I recall threads on socks and cars, but can't find one on general clothing style. How should an architect dress? Yes, it's a broad question. I'm interested in both general and specific ideas, as well as links to relevant sites (or previous threads, if there are any).
Personally, I mostly rock a solid colour (often bright) dress shirt and some sort of grey-shade dress pant. All are well ironed and I have an assortment of funky cufflinks and socks to add to the mix. Good dress shoes are a must but I'll occasionally wear a golf shirt if I know I'll be super busy on a deadline or something.
Sport jacket sometimes, ties never unless it's the office xmas party.
Life is too short to be boring.
citizen
Aug 9, 19 1:20 pm
What, we're supposed to wear clothes now, too?
Non Sequitur
Aug 9, 19 1:29 pm
unfortunately... our office policy handbook states just that.
citizen
Aug 9, 19 1:40 pm
Fascism!
Wood Guy
Aug 9, 19 1:50 pm
I work from home so I'm not subject to the usual workplace dress codes. But I still usually wear something. Fascism-free, at least!
citizen
Aug 9, 19 1:40 pm
.
Donna Sink
Aug 9, 19 4:08 pm
That old thread was fun, and then turned frustrating, but I'm happy to see we've actually made some progress in the interim five years!
However, I have regressed, or gone lazy, or something: I used to be totally against bare toes and bare arms in the workplace and now I regularly wear bare arms to work. It's just too damn hot, between climate change and being a mid-50yo woman it's HOT! But I always carry a sweater or blazer in case I have a meeting.
And this week - I'm embarrassed to say it - am wearing shoes that expose my toes. I have an injury that's keeping me from wearing close-heeled shoes and the only heelless shoes i have expose my toes. They're designed by an architect, though! Mohop Shoes, By Annie Mohaupt
Non Sequitur
Aug 9, 19 4:55 pm
Page 3 is good, then is escalates rather quickly.
curtkram
Aug 10, 19 11:48 am
i never thought i would see the day where Donna sports open toed shoes at work
Donna Sink
Aug 10, 19 12:03 pm
I definitely feel shame, curt.
whistler
Aug 9, 19 4:19 pm
currently wearing birkenstocks, ( no socks, unlike my university prof ) jeans and a t shirt, and i'm the boss, but then again it is friday!
Miles Jaffe
Aug 9, 19 5:34 pm
A truss, of course.
Steeplechase
Aug 9, 19 6:11 pm
I like ties, so I wear ties. Sometimes even a bow tie. I have never felt uncomfortable and I’ve never heard of a client feeling uncomfortable with my attire. The ties are usually brighter or bolder colors paired with a more conservative colored, patterned shirt.
There are two clothing choices that bother me. 1) People trying to make a “suit” by wearing a black jacket. The shade and weave are usually different from the pants so it is obvious that it is not a suit. What makes it worse is that it is by and large senior staff and principles who I see doing this, so they can definitely afford to go to Macy’s and get a single black suit on sale. 2) Don’t wear a pre-tied tie.
curtkram
Aug 10, 19 11:52 am
how is it that they're trying to make it a suit, rather than just a business casual sport coat? coat and pants match too closely?
Steeplechase
Aug 10, 19 12:46 pm
Black jacket and black pants. Once even saw a black vest added into the mix, and it too was a different shade of black.
atelier nobody
Aug 10, 19 12:30 am
Personally, I'm rather fond of colors - all of them...
curtkram
Aug 10, 19 11:53 am
if i want to know if rebar can be cut in a post-tensioned slab, i find a structural engineer who is an expert in that field. if i want to know how to dress, i find a tailor who is an expert in that field. it's gotten to the point i don't even dress myself anymore. i just surround myself with people who hopefully know what they're doing and i do what i can to set them up to succeed. no french cuffs though. have to draw a line somewhere, and this isn't Quebec.
OddArchitect
Aug 12, 19 9:59 am
I've always heard two things when it comes to architectural dress . . .
1. Dress like your boss.
2. Wear black until something darker comes along.
I disregard that advice for half of the year because it's 100 degrees here in the summer and my boss can wear a sports coat year round, he is clearly cold blooded. A nice guy, just doesn't get warm.
Personally I wear an un-tucked short sleeve dress shirt in earth tones. Nice pants, nice shoes, and keep a sports coat I the office that will go with my normal dress. I also have long sleeve shirts and ties for initial meetings, interviews, and presentations.
shellarchitect
Aug 12, 19 12:47 pm
in contrast, my wife works at a hospital...
women are "in trouble" for exposing a shin. In contrast the men (dr.s) have no problem showing off their junk and chest hair through kleenex thin scrubs.
senjohnblutarsky
Aug 12, 19 2:44 pm
98% of the time:
6" brown leather boots. Khakis. Brown leather belt. Polo or long sleeve buttoned dress shirt (depends on the weather).
I probably dress like an engineer. Don't care. As long as a fanny pack isn't involved, it shouldn't matter.
atelier nobody
Aug 12, 19 5:15 pm
The classic look.
Almosthip7
Aug 12, 19 5:58 pm
I am a fan of the cardigan sweater, its warm in winter, I can open it in summer once I leave the air conditioned office and it hides all my tattoos.
