I don’t know if it’s just me, but the dress code for people in general has really changed, especially since COVID and with so many people working from home. Everyone should dress how they feel comfortable, but it sure makes me miss the “Good Old Days.”
Watching old movies with my husband, I admire how people dressed back then. Women wore dresses, men wore suits, and everyone took pride in their appearance. Everyone always looked polished and professional. Today, you will see some people shopping in what looks like home clothes, sweatpants or even pajamas.
I’ve never minded when someone dresses down. As a Broker/Owner, I lean toward business casual myself, and I told a client that’s how I usually dress. When we met, she was in shorts—which was perfectly fine—but she seemed a little uncomfortable seeing me “dressed up.” The next day, she even asked me if I wouldn’t mind dressing down for our showing. And it got me thinking: why would a simple, professional dress make someone feel uneasy? It just goes to show how personal perceptions can be. As professionals, we sometimes have to find the balance between looking polished and helping our clients feel at ease—without ever compromising who we are.
I also recently had a closing where the lender attended wearing shorts and flip-flops. Now, that might be perfectly fine if you’re headed to the beach but at a client’s closing? It just didn’t feel professional to me.
Here’s my take: Everyone can dress how they want, but I represent my company and my brand. My “strict boss” (me! ??) insists on business casual.
So here’s my question to you: Why does it bother some people when others choose to dress up? For me, it’s simply about professionalism and pride in representing my business.
What about you—do you dress up, dress down, or go with the flow in real estate?