Professional dress teaches more than fashion sense

Walking into Career Tech on any given Wednesday you will find the student body dressed up: boys in slacks, button-down shirts, ties, dress shoes, and for ladies, possibly a dress.

When Career Tech opened, professional dress day was always in its plan. Helping the kids practice professional presentation and being college ready reflects the school mission. Many parents and businesses find it tremendously helpful and believes that the day gives kids an advantage.

“The purpose of professional dress day is being interview ready and to practice the skill of professional presentation,” CTHS principal Mark Okeson said.

The professional dress at Career Tech includes boys wearing a Button down shirt, slacks, dress shoes, and a tie. For the girls it’s either a dress or slacks, a professional shirt, and close-toed shoes.

Professional dress day poses more challenges for girls than boys.

Sophomore Cannon Fidler said, “I would change the code for the dress girls because I feel like their dress code is kind of strict when really it’s not a big deal if girls wear open-toed shoes or not, or other thing like that.”

“Defining professional dress for girls has been a bit more challenging than defining it for men,” said Okeson.

Professional dress isn’t cheap.

“I have to go into Anchorage to find nice-looking professional clothes, and the prices add up quite fast.” Sophomore Raelynn Dean said.

Jacquelyn Smith from Business Insider writes, “Research shows that your appearance strongly influences other people’s perception of your financial success, authority, trustworthiness, intelligence, and suitability for hire or promotion,”

She states, “And because perception is often reality, what you wear not only communicates who you are in the minds of others, but also influences your level of career advancement.”

Professional dress impacts productivity in four ways 1) professional appearance, 2) shows organization, 3) affects your reputation, 4) confidence builder.

Plus it feels good. CTHS professional dress proves enjoyable for most students.

Dean said, “ I enjoy the feeling of learning how it means to look casual versus professional.I understand that it will help us in the future for dressing properly for interviews and professional work spaces.”

“It helps me especially on Wednesdays when you’re able to see who didn’t dress up, you can definitely tell the casual versus professional.”

Fidler said she thinks that the dress code sets CTHS apart from the other schools.

CTHS junior Charlie Michael agreed, but doesn’t necessarily think everyone should have one “ because they do not share our mission.”

The professional dress day has left an impact on students.

“I’ve learned a lot about professional dress. For example, I didn’t know that belts are required for professional dress. And I had never heard that dark denim is still not professional.”

Though beneficial, the students- and Okeson-all agree that dressing up once a week is more than fine.

“I think the current system teaches the skill without becoming burdensome to students. Too much of a good thing can turn it into a hassle,” Okeson said.

Currently, CTHS is testing a new project: Career dress day. Career dress day is only being tested out with students dressing as the profession within their pathways. For example, students in the Health pathway dress in scrubs or white coats, while students in the Hospitality & Tourism dress as a chef. CTHS tried this out for the first time last month, and the response was positive.

Bailey Brenton is a sophomore at CTHS.