to fit here. I live in the USA. It is sad that nowadays people are not making any efforts to dress better.
Greetings Ash. I am sure with a RAF background you can attest to the fact that two military men of the same rank and in the same uniform can present completely differently depending on fit. cleanliness, press of uniform, level of polish to shoes and other leather kit.
I have, upon request, suggested to younger interns that French cuffs and cuff links (and an ironed shirt) is a minor change that will get one noticed.. You can remove a sport/suit coat at office but have a pocket square in its place and a tie in the suit pocket ready to go if you are suddenly asked to speak or present at a meeting. I have on a few occasions been invited to a meeting I might not usually be involved to simply because someone knew I had a jacket and tie ready at hand.
These things allow one to up or down scale in small ways by providing options which can prove useful.
I always enjoy your video. Thank you..
I work in an office environment in a multi-national company. My director is a female and she dresses very casually. Heck, most of the time I dress even better than our regional president and I simply wear a nice blazer, a pair of fitted chinos, and a pair of Allen Edmonds. What can I say... I like wearing nice things but I don't spend a fortune on them (mostly pre-owned stuff).
I like to wear sport coats with a pocket square. dress shirt, slacks and polished dress shoes to the office. My manager dresses very casual. When he wants to wear what he wears, so be it. I do not lower my standards. Why should it be my problem that I out-dress my boss?
I'm one of very few who wear a tie in my office...and I love it. I stand out and don't feel like one of the business-casual clones armed with a smart watch.. I hope it stays this way!
By the way, if there are comments, they're uninspired and show the true lack of ingenuity of my peers. They are great reminders of how not to be.
Edit: what a great way to be counter-culture and fashionably rebellious!
Because I seldom leave the house without wearing a jacket and tie, or a suit and tie, I'm "overdressed" just about everywhere I go. Fortunately for me, I am retired, and really have no one to please but myself and my own tastes and inclinations.
If I were working in a corporate environment, I'd have to be more careful about how I dressed and the message that I was sending to my employer and co-workers.
I don't imagine there's a lot of upside to being dressed better than the boss.
I have been wearing a tie more now that I am retired. 🤔😉
Back in the 1970s I remember salesmen wore suits and not just the suit salesman. Even the appliance salesman. In my last job we had a dress code. You had to wear the company shirt nice jeans or chinos and a belt. I was standing next to the manager when a customer asked if I was the manager. 😮 The reason for this was I had a pressed White shirt and khaki chinos and polished Oxford broges. The manager was wearing a wrinkled blue shirt blue jeans pooling at his feet and wearing worn out hiking shoes. Needless to say he was caught off guard. Cheers Ron
I was always the best dressed in my office. I was on the fast track to getting the job I wanted, then a new boss who dressed like a slob came in and I was barely getting hours. When I started dressing down, I started getting treated poorly. It was a very toxic work environment. Now I work from home and can dress however I wish and that makes me super happy.
I hear you sir! People here (NZ) say that I'm overdress, and quietly say that I should down grade and dress like a slob! They don't say those words per say!
That I am showing them up, I sounds like that employer was doing the same to you! Thinking that your showing him up!
Isn't there laws about abuse in the work place and things in place to address the problem?
@@jonathonshanecrawford1840 There are but he did it in such a way I couldn't really complain and I just wound up getting fewer and fewer hours, leading up to the pandemic. At which point I was let go.
@@ColinLack That sounds like _Gas-Lighting!_ Even here (AU & NZ) the govt types do the same to their clients!
A lot of Gas-Lighting employers sometimes have personal issues, that they may not know about or if they do, they are not very nice.
Sometimes there's not we can do _(proving such)_ when the employer is Gas-lighting an employee, if we could, well...
As you wrote _work from home_ good on you for finding something else away from that abuse!
@@jonathonshanecrawford1840 Yeah it's great because the type of work I do now I can work at my own pace, as I want, when I want. Some mild annoyances with family members not being quiet when I need it but I can mostly deal with this and the great thing is, as I grow on various platforms, it means more money for me!
@@ColinLack This new to me, _"Person's name,has subscribed to you on UA-cam"_
I just received an Email notifying me of such _(can't name person for security/privacy reasons)._ I thought, that on UA-cam channels people subscribe to them. I didn't know we can subscribe to other subscribers!
If you have the confidence, and are a strong contributor to the company, dress as well as you like.
Hell yup dress better than anyone no matter who it is
Again another great video!
I've been told (in NZ) that _"suits"_ are out-dated and shouldn't be worn, recently Someone said we should wear _jeans, T-shirt & sneakers_ to an interview!
