Dear Valentina,

I can agree with your answer. However, the expression of decent clothes must be a bit obscure. Regarding exams, when I was a student 30 years ago I dressed like a bridegroom preparing for his marriage. These days, I used to encourage my students to wear casual clothes because such dresses decrease stress and the performance is better.

Dear Bozsik, actually there is some dress code in a university i study but no dressing directions are determined by the officials at the university. Students are allowed to dress the way they like (formal or casual) except for funky clothes (i mean some outlandish, flamboyant and flashy clothes), strange hair-style and ,of course, heavy make-up.

Dear Bahram,

Thanks for your contribution. Does it mean that there is but a tacit agreement on dressing at your university?

Dear Andres, Yes there is some sort of a tacit agreement there but sometime some try to cross the lines and the officials prevent them. 

Yes, the national dress (baju kurung or kebaya) is normally used by ladies at work.  If we use a skirt, it must cover the entire knee; and a blouse or shirt must have sleeves.  The men must wear a tie, and shirts must be with long sleeves.  These pics show some of our usual costumes; the main idea of the function of clothes is to cover and protect.

Dear András,

I know of no dress code at any U.S. university (other than the tacit command to conform invented by the students themselves).  Should such a code be imposed?  I doubt that the imposition would have any results.

Dear Miranda,

Many thanks for your answer. As I could see the elbow should not be totally covered…

My dream costume is a grey or a bit greenish classical tweed suit which may be a bit checked and I would wear even a brown bow-tie.

Dear Nelson,

Thanks for your comment. In Hungary (except Kaposvár), there are the same conditions you mentioned: students decide on their clothes. I ask you what about the teachers? Can you wear shorts at the university?

In my opinion: some points should be left for self-decision, more so when we are talking about it at the University level. When we are expecting a scholar to be mature enough to decide continuing university education, should his maturity to decide on professional ethics be ridiculed by setting codes? As the democracy in India matures, we also face similar quandary, that then somewhat settles in a situation where peer effect dominates, but within some unsaid and undefined ethics. I like that you have floated this delicate issue and keen to read other reflections on the topic

Dear András,

In my university from Arad, Romania we have not such imposed rules. Everyone: professors and students are free to come in decent clothes in university. For exams, diploma thesis and official events they come usually in elegant suits but it is nothing imposed.

At one point in my career, while I was always accustomed to wearing jackets (or suits) and ties as a professor, my students gently asked me to teach without the formality of a tie. So I found that I could still maintain professorial decorum by wearing either button-down shirts without ties in spring and summer or else turtle neck sweaters in fall and winter. As you know, András, I do vigorous daily exercise and stay slim. Not all my colleagues exercise, though, and they should not wear turtle necks or they will look lumpy!

Dear Cecilia,

Your comment shows clearly you approached this question as an expert. Your point was so detailed and thorough. Really, dressing rules are determined by professional demands which are various. University dress code – if there is such a thing - must be a modest one.

It seems to me that you have found even such a dimension of dressing I was not aware of.

This is the sexual harassment. Considering that this sin is committed mainly by men, it is difficult to fancy how can men harass women by their clothes. I remember a well known American thriller, the Basic Instinct. Regarding the behaviour of Sharon Stone who acted the heroine of the movie, this behaviour wholly suits – as I feel – the sexual harassment as she wearing a short skirt revealed that she was not wearing underwear.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_Instinct

I hope such dangerous events will not occur at universities!

Dear Nidhi,

I like very much your point on the maturity of teachers. Really, if somebody is appropriate to deliver university lectures s/he should be able to judge how to dress. Yes, dressing is an issue of democracy as well as that of ethics. Authorities must not overrule unnecessarily the free choice of people.

Dear Valentina,

I can agree with your answer. However, the expression of decent clothes must be a bit obscure. Regarding exams, when I was a student 30 years ago I dressed like a bridegroom preparing for his marriage. These days, I used to encourage my students to wear casual clothes because such dresses decrease stress and the performance is better.

Dear Nelson,

I see that your example proves that el hábito non hace el monje (the cowl does not make the monk). It is very remarkable that even students asked you not to focus on formalites of a professorship.

