Accountants may not be typically seen as the most fashion conscious of any profession (nor are most professions, apart from super models and fashion gurus, admittedly), but based on recent blogs and comments, including this Philip Fisher blog from 2012, is there a standard accountant-outfit?
We're interested in how important image and fashion is to accountants and their firms or workplaces.
Are you a snappy dresser when you go to work, or do you slip into something less fashionable, but comfortable? Does it make a difference to clients and while networking how you dress?
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Informal for us
We dress for comfort, rather than style or image, but try to look presentable and not too scruffy.
All our clients are small business or self-employed, with the occasional employee paying high-rate tax, so it may be different for practices catering to businesses that are more 'high-powered' or formal.
I rarely go to seminars or presentations but I dress informally for those too. I don't do any networking but would probably dress the same if I did.
Always a suit
Personally I always wear a suit (and tie) to see clients as it's a sign of respect that you have made an effort.
Lots of clients don't wear suits, some even wear jeans and a t-shirt, but as it's them handing over money to me thats absolutely fine.
My office has a very strict clothing policy, only suits and ties for men and for women trousers can only be worn if they are part of a suit, jackets are compulsory but you can wear a short skirt if you have the legs for it. But then again this is an office where the new receptionist is a man so he does not need to make the tea for the partners (the job of previous receptionists) one of the admin or accounting girls has to do it.
Skirts
We've got the same sexist dress code as a lot of offices, men have to wear smart suits, women can wear what they like (though the 'higher ups' tend to dress 'formal').
Just for once I'd like to throw on a dress and some heels for work :(
Just a query - Constantly Confused, is a "sexist" dress code an issue for you?
Also sap you mention the male receptionist doesn't make the tea, is it because he is a male?
Surely everyone knows that?
I am not sure that these practices are common anymore but when I was a lad, the way out of having to make the tea was simply to ensure that it was as foul, stewed & undrinkable as you could make it then you would never be asked again.
Useful tip
Works with DIY too.
Mrs KA wasn't too keen of the bullet hole effect when I put up a TV bracket in our first house.
Part and part
:)
I was mostly joking, though it does get on my wick a little when women come into the office in nice comfortable clothes of their choosing and I have to sit out the summer, not even being allowed to take my tie off (evil office). I've often wondered what would happen if I cut some old work trousers down to shorts, I assume it wouldn't be well received...
To be fair it is a general bug bear of mine, I envy the liberated world of female clothing in that my wife could wear my clothes and be, at worst, seen as a little butch (but still socially accepted), while I would be chased by an angry mob for wearing her clothes in public. It was the same at school, boys had a strict dress code and the girls a more relaxed one (to the point where the school had to allow the girls to wear trousers if they wanted as to say otherwise would be sexist. To be fair they did also say while they had no real objection to me coming in in a skirt if I wanted it may be a case of me being ahead of my time and please tell me you brought trousers to change into...).
But I'm told (usually by women higher than I can ever hope to rise in the office) that it's grim being a woman in an office (or in general), so perhaps the enlightened attitude to clothing is compensation for that.
/jumps off high horse
Back in 1994
When I first started as a junior in a small 3 partner practice, I was called into to see one of the partners with another (male) junior who started the same time as me. We were told that the men wore the trousers and the women wore the earrings (I was wearing trousers and my colleague had forgotten to take his earring out that morning)!
Luckily some people's attitudes have changed since then. Before I left that firm to go solo a couple of years ago the men were wearing suits & ties and the women were reasonably smart but not expected to wear suits.
Now I wear whatever I want! I tend to be fairly smart to meet new clients but otherwise I don't worry too much.
"sexist" dress codes
I too am aware of the sexist dress codes - I know something would be said if I turned up in a t-shirt and cardigan which seems to be the normal office wear for a large majority of the females in most of the offices I've worked in. It only becomes an issue for me though when people start to complain about the dress code as there is no acknowledgement that the accepted starting point of smartness is in a different place between the sexes so the end point of a policy is always going to be a difficult place to reach.
edited to answer the original question - I'm snappy moving on to sharp!
Accountants Fashion
Having worked from home for the past 30 years I have adjusted to a more casual approach. Certainly when I am working on accounts I feel more relaxed when dressed casually.
When meeting new clients I wear a suit as I think that is appropriate. However from then onwards, I dress as to be better received.
For example if I have an appointment with a client and he always wears a suit, then so will I. Its a case of respect I guess. Also whenever I am away from the office on business I wear a suit.
However if I am expecting a client that will be turning up after a day on the building site, then I see no need to wear a suit. This is no different to how you may wish to speak with your client. Some requite a full technical discussion, some simply want to know how big their tax rebate will be……………………?
Horses for courses.
