BY TEH WOON YA
Stepping into Taylor’s University is like going to a shopping mall or attending a fashion show. Students’ attire is an on-going issue which has not been resolved throughout all these years.
Students should understand that the way they dress will influence how students, lecturers and staffs perceive them. Based on a study done by Tracy Morris on Fashion in University, every dress code transmits a message and a story about the wearer.
Professional Attire
Professional attire are referred to as formal dress code, in which students are well-dressed in suits. These students look neat, well-groomed and presentable in any setting.
The general formal guidelines for males are suit, shirt, tie, belt, shoes, and socks while females are expected to dress in suit, shirt, closed-toe shoes or heels, and with simple makeup.
“Students with formal attire demonstrate a great sense of responsibility, professionalism, leadership, respect, confidence and good ethical behavior” said School of Communication (SOC) student Leong Xin Lei, 23.
Besides that, during presentation, SOC lecturer Rubin Khoo Bu Boen, 43, shared that, “Often, students who come dressed formally would make a better impression than the other groups even before presenting.”
School of Computing and IT student Tan Moh Kae, 19, agreed that students who wear formal attire look smarter. Yet, he claimed that professionalism should be defined by one’s abilities and skills, rather than based on the appearance.
In addition, students who are used to wearing professional attire would be more prepared for future work as most organizations would be judging individuals based on formality and outlook during interviews.
Neat or Smart Casual
Students with this type of attire can be easily seen around TU. They are usually dressed in T-shirts or collar T-shirts, long pants and closed-toe shoes. All clothing should be able to cover thighs, lower back, midriff and cleavage.
Students in smart casual are often tied with several good traits and personalities such as friendly, approachable, trustworthy, responsible, appropriate manners and respectful.
“These students usually have the intention of impressing others, not in the sense of flirting but to create a good image of themselves in different circumstances, such as while interacting with friends and lecturers,” Leong said.
Taylor’s Business School student Pang Yong Kang, 18, agreed and added that, “The way I speak would differ accordingly to how one is dressed, and I will most likely hang out with students dressed in smart casual because we are think similarly.”
Street Wear
Students continue wearing street clothes to university despite not being allowed to wear shorts in the dress code policy, off-shoulder tops, tubes, singlet, spaghetti strap tops, excessively short skirts and other clothing which are revealing.
Other than that, students should also avoid wearing slippers and flip-flops at all cost as it reflects one’s image and hygiene awareness.
Khoo suggested that this attire is inappropriate because dressing up would create the mood that a student is in. He added that, “If you are not dressed appropriately for classes, you will not able to get in the right mood to study well, and this applies in the working environment too.”
“I think that students should only wear this attire at certain locations, but definitely not at an educational environment as it is disrespectful,” Pang said.
Some would also consider this group as the attention seekers, over-confident in their self-presentation, or are massive followers in the latest trend of the fashion industry.
However, Tan argued that it is fine for students to wear casual outing clothes and it would define these students as those who would love to live in their comfort zone by wearing what they feel is comfortable.
Specialist Attire
The students from several courses such as School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, School of Medicine, Taylor’s Law School and School of Biosciences have a certain uniform that needs to be followed.
Pang said, “Specialist attire represents an identity, and hence, I perceive them as the group who represents the school.”
“I perceive them as students who are well-behaved, responsible, professional and compliant to all the rules by just judging at their dressing,” Tan said.
Students should choose their clothing wisely based on their circumstances, surroundings, weather, and types of activities involved. For example when you are out at the beach, you will not wear formal attire. This concept should be applied in universities as well; you should dress appropriately and not in street wear or other inappropriate attire.
Stepping into Taylor’s University is like going to a shopping mall or attending a fashion show. Students’ attire is an on-going issue which has not been resolved throughout all these years.
Students should understand that the way they dress will influence how students, lecturers and staffs perceive them. Based on a study done by Tracy Morris on Fashion in University, every dress code transmits a message and a story about the wearer.
Professional Attire
Professional attire are referred to as formal dress code, in which students are well-dressed in suits. These students look neat, well-groomed and presentable in any setting.
The general formal guidelines for males are suit, shirt, tie, belt, shoes, and socks while females are expected to dress in suit, shirt, closed-toe shoes or heels, and with simple makeup.
“Students with formal attire demonstrate a great sense of responsibility, professionalism, leadership, respect, confidence and good ethical behavior” said School of Communication (SOC) student Leong Xin Lei, 23.
Besides that, during presentation, SOC lecturer Rubin Khoo Bu Boen, 43, shared that, “Often, students who come dressed formally would make a better impression than the other groups even before presenting.”
School of Computing and IT student Tan Moh Kae, 19, agreed that students who wear formal attire look smarter. Yet, he claimed that professionalism should be defined by one’s abilities and skills, rather than based on the appearance.
In addition, students who are used to wearing professional attire would be more prepared for future work as most organizations would be judging individuals based on formality and outlook during interviews.
Neat or Smart Casual
Students with this type of attire can be easily seen around TU. They are usually dressed in T-shirts or collar T-shirts, long pants and closed-toe shoes. All clothing should be able to cover thighs, lower back, midriff and cleavage.
Students in smart casual are often tied with several good traits and personalities such as friendly, approachable, trustworthy, responsible, appropriate manners and respectful.
“These students usually have the intention of impressing others, not in the sense of flirting but to create a good image of themselves in different circumstances, such as while interacting with friends and lecturers,” Leong said.
Taylor’s Business School student Pang Yong Kang, 18, agreed and added that, “The way I speak would differ accordingly to how one is dressed, and I will most likely hang out with students dressed in smart casual because we are think similarly.”
Street Wear
Students continue wearing street clothes to university despite not being allowed to wear shorts in the dress code policy, off-shoulder tops, tubes, singlet, spaghetti strap tops, excessively short skirts and other clothing which are revealing.
Other than that, students should also avoid wearing slippers and flip-flops at all cost as it reflects one’s image and hygiene awareness.
Khoo suggested that this attire is inappropriate because dressing up would create the mood that a student is in. He added that, “If you are not dressed appropriately for classes, you will not able to get in the right mood to study well, and this applies in the working environment too.”
“I think that students should only wear this attire at certain locations, but definitely not at an educational environment as it is disrespectful,” Pang said.
Some would also consider this group as the attention seekers, over-confident in their self-presentation, or are massive followers in the latest trend of the fashion industry.
However, Tan argued that it is fine for students to wear casual outing clothes and it would define these students as those who would love to live in their comfort zone by wearing what they feel is comfortable.
Specialist Attire
The students from several courses such as School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, School of Medicine, Taylor’s Law School and School of Biosciences have a certain uniform that needs to be followed.
Pang said, “Specialist attire represents an identity, and hence, I perceive them as the group who represents the school.”
“I perceive them as students who are well-behaved, responsible, professional and compliant to all the rules by just judging at their dressing,” Tan said.
Students should choose their clothing wisely based on their circumstances, surroundings, weather, and types of activities involved. For example when you are out at the beach, you will not wear formal attire. This concept should be applied in universities as well; you should dress appropriately and not in street wear or other inappropriate attire.