If you’re an HR leader or business owner, you want a dress code that works. Here’s how to avoid issuing a frivolous dress order.
Change the identity of the dress entirely through styling. A dress worn with heels and an updo for a wedding looks completely different when worn over a t-shirt with sneakers for an art gallery opening. Final Thoughts: Issue Your Own Order
If you’re an employee facing an absurd attire mandate, you are not powerless. Here is your playbook. Frivolous Dress Order
Sumptuary laws are regulations that restrict extravagance in food, dress, and luxury items. Governments historically used these laws to control morality, maintain social hierarchies, and prevent citizens from spending beyond their means. The Frivolous Dress Order stands as one of the most famous examples of a state attempting to regulate fashion to preserve political power. Historical Context and Origins
The justification for these orders is the maintenance of dignity, decorum, and the orderly administration of justice. As one court noted, "uniformity of dress is part of the discipline" that ensures the proper functioning of the judicial system and serves as "the visible sign of the presence of the law". Most courthouse dress codes explicitly state that their purpose is to "ensure that persons in the courtroom do not obstruct or interfere with the orderly transaction of court business nor degrade or insult the dignity of the judicial process". Typical prohibited items include shorts, cut-off jeans, halter tops, tube tops, tank tops, exposed midriffs, mini-skirts, clothing with obscene or vulgar language, sunglasses, and flip-flops. If you’re an HR leader or business owner,
To call an order about dress "frivolous" is a masterstroke of linguistic deflection. The frivolity is the bait. The real subject is control.
However, the term "frivolous" introduces subjectivity. A might be challenged if it violates constitutional protections, such as: A dress worn with heels and an updo
The next time you look at a dress in your closet—or on a store rack—and think, "It's beautiful, but where would I ever wear it?" consider that your official sign. Create your own occasion. Issue your dress order, put on the ruffles, the tulle, or the sequins, and step out into the world with a little more joy in your stride. If you'd like to tailor this concept further, let me know:
The Tokugawa shogunate ruled Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1867. This era brought long-term peace, which triggered a massive economic boom. As a result, merchants and townspeople grew incredibly wealthy.