The male receptionist doesn't make the tea because he is a man. Men never make the tea for partners in our office. They would actually have a senior women manager make the tea before asking a man and nothing to do with how they make tea as actually our receptionist makes a lovely cup. My office has a very old fashoined attitude which takes a lot of getting used to.
Hmm
Thinking about it usually it is a woman who makes the meeting drinks here, but that's because we have a woman on reception and it goes with the job here. On days when Miss Receptionist is unavailiable then it falls to the first office dogsbody, i.e. me. So I think here it is less an issue of gender, more of perceived level. My charge out rate exceeds half a dozen peoples, but if there is some menial task to do I get it. Not that I mind, accountancy gets dull sometimes, taking post to the post office cheers the day.
Interesting
It's interesting that they employed a male receptionist at all with that attitude. Are they not up for retirement soon?
Is it 1 April (1990) ?
I don't Adam & Eve it, I know I'm my own boss now but I've not worked in an office with more than casual/smart for 20 years....is this a Thatcher thing?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/monvhb385sktwwr/IMAG0271.jpg
Where's me dress & tea bags!
Jeans, jacket and smart shirt.
Same for men and women.
I am not sure how many of my clients even notice or care what I wear. There is one client who is a young guy and he wears a suit and makes his staff wear suits (which I think is ridiculous as they work in a call centre and never see clients) and I wear a suit for him but he is the only one. I wore shorts and sandals in the office for a long time and clients knew that I did this, but when I got staff I thought I had better set an example lest someone wear a pair of UGG boots in the office. There is also a difference between a pair of shorts and tracksuit bottoms which along with UGG boots are a definite no no in office or at home!!!!
There are regional differences as well - in Birmingham a lot of clients wear suits but for my clients in London - not one wears a suit.
Would you shop in specific stores for your clothes? Do you prefer big brands and labels over cheaper ones - and is there a major difference between how you dress at work and how you dress at home?
Yes
When it comes to suits don't really care about brand provided it looks good and is comfortable, that said I wouldn never shop in somewhere like Tescos for a suit.
Shirts come from T.M. Lewin, not sure if that counts as a big brand.
At home tend to wear more fashion labels like Levis, Ed Hardy, CK etc.
Primark. They are only work clothes, after all. It's not like I'm going to wear them by choice.
I have better things to spend my hard earned on that clothes for work. Mind you, I have learned the value of splashing out a bit more on decent shoes. Shoezone crud barely last 4 months.
WTF? Rachael's now on about her third job since leaving Sift. She's not listening!
Clothing
Hate to put a downer on what should be a Friday fun post but with the clothing industry being one of the worst offenders in wasted resources/water & in generating CO2, I need never visit another clothing store again....apart I suppose from M&S for my slippers, undies & stockings?
How do you do that with the picture thing! I tried but it referred me to a server I didn't recognise....do tell.
The new receptionist was employed via one of these government get unemployed people into work schemes and I don't think the girls were considered suitable. Our office is definietely something out of the 1990's.
There is a major difference how I dress for work and home, work is suits, tailored dresses and high heels, home jeans and a t-shirt or top and trainers. I hate wearing dresses and skirts and hardly ever wear them outside work plus with 2 kids (one 21 months old) jeans and a tshirt is far easier.
Clothes
Boden man . Chinos and architects shirts if in Office. If working away wear what is appropriate for client. If builder jeans casual jacket and boots in the car Solicitors suit with or with out tie.
On the tea front mosty interesting experience was a 4 partner firm where the partners made tea coffee, created a brilliant atmosphere also kept break to 15 minutes!
In my office, women dress smart but not suits and men wear shirts with no tie.
Personally, I shop in specific stores for my shirts. I prefer Moss, Greenwoods etc. Matalan and George do some ok shirts, but for me it is worth paying that bit extra for a shirt that will last more than a few washes.
Has to be
the Flash t-shirt for me :)
But otherwise, for my one client visit it's decent trousers and shirt, at home joggers / shorts and t-shirt / jumper / casual shirt. Definitely comfort. I know some people dress up a bit even in a home office when they're not seeing clients but I can work just as conscientiously in a t-shirt & boxers or a dressing gown!
The Clarkson look for me.
I used to always have to wear a suit in last job, although the removal of ties was allowed over the summer.
Now I have cut loose I go for a less formal approcah in general I wear smart Brogues, Jeans, Loud Stripey shirts, and a Jacket or Blazer. Although someone said I looked Jeremy Clarkson the other day.
I wear a suit on first meetings if client is a total new introduction.
I remember in my first job the senior partner used to decide when it was hot enough to remove our ties.
With regards to the tea making I insist on the girls in the office doing it. I dont think this was sexist, I like to think it is a motivational tool, that one day when they were in charge they could get who they wanted to make it.
