"All we ever hear about was how great [casual dressing] is, but it's never been without problems," said Morem. "It's come to a little bit of a crisis point. The longer it has existed, the less people think appearance matters. One day, the managers walk into the workplace and say, 'What happened?' "
In their Docker-induced euphoria, employers often ignored the impact on their customers. "Rarely do we talk about the external view--the customer reaction," said Morem. "Clients will tell you that they don't like dealing with people who look like they are dressed to clean out the garage. And when they go into a retail establishment or business office, they don't like being unable to distinguish who works there and who doesn't."
Employers are often at a loss to monitor, enforce and describe inappropriate attire, and not just because management hasn't ventured beyond Brooks Brothers or Talbots in 20 years. Image experts have found that companies don't offer an incentive to dress well on casual days, nor do they issue a noncompliance policy. Many advisors have also found that managers resist investing money in training that they think doesn't directly affect the bottom line. That's changing.
"Companies have gone from not wanting specific guidelines to wanting them," said Fignar of Chicago. "Now they are finding that they are absolutely necessary. If we don't have clearly established guidelines, with visuals to support it, we will have a free-for-all."
The would-be Erin Brockoviches and Ally McBeals of the world who scoff at notions of appropriate attire may suffer the most if they continue to favor fashion over professionalism.
"The whole attitude that prevails today is that clothing is a nonissue," said Morem. "If it continues the way it is, there will be a full-fledged backlash."
Valli Herman-Cohen can be e-mailed at valli.herman-cohen@latimes.com.
