Great post. I usually work at home and I refuse to wear sweats, even in my own home. And haven't worn a hoody since I was in the 7th grade (1974). In the past I have worked at client sites and on occasion have been asked not to dress up. Unbelievable. Today when I see women, especially stay-at-home moms, shuffling around in sweats in public, I pine for the days of my childhood when women would wear suits just to attend a child's birthday party.

Here's something else that drives me bonkers with the way folks dress....As far as hoodies go....due to the fact that i play in a metal band from Florida and often times have to brave cold weather environments, hoodies look good and help keep a guy warm. i have a really cool black one with a big skull on the front with flames shooting out of the mouth....i think it might be from Cradle of Filth...

Check this out...from Yahoo news a few months ago....

With more women and men wearing flip-flops to the office this summer, U.S. style gurus are warning that the casual shoe once mainly seen on the beach could be damaging to careers -- as well as to feet.

Lauren Cardinale, 25, who works at West Glen Communications, wears beaded or other fancy flip flops to the office -- when she can get away with it.

"Occasionally I wear flip flops to work," she said. "I wear nicer shoes if I'm meeting with clients or if I know there will be someone in the office who doesn't approve of flip flops."

Cardinale is one of thousands of young women in New York who consider flip-flops an essential part of their summer wardrobe.

An online survey conducted for retailers Old Navy and Gap found flip-flops topped the list of wardrobe items that college and high school students planned to wear to work this summer.

More than 31 percent of women said flip-flops were the single "must have" item for work this summer.

But many companies disagree.

"The dress code says no beach wear and flip-flops are considered beach wear," said a spokeswoman for BNP Paribas.

Style gurus warn that flip-flops, which are worn mainly by younger women, could be harmful to a career.

"Shoes convey the mood of a woman. Wearing flip-flops conveys the mood that you are relaxed and on vacation. That's not a good message in the office," said Meghan Cleary, a style commentator who wrote the book "The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You."

Doctors say it's not just careers they could harm.

Physicians at the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons say flip-flops are linked to a growing number of heel problems among teens and young adults.

"We're seeing more heel pain than ever in patients 15 to 25 years old, a group that usually doesn't have this problem," said spokeswoman Marybeth Crane in a recent statement.

She said flip-flops with thin soles have no arch support and can accentuate any abnormal biomechanics in foot motion which eventually brings pain and inflammation.

$140 FOR FLIP-FLOPS?

Flip-flops are far from new, dating back at least 70 years and believed developed out of traditional Japanese woven or wooden soled sandals in New Zealand.

The basic flat sole with a Y-shaped strap, that passes between the toes and around either side of the foot, is known in every nation and to every social class.

In developing countries, they are the cheapest -- and often only -- form of footwear, easy to make and easy to fit.

The term "flip-flop" derives from the noise they make while slapping against the wearer's heels and the floor but they are also known as thongs in Australia, jandals in New Zealand, and slippers in Hawaii.

But flip-flops took on a new life among the young and trendy a few years ago. They have surged in popularity with shops now selling them in every conceivable color, with sequins, flowers, and even bridal flip-flops with over 300 Swarovski crystals on the straps for about $140 a pair.

Last June the Northwestern University's champion women's lacrosse team was widely criticized for wearing flip-flops when they visited the White House.

Ellen Campuzano, president of the Committee of Color and Trends, a New York-based forecasting service specializing in footwear and accessories, thinks flip-flops' popularity will wane.

"Usually these trends come and go in about five years," she said. "I think we've reached the peak, they can't be any more widespread, so maybe next summer something will replace them."

"Usually these trends come and go in about five years," she said. "I think we've reached the peak, they can't be any more widespread, so maybe next summer something will replace them."

Unfortunately that "something" are Crocs.

You know, I'd drive myself crazy if I always felt the need to dress up whenever I left the house. Actually, I DO feel the need, and it drives me bonkers, because I've got too much on my plate to add the opinions of others to it. One can wear dress casually without looking like a damn slob, and sometimes I...GASP...wear a hoodie. If someone wants to be offended by my black zip-up hooded sweatshirt over a black Google t-shirt and Levi's, then I feel sorry for them.

Before there were Crocs, I bought Calzuros, which I wear only at home. Yet, Calzuros are actually attractive. I wrote a post about them a while back, which I never put up. I think I will now.

And as for being "offended," I'd be happy just to see you, Jackie, even if you were wearing a hoodie and Crocs! It's just that, as a whole, society looks like shit! I always prefer a good view to a shitty one.

Amy -

Great post on one of my favorite Advice Goddess topics. One of these days, you should taylor this theme towards one of your male write-ins. You'd be shocked at how many of my guy friends consider a pressed shirt and slacks oppressive shackles only to be worn when their supervisor lurks. Remember, fellas, meeting eligible women is not a sport only to be played in bars, clubs, and awkward set-ups. The world is your arena, so do try and wear the appropriate equipment.

The pictured cashmere sweatshirt looks quite attractive to me--although, granted, it's not worth $462. Or even $277.

I do have to also jump in here in defense of my beloved cashmere hoodie which was bought on sale a couple of years ago at Bloomies and cost nowhere near $300, incidentally. It's a bit dressier looking than the one in the picture (cable knit and does not expose my belly) and is great for layering under a light jacket to walk the dogs at night when it's cold or taking the kidlet to Disneyland in the wintertime. The great thing about the hood is that it keeps your head warm without causing "hat head." In the battle between stunning clothes and practical clothes, there are just times when practical wins the race.