I dont have staff at the minute but if I do It will be Boob Tubes and Mini Skirts displaying company logo all the way, not sure what the girl making the tea will wear though.
Slanket
Currently cosy in my slanket!
RM
brands
TK Maxx for me.
Going back a few years
The large firm where I worked decided to introduce a dress down Friday in prep'n for a wider relaxation of formal suits etc. A couple of things then became apparent:
1 - Most blokes only had one day's worth of business casual clothes - so didn't embrace the wider relaxation; and
2 - Most of the ladies were effectively already wearing business casual as they weren't wearing the equivalent of formal suits. Some of the ladies (not the most senior ones) did not recognise this and instead chose to tone down their choice of office clothes - such that they looked rather too casual for a professional office.
Mark
flip flops and t shirt
I've worn flip flops, shorts and t shirt to a client and was offered a can of cider. It was a nice hot friday lunch time and the md had brought some cider from home. It was £2m engineering company. I have also worn suits. For me it always depends who you are seeing and what relationship you have with that client. In the offixe it was usual for me to wear smartish trousers, shirt and gillet.
For me ...
... generally M&S for everything, although the odd Tesco shirt has been known. Next jeans are a good fit for me though and EWM are good for casual shirts.
I'm with Shirley, sod what it looks like as long as its comfy, usually jeans and casual shirt/t-shirt and comfy jumper if it's cold.
I've made a deliberate change
I've got no sense of fashion and no interest in fashion but I did feel that I was getting scruffier and scruffier. I have a jacket that I love because it has really big pockets and I can stuff all I need into them.
I've decided to change and now I dress "smart casual" if a client is visiting and "scruffy casual" if I don't have any clients visiting. If I visit a client - very rare - I'll dress "smart casual" and the same for seminars, courses and any other meetings. I still can't see me wearing a suit again although I even went to a conference with a black tie event!
I still have lots of dog toys littering the office as well as a real dog! Unless a client is scared of dogs or allergic to them - then I'll get her (the dog!) to run around the garden - I'll ask if they want to feed her some treats. One client thought I was giving them for her to eat!
Varies
For client visits usually shirt and jeans, for some new clients I may wear a suit on the first visit, definitely no tie though.
In the office - often joggers, generally anything goes. Flip flops and shorts once its warm enough.
My name is steve and I'm a clothes-aholic
I have always loved clothes.
I had my first tailored suit made when I was 15 and my first bespoke when I was 24.
Because of the various strands of my life, my size and shape has changed many times and every few years I have effectively been starting again, but I have always rebuilt a large wardrobe stuffed full of treasures.
Today I work around 17 suits. All bespoke. They may not be suits as you think of then though, for as well as the grey pinstripe, I have a couple of corduroy, a couple of moleskin, some linen, some tweed and a burgundy one.
Each suit has two preferred shirts and each shirt two preferred ties. Presently I am being MOD with the shirts and ties and have gone pretty much all button down, tab or pin collar with 2 ins ties.
Shoes are from loakes. Always leather, often brown but black is good to.
I have six overcoats and two rain coats, all cut differently and in a variety of fabrics and lengths... Momentarily, my favourite is a coat I bought just last week at an antiques fair from the late 1930's. It is brand new and still had all the price tags and labels on. When new it was hugely expensive (60 guineas) but was bought for a more modest £200. It is three qtr length, racing tweed with a green velvet collar and gold silk lining - beautiful.
Clothes, food, cars and holidays are the reasons why I work. In this way, I dress always for me and I live always for my reasons.
Steve
Steve you are clearly a sharp dressed man .
Hi
If I go to meeting I love a sharp dressed man. I also love women who are sharply dressed as well.
There is one look I cannot stand because I have been shafted by a few men with this style. I know it is stupid but if a new client comes dressed this way now I automatically distrust them.
The look I am talking about is the shirt open at the top with a suit jacket and no tie . I belief this came from marketing years ago to make people at ease.
I hate it. Why not just wear casual that would be better.
I love a good tie and shirt.
A suit can be really smart piece of fashion , so I prefer seeing it worn well. When I was young I also loved the braces and waistcoats on men if they could pull it off.
I still love waistcoats . I have a few for my own suits.
T M Lewin shirts
Hi
I also love T M Lewin shirts. The womens shirts are so well made and worth the investment.
All
Women should be told to wear short mini-skirts and low-cut tops!
The ones that look hideous in them would then make sure they ate less and/or toned up.
This is what a lot of men think but won't admit to ;-)
That's not necessarily 'my' opinion :-D
I don't think so
But then again I work with men who respect woman and vice versa . Both genders make a cup of tea .
Apart form the sexist tones ...
