Hacker News Reader

Comment by blhack | Hacker News Reader

Isn't this kindof given on the west coast? I can't imagine a single hacker I know wearing a suit (and meaning it).

> I can't imagine a single hacker I know wearing a suit (and meaning it).

With the exception of the very small companies, every company where I've worked has had at least one hacker who wore a suit.

The suit-wearing hackers may outlast the lumber-hacker look.

I'm fine with wearing suits on sales calls in the right contexts, but it's more about wearing what is appropriate. At YC (or really any tech event on the west coast), a suit isn't appropriate -- at most, a button-down shirt w/o tie and MAYBE a jacket in the evenings.

It's kind of obvious when the guy on the other side of the table is wearing shorts and sandals that perhaps a suit and tie is inappropriate...

Is there some hack for those people who like wearing a suit but don't want to come off as try-hard status-whores?

For instance, wearing a scruffy t-shirt and jeans with the suit to signal non-pretentiousness?

Personally, I enjoy wearing suits but if I ever go to Silicon Valley, I would like to avoid committing a faux pas :)

I think the hack is jeans + (t-)shirt + blazer look. I haven't had the context to try it, but it's supposed to be a bit more "trendy" than a suit.

I can't speak for the US west coast, but it seems to me a good start is to actually know how to wear a suit. It absolutely has to fit correctly and be the right size. Unbutton your jacket when you sit. Tie your tie correctly and tighten and straighten it, top button of your shirt buttoned - OR loose it completely, opening the top button - there is no middle ground.

If you are able to, you might be able to pull of a "dishevelled Tom Waits" look. Very hard to do without looking homeless or hungover though.

People who're not on the west coast apply to YC too.

For me personally, I've always worn suits to interviews, but they haven't been for hacker positions. For me it was to show that I took the application process seriously and I really wanted the position.

I'm in the same city as you and I wear a suit... but only to interviews. Wait, I guess I wore it to my brother's wedding, too, but other than that it stays in the closet.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com