Liz_Lf
Aug 14, 19 3:28 pm
I would say just about anything if its appropriate ha.
jacksparrow1
Mar 19, 22 9:26 am
Architects must wear jackets and boots in parties
proto
Mar 19, 22 3:16 pm
I’m somewhere on the spectrum of lumbersexual | metrosexual | normcore
But if necessary to keep up appearances: hard hat & a roll of drawings, the rest is gravy…saucy even
b3tadine[sutures]
Mar 19, 22 4:29 pm
It was my understanding that this was the only globally approved architect uni.
I recall threads on socks and cars, but can't find one on general clothing style. How should an architect dress? Yes, it's a broad question. I'm interested in both general and specific ideas, as well as links to relevant sites (or previous threads, if there are any).
https://archinect.com/forum/thread/78999829/how-to-dress-like-an-architect
Classic archinect discussion
Excellent, thank you
Personally, I mostly rock a solid colour (often bright) dress shirt and some sort of grey-shade dress pant. All are well ironed and I have an assortment of funky cufflinks and socks to add to the mix. Good dress shoes are a must but I'll occasionally wear a golf shirt if I know I'll be super busy on a deadline or something.
Sport jacket sometimes, ties never unless it's the office xmas party.
Life is too short to be boring.
What, we're supposed to wear clothes now, too?
unfortunately... our office policy handbook states just that.
Fascism!
I work from home so I'm not subject to the usual workplace dress codes. But I still usually wear something. Fascism-free, at least!
.
That old thread was fun, and then turned frustrating, but I'm happy to see we've actually made some progress in the interim five years!
However, I have regressed, or gone lazy, or something: I used to be totally against bare toes and bare arms in the workplace and now I regularly wear bare arms to work. It's just too damn hot, between climate change and being a mid-50yo woman it's HOT! But I always carry a sweater or blazer in case I have a meeting.
And this week - I'm embarrassed to say it - am wearing shoes that expose my toes. I have an injury that's keeping me from wearing close-heeled shoes and the only heelless shoes i have expose my toes. They're designed by an architect, though! Mohop Shoes, By Annie Mohaupt
Page 3 is good, then is escalates rather quickly.
i never thought i would see the day where Donna sports open toed shoes at work
I definitely feel shame, curt.
currently wearing birkenstocks, ( no socks, unlike my university prof ) jeans and a t shirt, and i'm the boss, but then again it is friday!
A truss, of course.
I like ties, so I wear ties. Sometimes even a bow tie. I have never felt uncomfortable and I’ve never heard of a client feeling uncomfortable with my attire. The ties are usually brighter or bolder colors paired with a more conservative colored, patterned shirt.
There are two clothing choices that bother me. 1) People trying to make a “suit” by wearing a black jacket. The shade and weave are usually different from the pants so it is obvious that it is not a suit. What makes it worse is that it is by and large senior staff and principles who I see doing this, so they can definitely afford to go to Macy’s and get a single black suit on sale. 2) Don’t wear a pre-tied tie.
how is it that they're trying to make it a suit, rather than just a business casual sport coat? coat and pants match too closely?
Black jacket and black pants. Once even saw a black vest added into the mix, and it too was a different shade of black.
Personally, I'm rather fond of colors - all of them...
if i want to know if rebar can be cut in a post-tensioned slab, i find a structural engineer who is an expert in that field. if i want to know how to dress, i find a tailor who is an expert in that field. it's gotten to the point i don't even dress myself anymore. i just surround myself with people who hopefully know what they're doing and i do what i can to set them up to succeed. no french cuffs though. have to draw a line somewhere, and this isn't Quebec.
I've always heard two things when it comes to architectural dress . . .
1. Dress like your boss.
2. Wear black until something darker comes along.
I disregard that advice for half of the year because it's 100 degrees here in the summer and my boss can wear a sports coat year round, he is clearly cold blooded. A nice guy, just doesn't get warm.
Personally I wear an un-tucked short sleeve dress shirt in earth tones. Nice pants, nice shoes, and keep a sports coat I the office that will go with my normal dress. I also have long sleeve shirts and ties for initial meetings, interviews, and presentations.
in contrast, my wife works at a hospital...
women are "in trouble" for exposing a shin. In contrast the men (dr.s) have no problem showing off their junk and chest hair through kleenex thin scrubs.
98% of the time:
6" brown leather boots. Khakis. Brown leather belt. Polo or long sleeve buttoned dress shirt (depends on the weather).
I probably dress like an engineer. Don't care. As long as a fanny pack isn't involved, it shouldn't matter.
The classic look.
I am a fan of the cardigan sweater, its warm in winter, I can open it in summer once I leave the air conditioned office and it hides all my tattoos.
I would say just about anything if its appropriate ha.
Architects must wear jackets and boots in parties
I’m somewhere on the spectrum of lumbersexual | metrosexual | normcore
But if necessary to keep up appearances: hard hat & a roll of drawings, the rest is gravy…saucy even
It was my understanding that this was the only globally approved architect uni.
garwondler
Architects must wear all black or you will be fined by the NCARB and your AIA membership canceled.
Here is Neri Oxman in uniform:
And Jean Nouvel:
Weird, round, heavy rimmed glasses, capes, and odd hats are optional.