Dear András,

you know I´m retired. But during my lectures I´m wearing jeans and shirts, never a tie or similar tilts. The reason dates back to my students time, the era of students revolte against old fashionend behaviour. One of the slogans was  "Unter den Talaren der Muff von tausend Jahren", "Under the gowns the muff of thousand years".

We had another reason, not to be well dressed, besides the lack of money. I was researching at a linear accelerator with very high voltage equipment (about 30000 V), and we could not guarantee not to get into letal contact. So we had to buy wooden shoes with a heel about 5 cm high, to have an isolation between our body and the bottom.

And this crazy way to dress influenced our preferences when buying clothing for the rest of our lifes.  And today, if somewhere dress codes are existing, I will neglect them totally without any respect.

In India there is dress code at high school level at private school and in some colleges. On the other hand there is no school dress code at school and university levels in government sector and most of the people study in Government  school and university.

In my opinion dress code should be there at school level and not at university level because most of students are from poor income group and tough to maintain the dress code. Further the climate of  India has intense summer season reaching upto 40 to 45 degree Celsius, winter ranges from 5 to 22 degree Celsius and rainy season with intense rain for three months (1000 mm). The university class does have proper facilities to cope with the season. All these factors along with socio economical conditions it is tough to maintain the dress code through out the year. 

So it is good that we do not have dress code.

Dear @Andras, there is no  dress code at my university! The way of dressing shows respect to the Institution, but there is no need to adopt the dress code! The sense for dressing in different situations we have learned in schools and from our parents.It is important that the clothes clean, harmonious and comfortable to wear!

Dear András, In my university there is no specific dress code for students, even not for teaches. I feel educational institutions (college and university) should not impose a dress code for adults because it should be a place of freedom and a place where you can express yourself. Educational institutions are created to inspire students to express themselves as individuals. A dress code should not be enforced because it does not inhabit him or her from learning and critical thinking. Dress code is an epidemic that will be followed by many in different ways but all falls under personality and peoples personality is what makes him or her different from others.

Dear András.

I am working at an onliney university, so there is not dress code for students.

Regarding professors, we have been said that is is important to wear appropriate clothing, but we dont´have a dress code.

Dear Hanno,

Jeans became an ever green fashion for our age-group. I like them very much. The 30000 V voltage as a danger source is a very understandable argument for a modest dressing. However, I thought that German researchers and professors are better remunerated. With your saying "Unter den Talaren der Muff von tausend Jahren" you have won my imaginary price!

How nice and practical to be free of a dressing code!  I can just admire the practical things that some of you have shared especially Profs Hanno, Ljubomir, Raj et al.  When I was a student, there wasn't such a rule.  We wore jeans and T's; our profs didn't need to use a tie.  But now, we must abide by this dress code.  The only good thing is that it blocks off some sun, so that I don't get too dark!  Just for sharing, this is 'kebaya' a national dress.

Dear all,

I like to add some remarks. If you want to be an authority for your pupils or students, show your knowledge and your personality. Listen to them, understand them and help them, regardless of your clothing.

If you need a special outfit to impress your students, you will very quickly loose the contact to your listeners.

Uniforms, fixed and defined clothing, are always used, if the individual is primarily without any interest, but just shall be regarded as an anonymous member of a group. So these unforms are correctly used for police, soldiers etc.

Some times they will be helpful to show the affiliation to a selected group of pupils, who can show their school unforms with great proud. But where is the sence for teachers, professors and other lecturers?

My dear Andras,

I really like your socio-academic question!

In his capacity as Rector, Dr. Kamal has never proclaimed a dress code, nor has he ever suggested to the rest of us how to be dressed at the university. The dress code is a matter of mere personal freedom (but it has to be socially and culturally acceptable). However, he, the Deans and I dress like businessmen! In the weekends, we go jeans and T-Shirts (sometimes we put on a sweater)! Mostly, at work, we are used to wearing jackets (or blazers) and putting ties!

When I was a student in Germany (at Technical Universities in Berlin and Munich) I could wear what I wanted and so did the professors. I remember my favourite mathematical physics teacher from Franconia wearing blue jeans and half open white linen shirts (and smoking in class, those were the days, but the windows were open most of the time so we didn't suffer too much). 

