This is sort of a catch-22, isn’t it? You are right—it’s always been this way. But I wonder...who defines how to “dress the part”? The fashion industry? Obviously, “dressing the part” has changed dramatically over the years.

In 1868, Harpers Bazaar published a photo showing appropriate hemline by age. “The hemline should descend toward the ankle as a girl gets older.” Today, many view a too-long skirt hemline in the workplace as frumpy.

In the 18th century, important men wore (what we now consider) ridiculous wigs. Today, we see these only in theater and Halloween costumes.

Somehow, somewhere, someone decided tattoos, too many piercings, and pink hair aren’t professional. Hmmm.

How many great minds do we overlook, because the window dressing rankles something inside us?