Does anyone else find this requirement absolutely annoying? Do you bend the rules?

I work in the fashion/textile/garment industry in Downtown LA. What we consider business attire does not fit into the description that these MSPs provide. It's always "khakis" and a "crisply ironed collared dress shirt." Most of my nice slacks are colorful: blue, green, etc. I have so many collard shirts that do not fit their standard. I think I stand out more when I try to dress in neutral colors.

Also, I'm doing one shop at 3pm which the MSP requires business casual, and another at 4:30 which the MSP requires me not to dress in business attire, so I'll be changing in my car again.

I have bent the dress code rules from time to time, and it has never been a problem.

What's your story?

I use my best judgement and tailor it by where I'm going and what I'm doing. Normal people don't wear khakis when shopping for a car during snow flurries. Most people don't wear business dress when looking for apartments. Sometimes it seems the one's writing that stuff have never been to a mall on Saturday afternoon in the middle of the summer or the dead of winter.

When in Rome, do what the Romans do.

My MSC's tend to get a bonus in terms of attire. I tend to do a lot of shops over my lunch, so I'm generally already in business casual/semi-professional dress anyway.

SteveLA: Maybe I'm alone in this, but I don't take their definition of "khakis" to strictly mean "medium tan slacks". I would say so long as you look relatively put together and aren't wearing anything on their "do not wear" list, you'd be fine.

I always use my own judgement. I never go by exactly what they request.

@SteveLA, I would argue that most MSCs do not understand LA fashion or proper business attire here. Just know the business you are evaluating and what would be appropriate to wear there. I have never had a MSC come back at me for how I am dressed, and don't follow any guidelines. I just use common sense.

I remember bank shops a few years ago for the entertainment credit union that had specific attire requirements I found funny. Anyone that did not wear cargo shorts, T-Shirts and a lanyard around their neck would stick out like a sore thumb, as the outlets were located on backlots for movie studios in LA.

I think it is a matter of common sense, for me black slacks or really nice jeans, cute blouse and jacket are always acceptable.
I think they don't want shorts, flip flops, causal has a wider meaning than only kakai....slacks and shirt are always acceptable for a man. Steve, I did that bank job on the lot and did feel out of place and overdressed.

I will never forget wearing business attire to a bank platform shop, early in my MS career. The only other customer, in this very, very affluent DC suburb, who was not in jeans and tee shirt was the transvestite who had topped off a slinky black dress with a pink feather boa. Since then, I dress to fit into the background.

I adhere to the MSCs request, BUT, add an additional $10 to my fee for the inconvenience.

When it was 90+, and I had to do a fast food shop, I decided to break the dress code and wear shorts. I was less "out of place" that I would have been in casual dress.

There was a dress code for a FF shop? Holy crap on a cracker!

S___ on a stick, a dress code for FF....what next. I know let's wear gowns and gloves for a big mac, they'll never know we're
the shopper, they'll think we're eating before the prom.....NOW I've heard everything.

Crap on a cracker??? LMAO

I dress in nice jeans or nice capris in the summer. I think the requirements for most places are ridiculous.

I dress to blend and not stand out.

A bank or an apartment shop it's Docker time with a decent top...every thing else, it's jeans and athletic shoes...just like every body else....I want to be as forgettable as possible.

Just add a blazer and don't wear shorts or flip flops. If it is a high-end shop, I spend more time in putting my attire together to look the part.

Well, here's the deal...working in the fashion industry, most of my flamboyant actually attire is calm, compared to my peers/associates, but wild compared to the general public. I usually wear primary and secondary colors. Rarely do I wear neutral colors

Today, I wore blue slacks and a purple plaid dress shirt. Very quiet compared to most of the things I wear. I took off my tri-colored vinyl Keds before going doing the shop , and just wore a pair of black Diesel suede sneakers.

I'm not gonna worry about it until something happens. And, if an MSP would choose not to choose me based on my attire, then I wouldn't want to work for them either.

After starting this post, I decided that I'm not gonna compromise my personal image/beliefs to suit any MSP agent who puts business attire in their requirements because they think, somehow, it gives his/her company a stronger image.

My sis-in-law works for a department store where they're supposed to be dressed in business attire. They even require all associates to layer their clothing thinking that it will require a dressier look (okay?) but the younger girls are constantly finding ways to meet the dress code while NOT being dressed in a business-like manner. So in that aspect, I can understand CERTAIN jobs having a dress code.

However, I'm not a young girl who's going to pull that. And I don't own khaki pants or polo shirts. But if I need to dress "professionally" I can do that better than what the MSP recommends with the previously mentioned items. If my dress, which is more professional than their requirement, is cause for my shop to be declined, then they damn well better have noted in the job offer exactly what was expected as a dress code before anyone applied. Or I am gonna be one pissed puppy.

You really have to use your own judgment. Despite what the guidelines say, the truth is that what may be typical for one geographic area is not the case for another. It's not uncommon to see people with a lot of money dress down, especially in urban areas.

In Texas, jeans and boots ARE business casual.

