I attended catholic high school in nyc from 1965 to 69 and we wore a sport coat and tie with dress slacks. Hair length inspections were conducted. It didn't kill anyone as far as I know.
The way I've always seen it, if you insist on being able to dress the way you want as a means of self-expression, then you really don't have anything worth expressing.
Dressing for comfort, or to suit the physical demands of your job are valid motivations. I wore a shirt and tie at my first job (back in 1987), but within a few years, I didn't bother any more because no one else did. Nowadays, "business casual" is fine by me.
"If you insist on being able to dress the way you want as a means of self expression then you really dont have anything worth expressing."
My initial reaction was to guffaw at the ridiculousness of such a statement. Expression through fashion and attire is pretty much the entire reason we dont all wear the same thing as each other every day. I feel the exact opposite as you: people who dont dress with the awareness that their appearance is a statement to the world they walk into are missing a massive opportunity to affect their day. How people treat you. How people respond to you. Etc.
But since I'm growing less cynical in my old age, I would care to learn more about your perspective if you care to share.
Well if you think about it in terms of the man-hours that must have been wasted doing "hair length inspections", it's probably equivalent to at least one person dying young :P