I have worked in Thailand for the last ten years and the dress codes are quite strict, officially. The pupils have to follow the dress code which is different from school to school. The typical school uniform comprises blue skirt and white blouse for girls and brown shorts and shoes plus white shirts for the boys. There is no change of that the year round because the weather is hot (or very hot or hot and wet). 

At universities students are expected to wear black pumps or shoes white blouses and shirts as well as black knee-long skirts and pants. This is almost never enforced, so you can see many female students deviating, especially in their footware. Professors (and even doctors practicing) wear everyday clothes that don't look too casual. Jeans are acceptable but without loopholes. I don't wear ties or anything around my neck because this would lead to dyspnea in the hot and humid climate. 

Dear Michael,

I´ve read your comment. But the sense of such a dress code stays secretively for me. Do you think, that the education and the teaching and learning results improve with uniforms?

No, dear Hanno. I don't think that education can improve with our uniforms, but with our minds!

Yes, dear Hanno, Cecilia is right. The uniform clothing helps blur the boundaries between students from wealthier and low-income families.

Dear Hanno,

Dear All,

You have got an essential point stressing that uniforms and dress codes try to make homogeneous even the people and create a mass easily to be manipulated. Certainly, Cecilia and Michael are right that a side function of uniforms may be to hide superficially the dressing differences of social status.

I think as Nidhi put it among mature and intelligent people a dress code is unnecessary. Thus, I feel dress codes are partly manifestation of social hypocrisy which forgets that the cowl does not make the monk. Marwan properly expressed it what matters is our mind!

Dear Andras, dear all; perhaps our local clothing industry is one of the reasons why a dress code is considered necessary here.  On Thursdays, all civil servants need to wear a batik shirt or dress.  The design must be batik.  Here are some examples, for men and women.  So dress code stimulates clothing industry.  (But, most of the time, I agree with what Marwan has said so well.)

I grew up in  Soviet Union and was forced to wear brown uniform with black apron to school for 8 or so years. Ever since I absolutely hate uniform. People should be able to dress according to their tastes and body types and be comfortable. Not everyone can do lab work in a suit... It seems strange that a university, of all places, would try to be so rigid, it is supposed to be a place of free thinking, but this seems more like military institute.

Dear András,

In Australia (Perth) my kids have a uniform in the pre-primary and the primary school as well. They liked it and I also appreciated, because no need to think about the type, colour… of clothes in every morning, like at home in Hungary. In the university the main rule connected to the safety: if you have a lab work no way to step in wearing flip-flop. We had a picture for student about which footwear is acceptable. Plus lab-coat as well. Here in Hungary students are angry if you ask about their lab-coat. Anyway, in the University of Western Australia no dress code for students and professors, everybody use his casual clothes, the reason is maybe the extremely high temperature.

Dear Miranda,

Is Thursday a batik day for civil servants in Malaysia or there are other reasons for this regulation? As I can see these are nice clothes.

Dear Ksenia,

It seems to me that the aim of Soviet school dress code might have been a kind of homogenization. When I visited elementary and high school so called school coats were compulsory for everybody. As far as I remember I had no personnel feeling against them. The girls had some freedom for making their coats nicer with dress tailoring and patterns as well as choosing various colour shades of blue (blue was the compulsory colour). Even some had very fantastic collars and embroideries. Thus, the girls’ and their mothers’ imagination was unlimited.

Dear Andras, yes, Thursday is batik day for all civil servants here.  I guess that we should participate happily to help stimulate the clothing industry that's important to states like Kelantan and Trengganu.  

Besides that I have a college jacket; it's thick and black; and a 'corporate shirt' that's white and rather large.  There's another popular national dress that's worn by women is the loose and comfortable, the baju kurung.  Clothes are quite nice; the folks here are artistic, thanks.

Dear Miranda,

The clothes in the second row of your last comment seem to be very nice and attractive but only for svelte women.

Dear Andras, I think  the clothes, in previous post, are pinned at the waist.  Here is a picture of my students in Baju Kurung.  Students observe the dress code, that's fine.  Not all are slim.  It's ok, 'if you aren't slim, you are cute, and if not cute then chubby :))'

The official dress code does not earn my respect. But the wonderful clothes you show won my enthusiasm dear Miranda. Pure enjoyment of life!

