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[anonymousgal]

Just out of curiousity - how do staff on campus dress in the UK? In the US, anything goes on most campuses. I was wondering how it worked in the UK.

[qrypt]

I *wish* there were a dress code here -- one of my colleagues stumbles around in black shorts and black tee-shirt all year round (and I suspect it's really the same two articles of clothing). 

[babbinacara]

It's pretty much the same as in the US.
Women tend to operate in a more restricted range within the slob-to-fancy continuum. Men wear anything from suit and tie (business school) to huge sweaters knitted from shed yak hair (archaeology department). And I too have several colleagues who wear the same unbelievably small number of items of clothing year round.

[the_walrus]

Not different from the US here.  When I first came, I dressed nicely (for me---basically business casual), but then quickly realized it was no different from the US, perhaps because many of my colleagues are from/were trained in the US.  Now it's jeans (albeit nice ones, laundered fairly regularly) and usually an untucked button down.  I try to wear a decent pair of european stylish shoes, but I'd probably do that in the US too.  I'm far from the worst dressed.  One colleague wears t-shirts and trainers.

[wegie]

Basically, if you see somebody in a suit you are either a) in a business school, b) talking to an administrator or c) preparing for an important visit from somebody with money.

[drspouse]

The only difference I've noticed is a slightly smaller number of running shoes and a slightly larger number of tweed jackets with leather elbow pads.  The colleagues who, in the US, would wear running shoes, will sometimes wear dress shoes with jeans.

[expatinuk]

I wear running shoes... but the expensive ones... in the States I'd wear the cheap ones.

[science_expat]

What's wrong with a t'shirt and trainers?! Though I tend towards gortex boots - more practical given the weather.

I agree with all above wrt average academics but I think that low level admin types (i.e. department chairs) are more likely here to wear jackets or suits than in the US. YMMV.

[the_walrus]

What's wrong with a t'shirt and trainers?! Though I tend towards gortex boots - more practical given the weather.

Ha!  I actually suppressed the fact that some old leather hiking boots are my favo(u)red winter footwear!

[scotia]

Even within subject areas it varies. In my last place jackets were the norm and suits not uncommon. Here I stand out because I usually wear a jacket to teach (where else do you put the portable microphone without a jacket pocket for the battery pack and a lapel for the mic?).

[anonymousgal]

Wow, I'm glad I asked. I had assumed since most of the general population in the UK dresses nicer than Americans - I figured campuses would be the same. Guess I should hold any wardrobe purchases until I can lay eyes on my potential new campus.

Thanks for the input!

[erikjensen]

Wow, I'm glad I asked. I had assumed since most of the general population in the UK dresses nicer than Americans - I figured campuses would be the same. Guess I should hold any wardrobe purchases until I can lay eyes on my potential new campus.

Thanks for the input!

I encourage you not to buy anything in the UK that you can possibly buy in the US. Just about everything is more expensive than the US and you would still come out ahead even if you have to check an extra bag. You're always safe looking a bit dressed up by American standards. Also, I'd say that while people in the UK dress more formally, I would not call what they wear "nicer". Double-breasted suits for men were not rare among my colleagues in 2008.

[expatinuk]

I have to agree with erikjensen... most UK clothes are not particularly well made. The exception being (of course) good quality tweed and Scottish cashmere. But, again, you can buy the same items in the US at dollars for pounds.

[seniorscholar]

I encourage you not to buy anything in the UK that you can possibly buy in the US. Just about everything is more expensive than the US and you would still come out ahead even if you have to check an extra bag.

I would add that this is especially true of plain cotton underwear, sweat socks, sweatshirts, and even towels. Every time I head to the UK, I bring a smallish extra duffel bag stuffed full of such things for my daughter and, mostly, for my son-in-law, a Brit who is especially fond of US t-shirts, briefs, and socks.

[expatinuk]

I encourage you not to buy anything in the UK that you can possibly buy in the US. Just about everything is more expensive than the US and you would still come out ahead even if you have to check an extra bag.

I would add that this is especially true of plain cotton underwear, sweat socks, sweatshirts, and even towels. Every time I head to the UK, I bring a smallish extra duffel bag stuffed full of such things for my daughter and, mostly, for my son-in-law, a Brit who is especially fond of US t-shirts, briefs, and socks.

SHEETS!!! UK sheets are the pits!!! I can't tell you how many times I have to bring sheets across for friends. Supima cotton rules!!!