商务英语情景口语100主题013（在线收听）

Dressing for Business

D1

Did you see the way that Brian came to work yesterday? Ever since he came back from that conference in Silicon Valley, he's been coming to work dressed in jeans and sweatshirts. It's like he's decided to make himself at home in his office. I don't know how long it'll take before the management talks to him about it.

He was really influenced by the way they do things on the west coast. I guess the working atmosphere is a lot more relaxed and casual in California. It comes from the information technology industry.. there isn't such a large division between home and office, so people want to work in the clothes they feel more relaxed in.

Maybe so, but it seems kind of strange, which the rest of us in white shirts, dark suites, and ties.

It's not as bad as that...We are allowed to wear more casual jackets and trousers. Besides, didn't you hear what Brian found on his desk this morning?

What's that?

Management decided to give him four brand new white shirts. That's their way of telling him that his new style of dressing down is not quite acceptable.

D2

Even if our company didn't have a dress code, I still think people would wear formal clothing to work.

I wouldn't be so sure... People want to wear what they feel most cofortalbe in.

Maybe that's ture for some positions, but I think the marketing and sales staff would definitely not agree. They dress for success? You can't go out on a sales cal if you are dressed in jeans. It's just not respectful to you client.

I think what you wear is so overrated. I would rather have a down-to-earth, honest and solid sales person than a painted, patent leaather, designer suite salesman.

It's not as simple as that. People judge you by your appearance, whether you like it or not. So dressing professional is being prefessional. The image that you portray to others is so important in business. It's your imag and how others perecive you that makes the difference between landing or lossing a sale.

Maybe you're right, but I'll take my sneakers and jeans any day!