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Comment by lmm | Hacker News Reader

I would be bothered that someone dressing excessively formal might act excessively formally - after all, dressing formally is normally a deliberate display of conformity.

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How can be it be an act of conformity to dress formally in an environment where it isn't the done thing?

It's not an act of conformity in that context, but it's usually an act of conformity. The most likely explanation I can see for someone dressing formally in an informal environment is a habit of conformity coupled with an insensitivity to change in social environment, neither of which seems like a desirable quality.

How is it any more a habit of conformity than wearing jeans and t-shirts, especially when the set of workplaces where wearing suits is the norm is smaller?

True, but only if they repeat it more than a couple of times, after they have had time to take on their environment and adapt! (or if a new graduate, afford clothes that fit the 'new conformity' of the particular office casualness...)

>It's not an act of conformity in that context, but it's usually an act of conformity

Or, you know, some of us just don't like looking like schlubs all of the time. What's wrong with that?

Suits often all look very similar for one.

As opposed to jeans and t-shirts?

but then so do geek tees and khaki shorts - the obvious type of uniform isn't the only type.

You don't know anything about tailoring / fashion then :-) the I am an 80's boy so crocket and tubs where my sartorial role models

I dressed up nicely because I wanted to pay respect to my interviewer, they made an effort to be there, I wanted to show that I cared to make an effort too.

And what's the problem?

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