... it is not good, I go with the convention that you don't have a short skirt with décolletage and vice versa - to do so is cheap and tacky (Chav even)!
My personal preference is a long billowy skirt with a blouse that keeps you interested, although wrap around skirts can be good fun too!
Women with it all on show do nothing for me, I prefer teasing glimpses of hidden treasures to the butchers shop approach. Cadbury's had the right idea with the Romany bint in the flake ads! A nice back lit white cotton skirt does it for me everytime!
As for looks, I would rather an accountant who concentrated on my accounts, not his appearance. Seriously though, some people can wear clothes and would look good in anything, but some can't and you should wear what works for you and your figure (goes for males and females). Personally, hygiene and cleanliness more important than style.
ALso, I prefer my women woman shaped, not like an anorexic stick insect, but then I wouldn't employ a woman on looks but on ability. I would be more worried about whether she would get pregnant and leave me in the lurch than how she looked and would rather my male colleagues concentrated more on their work than on ogling the females.
I would also correct you, it may be how many little boys think, very few "men" would.
Wardrobe clearout
I am just about to have my half yearly wardrobe clearout. Clothes are collected at my daughter's school.
I find I prefer to have fewer clothes, regularly cleared out, so nothing gets too old. My office is smart casual. The tea making rotates around the office. Drinks arrive at your desk like a human chain. (6 cups per day approx)
Admittedly, most of my purchases are supermarket though.
Just bought a new suit for a wedding, from a firm called 'Slaters' in Cheltenham. Not sure if this is a chain - I think so.
They operate from first floor showrooms (cheaper rent I suppose) but you get personal service and adjustments included in the price.
Selection of the suit on the advice of non pushy assistant, trying on, measuring and paying all took less than 15 minutes - which is my kind of shopping.
Secretly wish I was a bit more like Steve though - although I am probably a bit too tight for that.
When my mother died
in 2004, I travelled to Hull and bought a new suit at 4 pm on a Sunday from a city centre store. I arranged some alterations and collected the altered suite at 8 am on the Monday morning.
Hessian Sack
Although I personally loath buying clothes and will wear clothes until they fall to bits, I LOVE seeing well dressed women.
When I see a woman who has obviously put some effort into the way she looks, whatever age, whatever shape (although understated, confident beauty sits well with me), I have a very strong urge to stop them and thank them. Thank them for brightening my day up ... thank them for making me feel that little bit more male (obviously I wouldn't say THAT - I'd stick to the "brightened my day up" bit).
Fortunately I have this urge well under control, as I am sure it would get me into hot water in the UK. In Spain though, where the standard male -> female salutation as one gets into the elevator at work is directly translated as "hello, gorgeous" (and get this ...... as if that's not great enough ..... she says back "hello, handsome" - totally magical) it would go down well.
And on tea and women. Nothing sexist at all ... tea just tastes much better being made by the fair hand of a woman. It's very ritualistic for me; a thing of some beauty.
I was just thinking this morning (as I was getting dressed) that the Romans had it right - those short dress things the blokes wore - they look smart, quite blokish (especially with a big sword - clients might be a little surprised), well ventilated and I wouldn't worry too much about the sizing if I ordered one on the internet.
A problem with the sword
Sorry to be spoil sport, but with anything more impressive that a folding pocket-knife with a blade no more than 3 inches (size matters!), you would likely get some grief from the local constabulary under s139 Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offence of having article with blade or point in public place) unless you could persuade them that you were wearing a national costume!
David
"Well dressed" or "badly dressed" women
I like seeing them all.
Cutbacks!
David, I am pretty sure the one could achieve 'the look' even with a 2.999in dagger (sounds better than 'pen-knife'). It might not impress the tea ladies in quite the same way, however.
I AM impressed by the 'national costume' angle. That line of thinking would have to be examined more closely with appropriate advisement.
Men making Tea
Hi
My husband makes a great cup of tea and it tastes much better then when I make it.
Not cooked here
I recognise that this is wandering slightly off topic.
Sarah, I have often noticed that food tastes MUCH better when it is cooked by other people (So much better than when I cook it). Perhaps that's what we are experiencing here, however, I still hold that there can be a ritualistic beauty to a tea.
BTW I used to experience a similar sort of effect when I used to service my own cars, years ago. I would drive away after my 'self'-service terrified of any strange noise. This was, of course, totally illogical, as I am sure that I was far more 'aligned with the outcome' than your average mechanic. However, when I pick up my car from a mechanic, I drive off completely relaxed - wierd. (Small aside).
Oh ...
... and the less slap the better too!
Rachael's back!
They seek her here, they seek her there,
Her clothes are loud, but never square.
It will make or break her so she's got to buy the best,
'Cause she's a dedicated follower of fashion.
(With apologies to the Kinks)
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