Marvellous!

Thanks dear Hanno.  It's our outlook of life that's very important.  Life may not be easy at all, but we can still give and give.  Who knows, one day we will be rewarded; if not on earth, then in heaven.  (My students are stressed, so I gave them some apples and told them to drink lots of water throughout study week.)

Dear Szilvia,

I think a svelte and “naturally” decorative woman is very pretty wearing the simplest lab-coat. I note my youngest daughter studies at the Horticultural University (Budapest) in order to be a food industry engineer. She has got a lot of lab classes where it is obligatory to wear lab-coats. This year, their faculty offered them free of charge white coats with a nice embroidered logo.

Dear Miranda,

Long time ago I had a roommate of Sudan. He liked to wear – in summer - a gallabia (a long white nightshirt like clothe). I had such a dress prepared from a bed sheet and walked with my friend a bit around the student hostel - of course – without any protest of the others.

Dear Andras, from all the responses here, I infer that clothes are a neutral matter.  I think that as long as we are decently dressed, it's fine.  I respect the traditional national clothes / folk costumes of all diverse groups (see the link).  But because my college has a dress code, I need to take that into consideration.  Far more important (in a university) is the upholding of scientific values and ethics in our research and communication of science.  This is a top priority matter, not a neutral matter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_costume

there is no dress code at any of our universities

however one can observe the difference in dress code according to the discipline being studied

if we are to believe that 'clothes maketh the man' then what maketh the woman?

and on a final note which sterotype are we to follow, the masculine or the feminine, the religious or the secular?

In the 17-th century Russian beauties from nobility tried to make a lot of bright decorative cosmetics- whitewash and paint. Their cheeks were red, their complexion was snow-white. On the contrary, peasant-women had no cosmetics. Historian Kluchevsky explained this phenomenon the wish of women to compensate the imperfection of ones with the help of cosmetics and perfection of others with the help of natural beauty. As a result, all the women were beautiful. All the peculiarities of fitting-up have historical and cultural roots

I agree with Helen´s remarks and questions. But if we ask for a code, as an oficially compulsatory rule, we must demarcate it from the inofficial habits in different disciplines. These are more mirrors of the self imaging of these persons than habit codes.

As a rule,a  teacher has been always associated with the woman-blue stocking, who is absorbed exclusively in scholar interests, devoiding of femininity. Nowadays,a teacher is a kind of celebrity. In the long run, every teacher is an unaccomplished actor. To be a "gray moue" is not very professional approach. I adore the democratic style of American professors. To my experience, they can wear jackets, but at the same time their shirts may be unbuttoned, or they can put on jeans and trainers. Charm! Surely, the way of wearing depends on temperament, habits, tastes, perception of the world, personal preferences, gender, family taste,student's view, administration's view. Thus, my administration thinks that our teachers must differ from other teachers in the city, so that the teachers can decorate our Lyceum. They choose the staff taking into consideration the manner of dressing, too. In reality, our teachers are very attractive, fashionable and stylish.There is a joke competition, which is called "The most elegant teacher" (on the 8 of March). We work with youth, they want to see us beautiful inside and outside.  

Dear Helen,

I think the beauty of a woman can be improved by clothes but the pure beauty is determining itself.

Dress code is made mostly by bureaucratic men. They are kinds of big brothers who cannot bear their own importance and need redirection activity.

I think nobody should follow a stereotype but her/his own imagination.

Dear Irina,

I think ladies of Russian aristocracy in the 17th century followed the French fashion. These days practically each beautiful young woman uses a strong make-up unnecessary. I feel woman want to be nice and enchanting but strong make-up makes an artificial beauty from a natural one.

Dear Andras, to psychology, a little boy will choose his wife according to the image of his first teacher.We are responsible for the choice of future generation. We must be intellectual, humanistic, beautiful. 

Dear Irina,

I agree with your last sentence. But I have never fallen in love with my female teachers.

