"The business mullet" is a great description - it is a terrible look. As a journo I find open source events are particularly challenging in terms of dress code. You can't really go wrong with formal, although there is always the risk you'll embarrass an exec by being better dressed than them.

I think the OSS guys haven't really gotten too bad yet cause they tend to stick with Tshirts. It's the networking guys who think that a black polo with their company logo is formal attire that are trouble. Add to that a sporty blazer and Interop looks like a Members Only convention.

Yes, by all means let us outlaw this horrible mish-mosh.

After all, The sportcoat/blazer is simply a crude imitation of the 14th century French military uniform. Why in Gods name modern human beings bother with such an ill-suited (pardon the pun) article of clothing is simply mind boggling.

It performs no useful purpose, it makes the wearer too hot in warm weather, doesn't protect them from the cold in cold weather. Costs much more than the value it provides. It seems that the only function if performs is to allow others to identify people who are hopelessly conformist in every way. Why do people wear a sportscoat? Because "Everyone else is" or "We always have". These are the same type of people who almost mutinied during Colombus expedition to the new world "because everyone knows the world is flat".

Clearly the new business uniform should now be nothing more formal than a polo shirt and khaki's, or jeans for middle management and below. Imagine the cost and time savings for the entire country.

Hi Dave, long-time-listener-first-time-caller...

I'm asking on behalf of a friend (seriously!) who has a bit of a fashion dilemma - does the "business mullet" stamp of disapproval apply to the ladies?

See you at OSCON. With a new wardrobe on. Grr.

Hey, no way! that look is really quite fashionable at the moment (well, more a suit jacket than a full-on sports coat). At least, that's what my fiancee tells me, and I trust her on this stuff ;)

Generally speaking the ladies can get away with that look a bit more easily. I think as you take into account things like shoes and such they have a better overall chance of success.

Truth be told the wife dresses me so I asked her.

A wise and observant man once pointed out to me that when it came to pants, "Staff wears cotton, middle management wears polyester and and executives wear wool." By blending cotton pants (eg jeans) with a (hopefully) wool blazer, one is attempting to seem of the people and above the people simultaneously. A good trick, but few can pull it off. Steve Jobs maybe. The rest are mostly wannabes. Personally, I kinda like the look, but find that I can't pull it off, so I don't bother. Same thing goes with people who wear dress shirts with jeans. Same idea without the jacket.

I am guilty of the jeans and blazer combo (I freeze my butt off without the jacket); however, according to Dave, we ladies "can get away with that look a bit more easily". Whew!

One question ... Do my black Converse high tops help or detract from the look?

I'm not sure if a bunch of geeks should be giving each other fashion advice ... like Dave, I have to get professional help to dress (luckily the boyfriend has good fashion sense!)

Personally I think that the sportscoat-and-jeans look is really tacky-- it looked sloppy and silly on the jocks at my high school 15 years ago and it looks sloppy and silly on aging hipsters and yuppies now. I think that people should represent themselves as professionals by dressing like professionals. Whether that includes silk suits and ties, or cargo pants and stained t-shirts, or frock coats and knickerbockers, each to his/her own; and yet, i just can't think where jeans-and-sportscoats could possibly fit in the hierarchy, except on cowboys (of course). I have noticed remarkably few cowboys in the tech sector :(