Thursday we had a “dress-up” day at the office. Usually we wear khakis or Dockers and on Fridays we wear jeans. But Thursday we had some important clients visiting and somebody came up with the notion that we should put on a show and wear coats and ties to the office.

Back in the 80’s I used to wear a suit and tie and starched white shirt every day. I had polished wing tips and socks in coordinating colors. We only worked a half day on Fridays and I used that as an excuse to slack off and try to get by with only a navy blazer. Sometimes I really went wild and wore a striped shirt.

I can’t remember when “casual days” came into vogue. About ‘87 or ‘88 our company decided we needed to work a full day on Fridays and as a trade off they changed the code to let Fridays be casual dress. But the concept of a “casual day” was already familiar before that. Of course in those days the definition of causal was actually a bit more dressy than what we call “business” attire where I work today. The rules keep getting more and more relaxed. A few years ago I was surprised when one of the summer interns showed up in a skirt and top that did not quite meet in the middle. Now that’s commonplace even for managers and I am becoming accustomed to seeing tattoos peeking out over the waistband of low-cut jeans.

There are those who say people work better if they are comfortable and others lament that relaxed dress standards are a reflection of non-professionalism. I am not going to venture an opinion in that argument.

So how did “dress up day” turn out? Actually it went over rather well. Even the summer interns, who are college and high school kids, seemed to enjoy it. For one day at least it was a kick to see everybody look so “professional.” But I have to admit that by about 3:30 in the afternoon I had slipped off my own tie and put it in my pocket.

One wag suggested that next time we should come to work in powdered wigs.