Why have our dress codes started becoming far more relaxed in recent decades?

It’s good and particularly so for those on a budget. It represents the decline of fashion as an indicator of class, and it cannot proceed too quickly for my tastes. I think the trend was inevitable as the price of clothing continues to plummet relative to other necessities. Here’s to practical clothing and sensible shoes!

I agree @stanleybmanly. Everything is so much more relaxed. Often you’ll see the children of employees at work with them, too. I wonder if it all has anything to do with women becoming a major part of the work force? Men can get away with wearing the same suit and tie every day, but women can’t.

I look back at old pictures of my parents and they were always dressed up. I never saw my dad in jeans.
I’m probably old fashioned, but I still like to see certain professions dressing up such as news people, preachers, administrators, etc. I can’t say why this is happening, but I do see the trend going even more casual.

I grew up in an era when “jeans” and Levi’s were considered unacceptable in the public schools.

Right? Now I’m seeing them all the time.

That’s what happens when a country decides to transfer most of it’s wealth from the middle class to the top 0.1%.

^^^^^ What?

The middle class has declined in buying power since the 60’s and 70’s, while that wealth has shifted to the billionaires (thanks Reagan). This means it’s more difficult for middle-class Americans to afford to buy dress clothes for children that will quickly outgrow them. It’s also harder for the parents to afford an expensive professional wardrobe.

It isn’t THAT expensive, @gorillapaws. True you can’t shop top of the line retail outlets, but there are always thrift stores and garage sales.

I think part of it is the country in general has relaxed regarding judging people based on outwards appearance. I think “American” culture has generally been more relaxed than other cultures for many years. My in-laws, who lived most of their lives in Mexico City, when they meet someone new or deal with someone at a business, they almost always comment to me that the guy was dressed well, shirt ironed, clean cut, etc, like that means they are good and honest and just overall ok. I want to roll my eyes every time they say such things, but I control myself.

Cities tend to be more formal, and colder climates tend to be more formal, just for some generalizations. We have more and more suburban areas.

The computer companies and .coms were part of the initial trend on casual at work from how I remember it. Young adults created incredible technology and companies, and since they were young and in charge, they wanted to wear jeans. Then, as part of competition among employers, some other employers started doing the same. Employees in other companies were jealous of being able to go to work in comfortable clothes that could be washed and not dry cleaned. It started becoming a perk of employment like getting healthcare or vacation days.

Some jobs pay less now, so it’s difficult to ask employees to wear suits ever day. Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s used to be suit jackets for men and women had to wear pantyhose with skirts, and suit jackets with slacks. Now, Bloomingdale’s employees just have to wear black. It’s way better in my opinion, way more practical, and you can spend not very much money if you want. Also, many sales and stock positions in Bloomingdale’s make less money now then when I first worked there in the early 90’s. It started changing while I was employed with them.

One thing I’ll mention was that as dress codes started to relax in offices some of the talk was it hurt women. That men in casual clothes still had presence and were respected, but women in casual clothes were more likely to be overlooked. Also, women’s casual fashion is thought to be more tricky, more varied, more options, more ways to screw it up.

Maybe now that women are more and more equal in the workplace (I know we still have work to do on that front) maybe the power suit with heals to get us closer to a man’s height isn’t as necessary.

More over-done political correctness! (MORE dumbing down!) Parents these days spoil those kids ROTTEN!

Well, I would beg to differ that it has anything to do with political agenda squashing the middle class.
I see middle class more and more spending beyond their means because there is the impression that equality means having all the same stuff, rather than having the right to be worthy of the same stuff.

People have maneuvered themselves homeless spending past credit limits to get the latest home computer, cable, internet, minivan with all the buttons and bells.
I blame advertisers for the decline of middle class, and, the people who allow those advertisers to prey on them.

I miss people wanting to dress to impress. I would argue people dress less impressively, while spending more than ever.
I remember people having two pair of casual pants, two casual sets of clothes, two sets of dress clothes, not more than three pair of shoes.
It used to be people could pack for a trip and their whole wardrobe in one suitcase.
Then again, that was mostly country folk. City folk dressed more high falutin, since people tended to see them everyday. Even so, it was nowhere near out of control, as it is absolutely now.
And, I have never seen poverty shaming more rampant than it is now. Not that it didn’t exist in the past. It used to be more above board than it is these days.

Laziness and a “Who gives a fuck” attitude.

While I am thankful that ties are no longer considered as necessary, I think it has gone a little too far….People of Walmart

Oh gawd, “hakuna matata.” ^^

Essentially, these older generations were slaves to convention, no imagination or hunger to be different.

Plus, America is fatter now, and dressing in more formal clothing is usually even more uncomfortable and harder to fit if you’re fat. Although, a suit jacket can hide an out-of-shape torso much better than a polo shirt.

Millennials are bringing it back and in a big way.

The short answer is that our culture has changed.

For a more in-depth answer, may I suggest that you read this book? It is interesting, well written, and will help you understand how cultures change. It would be a valuable addition to your library.

https://www.amazon.com/Foreign-Familiar-Understanding-Climate-Cultures/dp/1581580223

That is not certainly the case. Corporate businesses still require their employees to wear uniform and wear make up (for women) for professional reason. It’s been like that since long ago. As for our day by day typical dress code it’s really depend on your culture and where you live. I live in a country with the largest moslem population, the men here can wear whatever they want, as for the women, since most of them are moslem are expected to wear hijab to cover themselves (there’s even a place where it’s mandatory for women to cover themselves with hijab regardless of their personal religion/belief, and there would be penalty if you don’t obey).