The Deal with Do Rags

[Marie]

I'm going to have to go with Phrozen on this one. Having gone to a big, liberal PWI I LOVED that college was a place to 'bum around' and engross myself in studies and a care-free life. Not everyone is looking for that expereince, though, so when selecting a college it is probably best to select one that works best for you. I have definitely rocked yoga pants and a 'high school graduation class' t-shirt to the library for an all nighter. Personally, I feel rollers and head scarves in public are atrocious, but I doubt that the girl next to me is learning any less than I am because of them.

To say that you won't know how to dress in the professional world if you don't dress up for class is like saying that students who attend HBCUs won't know how to interact with people of other races in the professional world. The logic is weak. I find it hard to believe that anyone in college is really that slow, and even if they are...this is why we dress nicely for presentations, interviews, meetings, etc.

[AKA2D '91]

Originally Posted by Marie

...this is why we dress nicely for presentations, interviews, meetings, etc.

Not necessarily the case. As I have attended our UGs rush activity at a private PWI, where it is known that the attire for such activity is business. Of the interests that come with their "credentials" more than half did not dress in the appropriate business attire. I can remember where one young lady literally looked like she got out of bed from her evening nap to attend. The graduate sorors, graduates of HBCUS AND PWIs were , to say the least. So, not everyone dresses for the occassion. If one doesn't care about appropriate dress on a regular/daily basis, will they care under "special circumstances"? Is this because they do not know? they do not care? what? I believe it's the former.

Recently, I had a conversation about how some tend to dress for funerals. Since when are we wearing jeans and t-shirts to funerals? An after-5 affair in jeans. Just because your jeans, shirt and purse are outlined in gold and it's Roca Wear or Phat Pharm does that mean it's appropriate?


As undergraduates, did any of you attend required activities that "taught" you how to dress for certain occassions? cultural activities? Ours were called lyceums, which consisted of 2 courses and throughout the class, we had to attend events. One I really enjoyed was the Dance Theater of Harlem.

[PhrozenGod01]

Originally Posted by AKA2D '91

Recently, I had a conversation about how some tend to dress for funerals. Since when are we wearing jeans and t-shirts to funerals? An after-5 affair in jeans. Just because your jeans, shirt and purse are outlined in gold and it's Roca Wear or Phat Pharm does that mean it's appropriate?


As undergraduates, did any of you attend required activities that "taught" you how to dress for certain occassions? cultural activities? Ours were called lyceums, which consisted of 2 courses and throughout the class, we had to attend events. One I really enjoyed was the Dance Theater of Harlem.

Okay, here is where I was about to agree with guidelines for dressing appropriately. I recently went to several weddings of some friends, and was shocked that people would come in jean shorts, t-shirts, etc. The first wedding that I went to, that wasn't family, I was way overdressed in a collared shirt, tie, and khakis. I didn't think that there was anything wrong with the people that didn't dress up, but if I had known that the average person was going to dress that casual, I would have worn some nice jeans and a polo. I looked like I was a really close family friend who knew everybody or something.

As an undergrad mangement student, I took a required course called Career Skills, where the instructor would go over how to interview, build a resume, and function in the coporate world. We were taught the differences between business formal, business casual, and just plain casual. Although most of it seemed obvious, I learned that brown dress shoes are more casual and sporty than black dress shoes. Also, trendy fashions that might be seen as conservative for women, such as gauchos, shrugs and capris, are not appropriate attire at most companies. I was also taught that an expensive Italian suit seen in GQ or Esquire would be considered tacky in a lot of white collar corporations. We watched some pretty funny informative videos as well.

God, I miss college.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Marie

To say that you won't know how to dress in the professional world if you don't dress up for class is like saying that students who attend HBCUs won't know how to interact with people of other races in the professional world.

Many don't and that was a concern a few years ago.

[Marie]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Many don't and that was a concern a few years ago.

That's too bad.