Maverick Mark says “Why I Don’t Wear a Suit and Can’t Figure Out Why Anyone Does.”

To me this is the key point:

Now I understand some people think wearing a suit provides them with a certain level of stature. It gives them confidence. It helps them feel good about themselves. Well let me be the first to tell you that if you feel like you need a suit to gain that confidence, you got problems. The minute you open your mouth, all those people who might think you have a great suit, forget about the suit and have to deal with the person wearing it.

I’ve actually found that suits can have a negative effect on my perception of some business people—especially salespeople. When you sound sharp you sound sharp no matter what you wear, but when you don’t know what you’re talking about you sound worse with a suit on. It has something to do with expectations. The suit magnifies missed expectations. It’s like wearing a first place medal around your neck before the race and then finishing 7th.

That being said, I don’t have any problems with suits themselves. If you like a suit, wear a suit. I believe you should wear what’s comfortable. Comfort is a huge part of productivity. If you’re comfortable in a suit, wear it proud. If you’re more of a t-shirt and jeans person, go for it.

Of course where you work and what the social/business/industry norms are play a big part in all of this. It’s easy for Mark Cuban to decide he’s not wearing a suit, but I think Mark’s “Someone had once told me that you wear to work what your customers wear to work” point is a good one.

So, what’s your take?