For my self, I would say out loud, *_"What ever"_* I am a gentleman, not a slob!
I agree, I would not wear a 3-peice suit to an interview, however I would wear a 2 piece, un matching tie & pocket square (not a gift set)!
I like it. I have always tried to dress like my boss. If he is sartorially hopeless, then dress like his boss. Worked like a charm.
Sharply dressed sir! Nothing loud or outlandish, everything in balance!
Your words bring to mind a situation I was in as a young woman, in the late 1970s. I had just left the military (Petty Officer 3rd, in Hawaii), which required wearing either a dress uniform (rarely) or jeans and a work shirt. When I left, I had almost nothing in the way of clothes and very little money, and there was no one in the world to help me financially or otherwise. The only pants I owned that were not jeans were a knit black, too hot for Florida which was now home, and the only dress was a mumu, appropriate for Hawaii. There was no eBay, or even internet for accessing cheaper clothes. After much struggle, I got a job in an office, which did not allow jeans. Although the pay was extremely low, and there was no exposure to the public or even bigwigs in the organization, jeans were forbidden. I wore the black knit every day, because the pay was too low to buy nice clothes after paying rent. It was the low pay that made me very resentful--if they wanted people to wear professional clothes, why couldn't they give you a livable salary to pay for them? Not only that, I could have worn the best clothes in the world, but still would have no chance of advancement in a world biased against women. Finally, I got out of there when I entered college, and got back into jeans. This was the world in the 1970s.
Honestly, Dressing well in a corporation even in a bank became rare. Bosses and people of board really appreciate when their employee fit well. For me it's showing respect to hierarchy.
if I walked into an office now,they would look at me as if I was an alien.The last time I had a meeting with my bank,I was dressed fairly casually,(I thought);black pleated,cuffed pants,bespoke peach color Lapidus cuffed,dagger point collared shirt,no tie,Allen Edmonds black loafers,bespoke light wool 4 inch peak lapel light gray glen plaid sportcoat,no tie,vintage Bulova black face watch.Everyone else were wearing knit pullover shirts,dockers,'topsider's shoes,and plastic watches.I felt like a dinosaur
But an intentionally well dressed dinosaur
@@TheChapsGuide yes,quite.Thank you
I suspect the bosses who dress 'less smart' aren't that interested in clothes so probably don't care if someone else is 'suited and booted'.
I would not drop my dress standards. My Boss is okay about this and has started dressing better himself now.
I used to wear button down shirts at first and now with polos I still out dress the branch manager
I once worked for a company where very few workers ever met the boss. Myself included. When I finally did meet him, I honestly thought that he was the janitor. I'm not talking down on this position, I've worked in that field before and have tremendous respect for it. He was just dressed in the clothes I would've worn if I was doing that job. Loose fitted pants, old pair of shoes, very casually
I once had this one particular office administrative job where my co-workers confused me. Sometimes, some of them would be wearing a tie and coat and other times a simple polo shirt. Sometimes jeans, chinos, or trousers. The dress-code didn't have a strong foundation. The integrity of enforcing the rules and policies written in the Employee's Handbook was not there somewhat. LOL. The ramifications of popular attire trends creeping into the office world.
I have indeed been mistaken as the boss and I also failed to secure a job because I was the smartest person they ever interviewed.
🤷♂️
Casual dressing for "white collar" jobs has been progressively creeping in over many years. My first serious job as a youngster was as a junior assistent in a firm of Architects - and this is going back more than quarter of a century. At the interview I was dressed up in a nice sports jacket and tie and all the rest of it. But at end, having given me the job on the spot, the boss gestured to my clothes and said something like: "I appreciate you dressing nicely, but we all dress very casually in the office." It was funny, because it was an open plan office space where there was a different firm of engineers over on one side. They were all older men who were 100% old-school suit-and-tie fellers. But by contrast we on the architect's side were dressed for the beach! The boss, in particular, had a penchant for t-shirts, shorts, trainers and designer stubble! Looking back, I think I could have adopted a _slightly_ more smart-casual vibe, and I don't think it would have been a problem. But in general one kind of has to follow a boss's lead, I guess...
I think to choose one simple woven tie and make it part of your everyday wearing 'uniform', others will get use to you wearing a tie, then ad little bit of variation in colour as you go
Leather shoes alone are a rarity in my employer's board of directors.
This is the video im waiting for. My boss only wear T-shirts without collar and sneakers. Me, on my journey to be a chap and watching classic movies, my standard casual is tucked polo shirt, a high waist trouser pants, and derby brogue shoes. And stll they say that I looked like a manager. Like bro, my outfit is the most casual outfit since 1930s... Things really has changed, I cannot wear my best because of my boss!
