Khakis or Jeans?

[JosephLeo]

What do you guys wear for your uniform when presenting yourself to your clients.

Right now I'm strictly Khakis, but I feel rather uncomfortable in them sometimes and I'm considering a switch. The Khakis look nicer and more professional, but the jeans are a lot more functional.

 

[14049752]

I wear cargo pants. Specifically Wrangler Hero Cargos. They're close enough to khakis that I chose that in the poll.

They look better than jeans, and the side pockets come in handy when I'm on my feet. And they're super comfortable.

 

[Jory]

I wear jeans. Khakis look nicer, but they pick up stains too easily. If you have to crawl under a desk or clean out a nasty computer on the first job you spend the rest of the day looking dirty.

 

[TimJacobs]

I wear black cargo pants..... More specifically these

It goes with the whole "Medic" Image

 

[AdamsAPlus]

I voted Khakis but it depends on the job. If its strictly a computer repair than it's khakis. If I'm going to be running Network wires or anything else that can be dirty then I do jeans. Or if it's the weekend then I do Jeans.

 

[Vicenarian]

A nice pair of jeans, a nice pair of leather loafers, button-down shirt. Classy, yet functional.

 

[Xander]

Not always but when I'm in the particular mood; yes, I have them.

 

[TLE]

I voted other, as i normally wear pin stripe trousers and a shirt. However they aren't very flexible as a i found out today. I bent over infront of a lady client whilst unplugging there router and the arse spilt open right in front of her, i was so embarrassed . I had only just started as well, and i could feel the gap getting bigger as the hour went on

 

[TenYardFight]

Voted Khackis, and it works out good for me that I'm more comfortable in Khakis than in jeans...

 

[callthatgirl]

TLE...I voted other, as i normally wear pin stripe trousers and a shirt.
NICE. Even if you ripped out LOL.

I think all men in IT should wear black dickie pants and black boots personally.

 

[navigatorrs]

Definitely Khakis and a button down polo shirt for me. My clients are 95% Commercial, i would never show up to there office in jeans.

 

[Ccomp5950]

I think all men in IT should wear black dickie pants and black boots personally.

I would agree with you if "IT" just meant sitting at a desk. I make a good bit of my money running low voltage wiring (Cat5, Coax) through areas like...

I prefer my carpenter jeans and switch between a t-shirt for rough work (Crawling through attics running cables // Going through hotel access bays) and a polo shirt for everything else.

The shirts are embroidered with my company name.

For footgear: I wear Army desert combat boots. My time in the Army just made them rub off on me.

 

[gunslinger]

Jeans, black Timberland hiking boots, Black t-shirt, Black apple cap.

 

[bwhatley87]

Khakis and button down or polo with logo.

 

[gikstar]

I believe you should dress based on the professional image you feel that you need to present at the moment.
New business clients deserve dress pants, long sleeve shirt with your logo/company name and 'Microsoft Certified' if you qualify, with a tie. If it's very hot out, a short sleeve polo shirt with company logo and 'certs' can suffice. After they get to know you, you can dress down a little when you are installing new computers, pulling wire, etc. If you are going to be seen by their clients, dress to make them proud of you and they will refer you to their clients. Look sharp, stay sharp! Dress for success, 'cause that is the first thing that they see.

Regarding the splitting of the seat of your pants... how to you thing your 'client' felt? Now you know why it's a good idea to keep an clean pair of pants and shirt in your vehicle.

 

[Martyn]

If anything is a trolling post that is. ^^

FWIW, I wear a sports jacket and slacks as a minimum, but for my professional customers or wear I work in their customer-facing environments then it's a business suit and tie.

I keep my identity anonymous to protect my business interests from the professional hatemongers such as Wim Wauters and self-righteous trolls like you Martyn.

Well you sound like me from the corporate world. After 20+ years of wearing a suit I find it hard to be very casual. I generally wear a logo'd sweatshirt or polo shirt, corded trousers and, where it requires it, a suit. I'll ignore the other labels, oh I haven't

 

[Bryce W]

Cleaned up the thread..

 

[NorCal Internet]

I've found most of my clients don't really care what I wear, but are more concerned with how quickly I can fix their issues.

I usually find myself being called in after someone else fails, and the client starts asking around for a replacement for their current IT... So, at that point, they're just concerned about results, not appearance.

However, on that note, when I meet with new clients, I try to dress a little nicer, and I might even shave. It also depends on the client and the job that is to be done.

As mentioned by others, cabling or crawling around under desks will almost always get me into jeans. Consulting or "Formal" meetings with clients, or their vendors, and I'll break out the Khakis.

Always logo'd shirts, usually polo, sometimes T-Shirts.

It can get well over 100 here during the summer, which actually gets me into jean shorts...Does that count?

I've found that customer referrals, our reputation and word of mouth out weighs any dress code. I mean, take a look at Best Buy. They all wear khakis and logo'd polo shirts. The Geek Squad trolls wear button up shirts and black khakis or slacks... Does that improve anyone on this site's opinion of them?

I didn't think so.

There's a time and place for dressing professional, and knowing when is pretty much common sense.

 

[ATS]

Depends on the location, residential it's jeans and a t-shirt / polo / button up depending on what I have on that day, and a nice jacket (rains a lot here), business it's always khakis and a polo / button up for the first time, then I see what others are wearing and go with that (jeans / khakis, t-shirt / polos) unless my first job there is running cable or crawlin' around in the junk. Then jeans / t-shirt.

 

[mortaltech]

I use a uniform service company that provides khaki pants and a blue button down shirt with my company logo weekly.