Red toned dress shirts for men

[ms.yt]

A man came in for a job interview at my school the other day, and the secretary immediately deemed he wasn't an impressive candidate because he was wearing a red dress shirt and that was "dorky." Now, my husband has only recently started a job where he has to wear a collared shirt and tie, but I've bought him a reddish tone dress shirt that he wears frequently. I never thought anything about it until this was brought up. I didn't give it much thought then but today in the office someone asked her if she knew if that man was going to be hired, and she referred to him as "the red shirt man." I asked what was wrong with a red shirt, and every woman in there commented about how tacky it was, even though their husbands all had dress shirts in shades of blues, purple, pink, coral, black, gray, etc. I repeatedly asked why red wasn't okay if all of those were, and I never really got an answer. Is this the norm everywhere?

 

[CPanther95]

I don't see the issue:

 

[wilkeliza]

I have never heard of it. We have guys who wear red shirts all the time in our office. As long as it wasn't tacky like the PP example then I don't see what is so wrong with it.

 

[gwynne]

A man came in for a job interview at my school the other day, and the secretary immediately deemed he wasn't an impressive candidate because he was wearing a red dress shirt and that was "dorky." Now, my husband has only recently started a job where he has to wear a collared shirt and tie, but I've bought him a reddish tone dress shirt that he wears frequently. I never thought anything about it until this was brought up. I didn't give it much thought then but today in the office someone asked her if she knew if that man was going to be hired, and she referred to him as "the red shirt man." I asked what was wrong with a red shirt, and every woman in there commented about how tacky it was, even though their husbands all had dress shirts in shades of blues, purple, pink, coral, black, gray, etc. I repeatedly asked why red wasn't okay if all of those were, and I never really got an answer. Is this the norm everywhere?

Is evaluating job candidates part of the secretary's job description?

 

[ms.yt]

I don't see the issue:

I was actually thinking more along these lines.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I'm stuck on the fact that a grown adult said, out loud, that someone wasn't a good job candidate because their clothes were "dorky."

 

[fly girl]

I see that more as a winter look, but I don't find it tacky or dorky.



Personally, if I was a dude, I would wear white or light blue for an interview. However, I don't think red should be an automatic disqualification. He stood out -- that could be what he was trying to accomplish.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Shoot, I just hired a guy who wore red SHOES to an interview. He was clearly trying though. We get some who make zero effort.

 

[MickeySP]

Curious what was she wearing? All Dolce I assume.

What a jerk.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I don't see the issue:

You should make an effort to zip your fly, though... At least until you get the job.

 

[Skywalker]

Who is this secretary anyway? The fashion police? I don't think I would want to work with someone so stupid. But I do recall working with someone years ago who laughed at a guy because he was wearing a red shirt and red pants...okay maybe THAT is kind of "clowny", but a red shirt? I think a lot of guys look great in red.

 

[MickeySP]

Who is this secretary anyway? The fashion police? I don't think I would want to work with someone so stupid. But I do recall working with someone years ago who laughed at a guy because he was wearing a red shirt and red pants...okay maybe THAT is kind of "clowny", but a red shirt? I think a lot of guys look great in red.

I have to laugh, I will be dating myself. I had that outfit in the late 70's/early 80's. Red shirt, red Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, red shoes & just to top it off a red Barracuda jacket - DAMN I was so cool!!

 

[dotfurio]

DH has dress shirts in all colors, red included, but to be fair he is a little dorky sometimes...

 

[RedAngie]

I see that more as a winter look, but I don't find it tacky or dorky.



Personally, if I was a dude, I would wear white or light blue for an interview. However, I don't think red should be an automatic disqualification. He stood out -- that could be what he was trying to accomplish.

Yes, I wouldn't wear a red shirt to an interview, and might raise an eyebrow if a guy showed up with one for an office position, but no, it wouldn't be a disqualifier. And it wasn't for the guy in OP's story. Wearing that red shirt in the second photo after being hired would be quite acceptable.

Shoot, I just hired a guy who wore red SHOES to an interview. He was clearly trying though. We get some who make zero effort.

Yep, you should see what some of the people show up wearing for interviews at my company. Ripped jeans, heavy metal t-shirts, flip flops, etc. Granted, the position is for entry level retail associates, but still. Even the sleazy unbuttoned red silky shirt and upzipped fly would be better.

 

[damskipi13]

I don't think a red shirt is dorky at all. Guys look hot in red. And if the guy in post #5 showed up, I bet that secretary wouldn't have any problem with a "red shirt man."

 

[ronandannette]

Question for the OP: What is a "reddish-tone" shirt? Pink/burgundy/wine? Red is pretty much, well, red - unless it's actually some other colour. And as for the idea of a red shirt - I think they're fine and look pretty sharp with a dark suit. Both DH and DS have a couple of red shirts apiece although I agree with a PP that said you tend to see them worn more often in winter.

 

[JoeA]

Crap. I met some people for a dinner the other night and talked about a job, which I didnt get. I thought it was because I showed up late, drunk, without pants, and hadn't shaved or showered for days.

And all along it was because of my red shirt!

 

[goofy4prez]

I don't see the issue:

I owned an insurance agency for 15 years up until I sold it a couple of years ago... This guy walked into my agency and I'd just point him out the door. No job from me regardless of his qualifications.

I was actually thinking more along these lines.

Now if this guy were to have walked into the front doors of my agency and I needed to hire an employee and he had the qualifications, his attire is no problem with me.

One shirt is appropriate for a night club the other is just fine for an office.

 

[goofy4prez]

Crap. I met some people for a dinner the other night and talked about a job, which I didnt get. I thought it was because I showed up late, drunk, without pants, and hadn't shaved or showered for days.

And all along it was because of my red shirt!

No, it was the red boxers you were wearing, not the red shirt.

 

[justgrace]

I think red shirts are fine. I personally don't like a man wearing pink or purple, but that's just my personal preference. If a guy showed up to a job interview in a pink shirt, I wouldn't disqualify him for that.

What color a person is wearing isn't a determinant of their job performance and for them to make comments about it was pretty immature. I'm sure they wouldn't like if someone commented about the ugly shoes they were wearing or the frumpy dress they wore.