We should only dress to please ourselves, to do otherwise is to be subservient to those who lack grace and wit

Dear Lady Participants,

Are you agree with Helen’s witty saying: “We should only dress to please ourselves, to do otherwise is to be subservient to those who lack grace and wit”

Andras, in this place the clothing industry is encouraged by a dress code.  Even for special functions, there is a special shirt for the men, and a matching attire for ladies.  I wasn't able to go for my sports and culture carnival, but my friends sent pics to me on Whatsapp.  You may like the design of the 'carnival shirt'.

Dear Miranda,

please have just a short look to my icon. I´m always using the same cloths. No chance for a dress code or for the industry. ;-))

I wish we could bluntly say: " people should dress appropriately for the place/situation", but "appropriate" might differ based on age, culture etc. I learned my lesson when my son was in a daycare: there was a teacher with tattoos, piercings and extreme hairdo, I felt like a bad mother leaving my child with her. Turned out, she was one of the best teachers he has ever had! Let's judge people based on their personalities and skills, not on their clothes! There are places/situations that require certain attire, but there are also the ones that don't, it's good to have variety.

Dear Andras, surely, I didn't mean falling in love(?) I meant visual image of a teacher.It's a system of external characteristics of a human being, which creates inimitable singularity of a personality and reflects individuality, being its external side, facing on other people. Elements of image assumes a significance of symbols of the personality, including appearance and traits of character, forms attitude to the personality. The human being will be perceived by other people according to his image.Visual image, the way of thinking, actions, behaviors are important. Appearance is continuation of our dignities. For a lot of students the image of a teacher influences on their attitude to a subject.A teacher should be attractive.  

If visual image is a continuation of of our dignities. What are we to make of  those who wear the best clothes and finest jewellery, travel first class, eat only the finest of foods, and have many luxurious homes, pay little if any tax and rip up the land and destroy people's lives and habitat for greed? Oh and by the way such people are found in many walks of life...look around you, look at the infrastructure/building and ask who owns it.

Dear Irina,

Yes, generally or considering historically the development of our personality by the experience during life, the habitus and behaviour of a teacher or the pleasant and unpleasant experiences with her/him may hugely influence our individuality. It is difficult to judge how the memories of a teacher influenced our attitudes? Visual image but also the voice and olfactory memories (because we live in a complex world) may form our character and with it the destiny.

Dear Helen,

I think Irina thought on visual images stored in the memory.

You example (…those who wear the best clothes and finest jewellery, travel first class…) is only an appearance, a manifested superficial illusion. My dignity has nothing to do with examples like those. I feel and I hope so. Those people do not play a role in my imagination or they incarnate at most the bad will, the ignorance, the laziness, who are regrettable because are not able to recognise even the simplest questions of existence.

Dear Hanno,

What do you think on this picture?

Dear András,

 great, I love these animals, their social behaviour and their abilties. I hope they survive the humans.

Dear Hanno,

Do you prefer Reinecke Fuchs or Isegrim the Wolf?

Dear András,

as a child I hated Reinecke, because I hated his behaviour and lies. And the good and honest Isegrim was my friend. Today I have put the images of this two figures into perspective and love them because of their genuine characteristics. But the two figures helped my young brain to find high ideals, which still are alive.

Dear Andras, to French, "Every of us has his own taste, but first of all every of us must have a taste" There are a lot of situations in teaching, but to have individuality is very important. Humor in teaching is amazing- it's a feature of a striking individuality, too.I think, philistinism as well as insidiousness are alien to a creative individuality. This is Professor Derzhivitsky, or a teacher who truly loves his job.To the student's note, "My professor said, if all the group could get the excellent marks, he would put on the costume of Scooby-Doo and bring a champaign..Now I respect him".

Dear András,

In public universities in Spain (as well as in most private universities) there are not formal dress code.

However, at the school level (or even at the knowledge area), teachers and students may wear different style of clothing

Dear Kolita,

Thanks for your contribution. It is fine to know that you can wear what you want to.

 Difficult to enforce dress code in adults in universities (Canada). I guess there must have been a competition to dress weird before they enforced the dress code in Kaposvar. There is a good reason why they started it.

No dress code in our University for students and for teachers.  Today in several Govt and Private schools and colleges having the dress code for students not for teachers.