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Comment by j2d2j2d2 | Hacker News Reader

I used to work for Bear Stearns. I was thinking of quitting before the crisis hit but had to stay and watch after the day our stock value dropped to $2 a share.

By the time I left I really hated working there. I tell some of the story here: http://j2labs.net/blog/2010/jan/11/economies-pools-and-piss/

Anyway, when I moved out of the apartment I had, near Wall St, I threw out my suits. I told myself I'd never take a job that required a suit. The suit felt like a hollow nod between business men that the appearance of success was to be regarded just as highly as the ability to succeed.

I'm less hostile to suits today, but I much prefer to do business with the types of people that also don't like wearing them.

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Most of the time I work as a contract software and hardware engineer. I usually wear Jeans and a T-shirt for that.

Sometimes I take a short contract doing my old job of management consultant. Then I tell the client I'll wear a suit if they want me to, but I charge $30 per hour more if I do (around a 20% premium). I make it clear that they get the same advice and analysis no matter what I wear. Every client has paid the extra. I'm sure it says something about something, but I'm not really sure what.

I really have to disagree with this attitude.

Suits are the great equalizer of clothing. They're designed to downplay the wearer's bodily proportions, and it's very hard to look bad in one. Most people can't tell the difference between a cheap suit, well-tailored, and an expensive one. The suit-and-tie pattern visually draws the eyes toward the wearer's face. Aside from these things, they have very little detail, and that's why they were the post-Depression standard businesswear in America, replacing things like morning coats and top hats and stripey pants.

Computer guys usually don't wear suits because they don't want to spend the extra time and money on them. That's fine. But it should be understood that the typical business casual getup is often visually more distracting than a suit, and does not emphasize the face over the body like a suit does.

You'd be better off just charging everyone $30 extra, and always wearing the suit.

I don't really have any disagreements with what you said, I just don't like wearing them. They're not particularly comfortable. Too hot for many occasions.

I think it's worth mentioning that while everyone looks about the same, the people that want to really show their wallets continue to do so with flashy, expensive suits. Suits are an equalizer for everyone but the top.

I don't adjust my prices with regard to the suit. The rationale behind it feels like the rationale for eating a bag of chips while you're on a diet. I don't feel like wearing a suit today so I'll discount my personal value while asking to be paid. I don't feel like being on a diet today so I'll ignore it while attempting to control my weight.

I take it you have to wear a suit for work then?

I'm not obligated to wear a suit to work, and I don't mainly for reasons of economy and the fact that I'm too lazy to take care them properly. Despite that, I still agree with everything that is said in the grandparent post.

If you can add a 20% markup while providing the same service and with no impact on sales, that screams that you're undercharging everyone. Up your base price for everyone by $40 an hour (if they'll pay $30 more, they'll pay $40 more), and then adjust your suit-wearing premium accordingly.

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