Dresscode on Commercial flights in First Class
Jan 6, 2009, 10:07 pm
#31
Join Date: May 2003
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1) I always wear a tie when I travel. I tell my students (when they themselves travel on business) to wear what they want but no jeans or loud T-shirts. I do think I (and my students) represent the university and the people who fund what we do, so it's not what I or they think, it's what the people holding the purse would think.
2) Making people comfortable or uncomfortable is largely a matter of what you do. I'm one of very few faculty members teaching with a tie, yet that doesn't make students uncomfortable the least bit. I figure that they ultimately pay for me to be there, so I might as well show a bit of respect and not wear the proverbial flip flops.
Jan 6, 2009, 11:42 pm
#32
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Looking out my apartment window in Tokyo right this minute, I see how everyone's dressed. All school kids are wearing their uniforms, with tie, backpack and sneakers. The teenagers going to work are wearing their black suits, (sometimes with brown shoes, but that's getting better), and shoulder bag. Of course the business men and women are smartly dressed in their (mostly black - always dark) attire, with shoulder bag or briefcase. Even on weekends, suits are very common. Now I see someone standing out in jeans with no shoulder bag - oh yes, it's a foreigner. Japan is a country of conformity, people are respectful, rebels are noticed and people care what others think. I truly love this country and its people.
Riding into the city on weekday mornings, you'll see many people dressed down in jeans, T-shirts and other casual clothes. The guys wearing suits on the weekends are wearing suits because they have to go to work (and the guys who don't have to go to work are probably sleeping in at home). Everyone with an office job wears a suit when they're going to work, and most people in school wear some sort of uniform, but that's it.
I'll grant that people are usually much more elaborate with their casual wear here than they are in the US -- you'll never see someone wearing just a T-shirt and shorts, for instance, unless you're at the beach. At least two layers are the norm, even in summer, and the only worn-out clothing you'll see is scientifically worn-out jeans.
No matter what you're doing in Japan, it's best to dress a little conservatively. For men, as long as your pants cover your ankles and your shirt has a collar, you're fine in most personal contexts. The unspoken dress code for women is a bit harder to determine, but anything subdued and tasteful should fit in here (and even some un-subdued and tasteless items will fit in in certain parts of town).
Jan 7, 2009, 7:37 am
#36
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Like other posters have indicated, the previous days reflected the social norms. While some may want to return to the days of only jackets and suits in F, I have seen my share of men in suits whose grooming and hygiene habits were quite pathetic.
One can look very good casually dressed, but not too casual (like wearing a tank top for the men, short/shorts for the ladies, or flip flops), if the clothing is well maintained and the person maintains his/her grooming habits properly along with a healthy weight to height percentage.
Who would you rather sit next to, a slim man or women in jeans or a 300 pound business man sweating profusely and wearing a suit that had not been cleaned in years?
One can look very good casually dressed, but not too casual (like wearing a tank top for the men, short/shorts for the ladies, or flip flops), if the clothing is well maintained and the person maintains his/her grooming habits properly along with a healthy weight to height percentage.
Who would you rather sit next to, a slim man or women in jeans or a 300 pound business man sweating profusely and wearing a suit that had not been cleaned in years?
Jan 7, 2009, 8:32 am
#37
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,452
I'll grant that people are usually much more elaborate with their casual wear here than they are in the US -- you'll never see someone wearing just a T-shirt and shorts, for instance, unless you're at the beach. At least two layers are the norm, even in summer, and the only worn-out clothing you'll see is scientifically worn-out jeans.
Jan 7, 2009, 8:53 am
#38
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The sum of the parts needs to equal a certain amount. Grooming and clothing need to be good for a good overall image. If one item is really bad it ruins the overall image. Also, one part can be a little lacking if the other is well above average. This can be applied to a lot of situations in life.
Jan 7, 2009, 8:57 am
#39
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Jan 7, 2009, 12:13 pm
#41
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Looking out my apartment window in Tokyo right this minute, I see how everyone's dressed. All school kids are wearing their uniforms, with tie, backpack and sneakers. The teenagers going to work are wearing their black suits, (sometimes with brown shoes, but that's getting better), and shoulder bag. Of course the business men and women are smartly dressed in their (mostly black - always dark) attire, with shoulder bag or briefcase. Even on weekends, suits are very common. Now I see someone standing out in jeans with no shoulder bag - oh yes, it's a foreigner. Japan is a country of conformity, people are respectful, rebels are noticed and people care what others think. I truly love this country and its people.
On weekends, Tokyoans dress down a lot - they wear their suits WITHOUT TIES.
Jan 7, 2009, 1:41 pm
#42
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Jan 8, 2009, 12:56 am
#43
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When I first started traveling in F/J/C, I used to wear a baseball cap, jeans, and a t-shirt. I then slowly migrated to dress shirt, tie, and dress pants. In the last few years I have found middle ground. Stylish sneakers (i.e. Lacoste/Fred Perry), untucked collared shirt, casual sports blazer, and jeans.
Jan 8, 2009, 1:24 am
#44
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 161
International F or domestic Y, I dress in whatever is comfortable. If that means cargo shorts and a t-shirt, so be it.
There's a time and a place for formal dress, and I just don't think that a passenger jet qualifies as one of those places. You're just there to get from point A to point B, not to engage in a formal event.
This is the part that I find silly, conceptually:
Guy 1: I am sitting in F, I should dress up
Guy 2: What about pax in Y?
Guy 1: Why would they need to dress up? They're in Y.
Sitting in F doesn't mean I'm more respectable/classy/etc than someone sitting in Y, it's just a hilarious perception issue. The need to further socially separate oneself from Y pax by dressing formally is an antique idea.
Dressing formally just because you like dressing formally, great. Have a blast, nothing wrong with looking dashing whenever possible, on a plane or otherwise. But my interest is being comfortable and well rested when I hit the ground and get to work, so I'll dress for comfort 10 times out of 10.
There's a time and a place for formal dress, and I just don't think that a passenger jet qualifies as one of those places. You're just there to get from point A to point B, not to engage in a formal event.
This is the part that I find silly, conceptually:
Guy 1: I am sitting in F, I should dress up
Guy 2: What about pax in Y?
Guy 1: Why would they need to dress up? They're in Y.
Sitting in F doesn't mean I'm more respectable/classy/etc than someone sitting in Y, it's just a hilarious perception issue. The need to further socially separate oneself from Y pax by dressing formally is an antique idea.
Dressing formally just because you like dressing formally, great. Have a blast, nothing wrong with looking dashing whenever possible, on a plane or otherwise. But my interest is being comfortable and well rested when I hit the ground and get to work, so I'll dress for comfort 10 times out of 10.
Jan 8, 2009, 7:58 am
#45
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