Nice jeans and DRESS boots are FORMAL attire and will be seen at weddings, funerals, and other church services.

Monday I'm doing 4 super upscale shops in Saks Fifth Ave, and Barneys, so, yes, I'm having my coffee (7:20AM) and deciding what to wear. I will take my Louie Vuitton handbag out of it's plastic bag and wear a good pair of slacks, blouse and shoes...that's as dressed up as we get here in L.A. with having hot weather continuing (100%). I do have some very nice clothes as my family was in the schmata business (clothing) and I do know what goes. Much more casual here in L.A., you can get away with more, but well fitting clothes makes the package seem classier. I'd hardly shop a 4,000 suit from Chanel in grubby clothes, though many of you say it doesn't matter, it matters to me.

Many jobs like banks don't require all that, know where your going and try to fit in, here in the subs it's much more laid back
than the city, although jeans are acceptable anywhere these days. Men do have it easier, no need for manicure's, nice handbag or
makeup....lucky guys, just roll out of bed, and your good to go......



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2012 03:23PM by Irene_L.A..

To look like a rich woman in LA, you really just need to look like you are just coming from or going to the gym or yoga (still with the most expensive purse on the planet,) and make sure that your Botox and Collagen are up to date. Don't forget the Starbucks drink and the bad attitude.


Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Monday I'm doing 4 super upscale shops in Saks
> Fifth Ave, and Barneys, so, yes, I'm having my
> coffee (7:20AM) and deciding what to wear. I will
> take my Louie Vuitton handbag out of it's plastic
> bag and wear a good pair of slacks, blouse and
> shoes...that's as dressed up as we get here in
> L.A. with having hot weather continuing (100%). I
> do have some very nice clothes as my family was in
> the schmata business (clothing) and I do know what
> goes. Much more casual here in L.A., you can get
> away with more, but well fitting clothes makes the
> package seem classier. I'd hardly shop a 4,000
> suit from Chanel in grubby clothes, though many of
> you say it doesn't matter, it matters to me.
>
> Many jobs like banks don't require all that, know
> where your going and try to fit in, here in the
> subs it's much more laid back
> than the city, although jeans are acceptable
> anywhere these days. Men do have it easier, no
> need for manicure's, nice handbag or
> makeup....lucky guys, just roll out of bed, and
> your good to go......

That persona will actually work in many parts of the country

Maybe not Texas.....

I know that MSC that does the business casual for FF and everyone one here shops them unless they have been deactivated. <hint, hint> You have just forgotten that business casual is required Maybe that why so many people have been deactivated with that MSC? lol

IMHO, the dress requirements are there to cover the issue if there is a problem. Telling shoppers to use their best judgement for dress will not work because there are any shoppers out there with bad judgement.

And no amount of requirements will make up for bad taste

risinghorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just add a blazer and don't wear shorts or flip
> flops. If it is a high-end shop, I spend more
> time in putting my attire together to look the
> part.

In Florida, customers wear flip flops to the high end stores. The last pair of flip flops I bought from Macy's cost $60. I would not wear flip flops in SF and NY.

I agree with SteveLA & LisaSTL...

I can't speak to FF shops...did a couple...and decided it wasn't my cup of tea...and will not do the Arches for any amount of monies...

I've been doing quite a few Aptmt. shops as of late, for several MSCs...they all make a point of specifying how to dress depending on the area of the target shop...currently have 4 shops pending...3 in upscale neighborhoods, the other right on the Boarder and extremely low income verging on poverty...for the love of me can't figure why they want this location shopped...but for this low income Aptmt...it is noted at least 4x throughout the instructions to dress down or extremely casual...

Not to bring race into the picture...but it does play a factor, in my experience, in how one is received, acknowledged on certain types of shops...my tag name gives me away...and I'm somewhat a fashionista...I'm always dressed a little more than most people...just the way I roll,it's an addiction...

I'm making reference here that people of certain persuasions of color are definitely perceived and treated differently than our Gentile counterparts...someone made reference to people with money usually dress down...this isn't necessarily so with celebrities of color..." Of Color" not being limited to African Americans...

I tested this out just for curiosity...had a couple of high end eyeglass shops(TFs) at retailers like Neimans/Saks etc. in very upscale neighborhoods from SD to Dana Point, CA...these where shops I'd do 2 to 3 times a month same locations. I noticed when I dressed like I thought/or had observed the locales in the neighborhood...I was either ignored or watched constantly as though I was a potential shoplifter...When I returned to the same location dressed as I normally would if I were going there to do some personal shopping...people were falling all over themselves to help me...I guess they thought I was some celebrity that they just could remember the name...

I was in SF a couple of years back on a travel shop near Union Square...had a clerk actually follow me out of the store to get an autograph...he says i know you're a celebrity,may I have your autograph? I gave him the Autograph...signed it Leslie Uggams...

Some people have stated i looked like her...the non-baby-boomers may not know who she is...cousin to Dione Warwick & the late great Whitney Houston, Chicken George's mom in the TV series "Roots"...