A good hoodie, one that's warm and fits correctly, makes an excellent casual piece for the summer, spring, and fall. That $300 hoodie is worthless. It's not going to keep anyone warm. It's like getting a manicure to go running: silly.

And truthfully, I have better things to do than dress up for guys (or girls) all the time. (And I'd be really creeped out by anyone bowing to me in the grocery store.) If I want to go cruising, I go to extra lengths to make myself pretty, but considering a great deal of the men I come in contact with regularly don't even shower daily (yes, I am a college student), forgive me for not caring if I wear a hoodie to keep warm.

Besides, almost anything can look sexy if worn by the right person and with the right attitude, even a pair of old sweat pants.

the topic of this post is exactly why I was so dissapointed with Laura, the red-headed b!tch from project runway season 3.

Her premise was something along the lines of 'elegant fashion can transfrom you'. Great, but she totaly failed at transcending snobbery and relating glamour to real, average, grounded people. I had such hope for her, her husband is such a dork.

Yesterday I passed an older gentleman in a Dodge Diplomat wearing a light blue polyester-looking suit and tie. I thought, "wow, I just passed Lawrence Welk." But 30 years ago what he was wearing was just low-level managment ordinary gear.

de rigueur

I'd love to see a return to more disciplined dress so I can avoid a repeat of Monday. I was called-out for wearing 'slacks' to work. They were grey chinos from the GAP. I should mention I work in the mountains, where dress wear means your best fleece and beanie.

>I have better things to do than dress up for guys

This misses the whole point. You dress up for yourself. Pride. Not self rightousness, just taking pride in all aspects of your being. Like a military shoe shine.

I think you can dress up and look over-the-top ridiculous in the middle of the day. I think you can dress down and look casual chic. One person's idea of attractive -- shawls, lots of lipstick -- is another's version of ugly. Maybe the key is simply neatness (and cleanliness).

I adore women in hoodies, particularly if they're neon orange and being worn by Kate Winslet.

I adore women in hoodies, particularly if they're neon orange and being worn by Kate Winslet.

Twins! How cute.

I don't care what people wear going about their errands, as long as everything's covered and they don't stink. What bothers me is when people come to work dressed like slobs. I work at a school, and there are TEACHERS who regularly come in in jeans and T-shirts. One of the middle-aged receptionists wears flip flops nearly every day, usually combined with a too-short jean skirt and...T-shirt.
It's really not hard to put on slacks or a skirt and a nice blouse. And real shoes.

>>Remember, fellas, meeting eligible women is not a sport only to be played in bars, clubs, and awkward set-ups. The world is your arena, so do try and wear the appropriate equipment.

I'll testify. I recently made a conscious decision to upgrade my wardrobe, and it's made a big difference in how people perceive me. I feel more confident, too.

"I work at a school, and there are TEACHERS who regularly come in in jeans and T-shirts. "

The smartest of my professors at college and also the most helpful wears what could possibly be the same pair of jeans and a hawaiian shirt to class. Does it matter what he is wearing if he enlightens his students on a daily basis? conversely, I know many well dressed teahcers that were a waste of my time ( she wore a skirt and a nice blouse everyday. Damned if she wasn't the least useful english teacher I ever had.)

"It's just that, as a whole, society looks like shit! "- an opinion. On the whole

"It takes no more time (less, in fact) than throwing on a pair of jeans and...horrors...a hoodie...but when's the last time a guy bowed for you at the grocery store because you came in wearing a sweatshirt?"

While its not really customary to bow in the situationt hat you find somebody attractive (I also doubt it goes over well), I know damn well that I have checked out a girl because she's good looking regardless of how weirdly she's dress. If I can see what I need to see, thats just about good enough for me.

"Besides, almost anything can look sexy if worn by the right person and with the right attitude, even a pair of old sweat pants."

Agreed! hurrah for college students! Im one too. But I shower on a daily basis. and I have style. Not only do I wear black t shirts and white t shirts, but sometimes... I wear BLUE ones.

I can't understand why someone would want to pay 300$ for a piece of casual clothing. Personaly, I lovee Levis 501 jeans. They fit me right and cost only 50$CAN a pair. I am not a fashion victim and I don't expect to be taken for a moron by some guys who think that gym clothing is chic.

"The smartest of my professors at college and also the most helpful wears what could possibly be the same pair of jeans and a hawaiian shirt to class. Does it matter what he is wearing if he enlightens his students on a daily basis? conversely, I know many well dressed teahcers that were a waste of my time ( she wore a skirt and a nice blouse everyday. Damned if she wasn't the least useful english teacher I ever had.)"

At university, I actually don't mind more casually dressed teachers. I work at an elementary school, though, and it does make a difference in discipline. I've noticed the difference in how the class responds to the teacher. The more casually dressed teachers have classes who are wilder, harder to control and disrespectful. The more formal teachers tend to have students who listen to them and show them respect.
Probably more to do with the personality of the teachers who dress casually than the clothes they wear, but there is a difference. It's a matter of respect for the work you're doing, in my opinion.

Eh, I like hoodies. They're comfy and I think they look cool. I think as long as you wear what YOU want to wear and think it looks good on you, who cares what people think? Besides, clothes don't entirely make a person anyway.