Tied up at the office

Two things have been missing from The Recipe lately. Columns regarding men's fashion, and an entry from your New York correspondent. With this post, I hope to kill two birds with one stone.

As I do every weekday, I am currently wearing a shirt, slacks and necktie (my employer forbids dress-down days of any sort). Every morning as I get dressed, I question exactly why I am forced to wear this corporate uniform every day. I do nothing more than sit in a quiet office typing staring into a computer screen; there is absolutely no need for me to look presentable. I don't meet with clients, like some of you might. No one from the outside even comes into my office, for which I might have to 'dress to impress.' I never meet with any of my superiors either. In fact, it has been several days since my boss has even had a reason to speak with me.

This has led me to conclude that the only reason why I sit here Monday-Friday in a shirt and tie is so I can feel vastly more important than I actually am. By attempting to instill a sense of professionalism and importance in me, my employer hopes that I will be more productive. The actual result, however, is that you have a bunch of guys making wisecracks and screwing around in dress clothes rather than in business casual or street attire.