Dress for Success — Tip of the Week

An earlier post advised that new help is on the way for employers struggling with dress codes and employees struggling to comply. The Prep is still in the works, but it’s already having an impact. According to the New York Times, khaki pants are making a comeback as part of workplace dress. They are well on the way to replacing various kinds of denim  pants, which should never have been allowed in the workplace to begin with. But I digress.

Part of the Times analysis is nutty, but the important thing is that the preppy look, khakis being a principal foundation, is blossoming its way into workplaces of all kinds everywhere the way kudzu blossoms its way across the South during the summer months. Think of how this development simplifies dress codes. Think of how this breakthrough allows employees to dress in the morning without even thinking.

No one can go wrong with khakis. They’re relatively inexpensive. They can be dressed up or down as the occasion demands. Though the Times doesn’t mention this, khaki suits will be bursting forth at the seams in American workplaces, on the heels of the khaki pants renaissance. For now, buy all the khaki pants you can afford. They’ll always be in style. They’ll comply with any dress code. To make sure the khaki revival doesn’t falter, employers should give all new employees a pair of khakis.

I’ve been skeptical that the recession is over. I now have new hope.