I know these situations too well... especially as an office-clerk in a bank and former clerk in a government administration office. Honestly? I'm now old enough, and not afraid of being judged by people anymore. Because they'll do it anyway. Good or bad dressed. Doesn't matter. They will ALWAYS find anything to criticize, no matter how much effort you give in doing your job or treating them with respect. My boss is just a normal human i work with. Not my god. Is he envying me because i dress better or drive a more expensive or bigger car than him, that's his problem, not mine.
I encouraged my boss to dress better 🎤 👋🏾
Resonate Alexander's dilemma. Some seniors in my firm are in jeans. Usually it is top half formal and bottom one casual. Such a pain!
This video really resonated with me. I’m retired now from an office job, but in my latter years at work casual dress began to creep in. This was a trend that I didn’t want to go along with, so I continued to dress formally but I found myself standing out among my colleagues and sometimes my superiors, which is not a desirable position to be in, but I was determined to dress as I had always dressed for work. Now I’m retired I can dress just as I wish, which isn’t always how other retired men dress.
Maybe because I'm a grumpy old git, if I was back riding a desk in an office.... before I was forced due to the firm centralizing office staff to move into "operations"... for a very large pay rise it must be said, I would dress at whatever standard I liked. I was once invited to a meeting with our largest customer. The regional manager.... a dapper tweed wearer who I didn't know previously was brought up near me, also attended. I think he invited me!.. can't remember. I wore a decent 2 piece, decent shirt, good tie and shiny shoes. Some manager who was chair of this meeting from the customer was directing all his output towards me... My manager and I were smirking at each other.... until I had a chat with the chap and pointed out it was David, not I who was the boss..... thank god I was able to answer the fellow reasonably well until I could point it out. We were all laughing like drains.
Re: overalls, it was quite traditional for men to wear a shirt and tie under their overalls. I've seen old men doing it if they're working outside or in a garage or whatever. If you really wanted to I can't imagine someone would stop you, it's just a question of comfort
My ex boss made Boris Johnson look well dressed 😂😂, and everyone thought he was just some old man from the local village ..
He always complimented me on my attire and how he didn’t feel any competition at all 😂😂
Top Guy to have worked for 18 years before he retired
As I had to work in blue collar job for a while I made sure of the following:
1. I always arrived and left attired like a gentleman (dress/combination with tie) and got changed at the workplace, although that raised a few eyebrows.
2. I made sure my personal hygiene was top notch - in particular my hands and nails (!). And I was always clean shaven.
3. Whenever possible I washed my working clothes so they weren't grimy. And I pressed them.
4. When wearing a boiler suit I always wore a cravat. It really looks very stylish.
My father was a master Machinist and did the same thing. Always changed into his good clothes at work.
The very casual style in my company makes it hard for me not to outdress my boss and I do not want to intentionally dress like a peasant. That wouldn't match such agood looking guy like me. 😁
I had a boss that would call me into his office just to ask me where did I get my shoes from. Dress well my friends!
To add to your last point Ash, thats helped me as a substitute teacher in the US. Theres not a clear dress code for regular teachers, but substitute teachers are recommended to wear professional but comfortable clothes. Ive worn a shirt and tie but Iwear blue and light purple shirts to keep things a tad casual. Ive gotten comlimets from everyone even from the principals of the schools ive subbed for. Like you said, communication is key
I believe the teacher should wear a suit so people *know the difference between the teacher and the students* (USA) as here in Australia and New Zealand the students wear a school uniform _(school pride I believe)_
I hear it is quite common in the USA that the students wear _what ever the damn like_ to school?
@jonathonshanecrawford1840 It depends on where you are at. Some private and public schools have uniforms (polo and dress pants or polo/skirt) while most I know let kids where what they want
@@porkchopproductions0314 I don't care where one is, my point, how does one tell the difference between the teacher and the student! Not regarding the school that the student s wear a uniform.
Here's an example: Court room, normal lawyers wear a suit, and some times the defendant doesn't, that lets the judge know the difference! Whereas both should wear a suit!
Like if the police (Not d's) didn't wear a uniform, even they present their badge, I would think they are *off duty* and would not listen to the police officer as he looks like he's off duty!
@jonathonshanecrawford1840 I definitely agree. Its one of the reasons why wear a shirt and tie to differentuate myself
am photographer so i don t have boss , is funny how often i see other photographer go to a event or wedding wearing old running shoes with distress jeans and t shirt , when i go to something more formal for work , i will wear tie , waste coat dress pants and oxfords and some times a blazer or jacket , just because i must fit in and it may count for booking the next job , you can not go to a wedding or babtism dress like you go for beer with you mates
Excellent video Ash. I beg to differ with the idea of dressing down to the level of the lowest common denominator. You can dress conservatively and yet be impeccably dressed, think Cary Grant. Well dressed rather than overdressed.
