[frootbat]

Just a light-hearted enquiry into people's office dress codes here - I work in a small office and seem to be the only one with any coloured clothing. Black, with touches of grey, beige and white seem to be the order of the day here, making my purples and turquoises (not at the same time) make me look positively bohemian! I may be a bit out of touch with office wear in general, as my last 3 jobs in the UK had no dress code to speak of (creative industries, dahling) but I also see people walking home from work looking similarly monchromatic so wondered if anyone else had noticed the same thing?

[ellenmelon]

I have noticed it, especially in Wellington CBD. You'll find some have an excuse (are in the theatre industry like me where wearing black is somewhat habitual), some just only shop at certain shops that only stock monochromatic clothing, haha. Keep wearing your colours though!

[dusk]

I'm still wearing my loud colours to :) There is a beazilian woman who sits near me who often wears yellow and other bright colours so I'm not out there on my lonesome :D

[Chiba]

Not in my office - some people[1] are pretty colourful, and this is in central government!

[1] e.g. the slightly eccentric lady who the other day wore a red dress over a bright blue shirt, lime green and black horizontally striped leggings and blood red DMs; or the guy with the myriad of bowties and braces; or the guy with the "Born Here" hoodie; etc.

[TonnyTessa]

I am a university lecturer and have been studying my colleagues on this matter for a while now and there seem to be 4 styles:

1) "I have an ultra important meeting, they might give me some money to do cool research" - suit/tie/jacket/polished shoes, monochromatic all the way

2) "I am teaching the students, they indirectly pay for my salary which allows me to do cool research, so may I should look semi-presentable" - trousers/tie/shirt/unpolished shoes. trousers grey/black, shirts varying shades ranging but generally darker colours or plain white

3) "I am doing cool stuff, I am not particularly bothered" - jeans/t-shirt or jumper/trainers, t-shirt in varying degrees of loudness

4) "I just cycled in, who cares what I look like" - anything goes really!

Ofcourse there are exceptions (one of the professors will probably even wear a tie doing dirty field work, another has been know to teach in shorts and t-shirt).

[dilanium]

I'll take a look at my lecturers today and tell you what I see. ;)

[KerryS]

My office is half and half. Also half and half between those who dress neatly (those who have client meetings) and those who dress scruffy (those who sit in the office all day).

I am rather boring in what I wear to work - black dress, grey dress, black trousers, grey trousers. Means I don't really have to think about what to put on in the morning. I do tend to wear funky shoes and jewellery to brighten things up though.

[Leo]

Just thinking out loud...

As drab Winter dissipates and cool Spring/warm Summer beckons, I was wondering if Kiwis may perchance fully embrace the bright cheery days and nature's wondrous rejuvenation, reflecting this in their everyday dress with a splash of colours?

A show of hands (esp. ladies out there) who has received and/or are seriously considering NZ Spring/Summer 2009 fashion catalogues? ;)

[dilanium]

So the first two lecturers were monochromatic in dark colours, and my third was monochromatic in lighter colours.

haha. And the vast majority of my classmates are pretty monochromatic as well.

[dilanium]

I've looked at the one catalogue from a NZ shop- and most of the clothes were okay. A couple of them made me disgusted that anyone would wear them.

[mgbridges]

I work as a teacher aide in a Primary school and I have to say I have noticed that most of the teachers go monochromatic during the winter. As the spring/summer weather starts to arrive more and more colours are seen in the staff room. Also shoes change from black/brown fully enclosed shoes/boots to all kinds of different colours and styles.

I don't really know about my husbands office but he doesn't have a black/grey or brown jacket and he also hardly ever wears a tie anymore so you're not the only colourful person in the work force! Although I have to say OH's wardrobe isn't that bright.

Anneliese

[jen]

Love this thread - I went on a 2 day training course and amused myself in the boring bits by counting the shades of black, brown, and gray everyone was wearing (there was an orange shawl one day which stood out like a parrot in a rainforest). I work in Welly CBD & the younger set in my office gets colourful but at around age 40, it seems like people go monochrome.

I don't notice much difference in summer, though perhaps this year I will correctly predict the day all the women switch from wearing black skirts with tights and boots to black skirts with bare legs and open-toe shoes. :laugh

[Leo]

Here's a little food for thought...

I was just pondering on the massive positive potential for a bold new & vibrant fashion revolution this Spring/Summer, sweeping all of New Zealand by storm (...in a good way, of course :nice1 ); if all of us migrants unite & take the lead by dressing in the bright cheery hues truly resplendent of the warm colours of Spring & Summer :raebanana :bluebanana :raebanana

Hesitate no more... Don your cheery clothes & join the Cheery Colours of Spring & Summer '09 Movement today!

<Cue that catchy song> Bryan Adams' Summer of '69

[frootbat]

A show of hands (esp. ladies out there) who has received and/or are seriously considering NZ Spring/Summer 2009 fashion catalogues? ;)

Haven't seen any, but I can't say I'd be that enthusiastic judging by whats in most of the clothes shops. Although I haven't done much serious shopping, or at least searching for decent shops, I am in danger of becoming a walking advert for Esprit..

[frootbat]

Hesitate no more... Don your cheery clothes & join the Cheery Colours of Spring & Summer '09 Movement today!

<Cue that catchy song> Bryan Adams' Summer of '69

Currently shivering in many layers (one of which is green) but I'll be there for the spring fling as soon as it gets warm again!

[TonnyTessa]

Red is my colour today, yesterday it was orange :)

Admittedly on Friday is was monochomatic all the way, but to my defense I had a flight to catch, woke up only an hour before it was due to leave (live half an hour away) and just grabbed the nearest that I knew was clean enough to wear

[Chiba]

Me, today, in lovely Wellington, skin to outside:

Thermal long sleeve T (black).
Cotton work shirt (grey).
Merino jumper (black).
No sleeve fleece (black).
Windproof fleece jacket (blue grey).
Goretex shell jacket (grey).

I guess I fit the stereotype today, and I'm still frakking freezing. What happened to Spring?! :wah

[James 1077]

Work is reasonable monochromatic in winter for me (colourful ties excluded). There is, however, the joy of "pink shirt Friday" that I have introduced to the team so Fridays are slightly more colourful!

[Familyofmonkeys]

"pink shirt Friday"

Love it :laugh