[tjr]

When I began my career in software over a decade ago, dress shirts and pants was typical attire in my area. And that's what I wore. Occasionally someone would wear something a bit more casual, and occasionally I would too. Eventually I got to the point of wearing t-shirts and jeans frequently.

As far as I am concerned, as far as the people I work with are concerned, as far as the company is concerned, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

But yet, I was increasingly feeling ... slobbish. Like, "this is my career, this is what I do for a living, this is what I went to college for and continually read books to learn about... is this really how I want to dress?"

So I started dressing up a bit here and there. Felt silly at times, but no-one said anything. Today I'm wearing a suit-style vest and a tie. Walking in the hallways I feel conspicuously out of place, but back at my desk, I feel better about myself. I feel like I'm taking what I do more seriously. Am I really taking it more seriously? Hard to say. I think perhaps.

I don't care what you wear, and I hope the feeling is mutual. For myself, I'm kind of liking dressing up again. I don't feel that I'm conforming to any social demands or artificial constructs of what is proper; if anything, I am now going against them.