Here in New Zealand _(Auckland)_ a lot of *"Business men"* Social welfare case managers are wearing *_"casual"_* out fits, like jeans, t-shirts and sand shoes. Which is the case manager and which is client? Even lawyers are now wearing casual.
Recently a WINZ _(social security)_ case manager told me that I'm over dressed, basically saying I should wear casual and ditch the suits,. *_Are they setting people up to fail?_*
That's a sharp looking necktie, Ash!
And ordered with a custom made suit from Oliver Wick.
Thanks for the answer!
I'l definitely take your tips into consideration.
I am actually just 21 years old and still looking for my place in the world. However seeing no one dress like I would eventually want to dress had me in this dilemma.
Since I'm so early in my career I am free to change jobs quite easily. Which types of companies do you think are more open to the idea of dressing up. FYI I work in accountancy and tax consulting yet no one of the 200 people who work here have I ever seen wear a tie.
I think you can go 1-2 degrees above your boss and peers. It’s more important to allow how you dress express who you are and provided it’s coming from they place (and not “showing anyone up”) then it’s up to your boss an peers to up their game if they feel self conscious. I’m with you though: draw the eye, not the ire!
Interesting topic and very relevant for me. I’m in an unusual situation. I am 62 years old and work for a very small consulting firm… VERY small. It’s my boss and me and his wife does some of the administrative work. My boss is younger than me by about 12 years. My boss and I go out occasionally to meet with our clients.
Now, to be fair, our clients tend to be quite casual dressers too, but my boss is extremely casual. I have been with him to meet clients when he was wearing jeans, sneakers, and a graphic t-shirt.
I used to be as casual as I could which is probably one reason I was attracted to this job, but in the last year or so I have been making a conscious effort to improve my style and look more mature. I was concerned about showing him up and explained my reasons for the change in attire. I don’t go overboard… usually just a collared shirt, chinos, and leather shoes or boots. He expressed some surprise the first time he saw me in a collar, but didn’t seem uncomfortable with it. I’ve noticed, though, that he has not worn a t-shirt to any meeting since then. He’s still in jeans but generally wears a polo shirt now.
It sounds as if your style is having an influence upon your younger boss. A touch of subliminal style mentoring will be undoubtedly positive for your company - perhaps you should lobby for a salary uplift, as you have assumed the role of Director of Standards in addition to your present portfolio of responsibilities.
It is very easy to oudress others in the Age of Athleisure.
My last CEO wore shorts, tshirts, and a baseball hat so...
"Never outshine your master". Robert Greene - 48 laws of power
Unfortunately that's true. Unfortunately, bosses do not as well as 80s or 90s.
One thing you could do to avoid this issue is to wear your sartorial clothes outside of the work environment. This would stop any confusion or embarrassment.
In my line of work, we wear uniforms.
It seems many of the comments are about dressing more formally than the boss. That misses the point I believe. My former boss always dressed formally. But like a schmuck. In contrast I would aim for sartorial elegance, which is not always more formal. Shoes. Choices in color. Dressing like you care. It was 10/10 times awkward.
I'd like to see Ash unbutton his jacket while seated. Buttoned while standing, unbuttoned while sitting.
It’s not uncommon for a gentleman to keep the jacket buttoned, even when seated, when on camera to keep the silhouette consistent.
I do this for the camera sir, to get the best look.
Your statement is true but not 100% of the time. Next time you watch the news, take notice of the male anchor. They always have their jacket buttoned. My belief is because they are announcing, it brings a more formal situation.
If outside of a workshop floor environment, and you're better turned out than the Boss, look for another job, you can do better.
Just don't out Golf him.
Been there done that. Got the tshirt
Funny!@@theleftpeg2777
I don't play against my boss as if I'm playing with my son when we play basketball.
Funny!@@theleftpeg2777
If you need to be careful not to outdress your boss, he is probably a sloppy dresser and the rule thus shouldn't apply to him.
The heck with the shame and embarrassment. If your boss who probably earns twice or thrice more than you want to live in slob nation what's it to you. don't lower your standards, just dress more or less casually. Plaid button-down, knit tie, khaki slacks, Paraboot "michal" shoes, a vest or short jacket. Or as Ash indicates a plain white button-down shirt. You can also go with Doek oxford sneakers or Grant Stone boots. Defiantly no jeans. Just saying!
Why not just "become the boss"?