Estate agents and any dress code

Were the "loose, creased, shapeless dress" and wrap linen by any chance? They say linen "creases in an expensive way" but perhaps you didn't appreciate that. I agree with you that male estate agents are usually sharply dressed in business suits. Women seem to have more choice when it comes to work clothes. It's not always easy to get it right IMO.
I don't personally believe women should feel pressured to wear makeup for work.

I didn’t wear linen for work because it would have looked like an old rag before I arrived at the office. A professional woman should get it right . She’s always in competition with men in a decent suit and polished shoes. Many things in life are much easier for men and in my experience women have to make a greater effort in every way.

I do not think women should feel pressured to wear any specific style of clothes, but I think, just like men they need to bear in mind their working environment when choosing what to wear and how to wear it.

When I worked in an engineering company in a male environment, I dressed in a manner that made it clear that I was professionally at the same level as the men around me. This meant, 30 years ago, wearing suits and tailored clothes. However I never tried to sink into the background and wore suits and accessories in the vibrant colours I always wear. A balance needs to be struck between being yourself and, in a work environment, dressing appropriately.

Was she wearing expensively creased linen. No I do not think so. When I described her as looking as if she had just got out of bed, I meant just that, she looked more crumpled than creased,

Cossy

Personally, I don’t care how ANYONE dresses. I care about their attitude, their work ethic and their skills and knowledge. I think that’s far more important than how one dresses. Anyone can LOOK professional, but can they act it, be professional and know their stuff?

But more often than not the two go together. If people look professional, they work in a professional manner - and the reverse. Of course there are always the exceptions to the rules, but overall, professional dress and professional efficiency go together.

I agree.

I agree with making an effort to look professional and appropriately dressed for work, whatever your role. Having said that, with many different looks and styles available to women to choose from, I hope I'd always be understanding towards people who don't get it quite right all the time. A pleasant, professional manner is just as important I think.

But more often than not the two go together. If people look professional, they work in a professional manner - and the reverse. Of course there are always the exceptions to the rules, but overall, professional dress and professional efficiency go together
I’d like to agree with you @Monica but look at those half wits who apply to be on The Apprentice.
Sharp suits, bodycon dresses, vertiginous heels and IQs of the average domestic mutt. (Unkind to dogs)
Just looking the business does not mean doing the business.

Don’t forget the botoxed lips Maw

I wouldn’t class any that I have seen (and it’s purely by chance as I don’t watch The Apprentice) as looking professional. Members of the oldest profession, maybe.

Her 'couldn't be bothered to get dressed this morning dress' was matched by her attitude, no make up and a pale uninteresting face.

I suspect her attitude was the main problem.

I expect estate agents to want to do what is expected - walk round to show me that which they presumably want to sell.

I'm exceedingly pale, likely have a very uninteresting face. I fade into any background quite easily. I'm a shy introvert. However, I open my eyes, smile, and do what is required in any situation.

She, seemingly, didn't do what is normally required by her job.

I represented my husband last week, stayed in the background until necessary for me to say my bit. Uninteresting face, silver hair, sparkly ears, navy jeans, white tshirt, black jacket with sparkly buttons, silver mules.

My husband received the bid. I met minimum standard.

The crumpled linen agent doesn't seem to meet minimum standard.

Actually I too have a very pale uninteresting face. Before blusher came into fashion, sometime late 60s/early 70s, if ever I needed to see a doctor, I would get sent for blood tests to see if I was anaemic. I perhaps should have been more precise and said the sort of pale fairly blank face most of us have when we first wake-up.

Well done Norah! The sort of outfit I would have chosen. Crumpled linen just doesn’t cut it in a professional setting. I am very pale too.

Sounds like I’d relate more to her than some smarmy bloke in a suit!

Why is a man in a suit 'smarmy'? I have dealt with a number of other estate agents, male and female, all looking competent and well dressed, not one was 'smarmy'

Maybe PaperMonster considers any professional man in a suit ‘smarmy’. Does the same apply to a woman in a suit?

Well, that would mean I was smarmy for most of my working life.

I’d do business with someone I feel comfortable with. Until very recently my job involved going into very many different types of workplaces and rarely did I encounter people in suits. In fact I don’t think I’ve seen a woman in a suit since the nineties. However I am about to start dealing with estate agents and I shall take extra special interest in how competent they are based on their clothes and complexion.

Reminds me of the dirty nurse I came cross a few years ago. She was a lady in her 40’s running the clinic for a hospital consultant and his team. She sat at a desk and in front of everyone waiting to be seen. She had lank greasy hair to her shoulders, a spotty face with bright red spots and a nervous habit of sniffing. I felt sorry for her until she sat down and proceeded to pick her nose…….. and wipe the results down the front of her uniform. There was more than one of us patients feeling nauseous.

I had a few clashes with estate agents when I was renting and did not hesitate to put them in their place. Sometimes they spoke to me as if I was a child in school rather than a valued client. I told one or two of them "you must have been sitting at the back of the class when customer service skills were being taught."

I was once in the position of being a tenant where the agent wanted to show prospective buyers around before I left. I reluctantly agreed and the agent seemed to have completely lost control of one couple. They turned up an hour before the agreed time - I had just got in from work and was eating my meal. I made them wait in the car for 30 minutes until I finished. They walked around and the male of the couple was passing remarks about my possessions. His wife was terribly embarassed. The EA made no attempt to reign him in. Eventually I said "You are here to view the property not to make remarks about my possessions." They went to look at the garden and I should then have locked the door. A few minutes later the male walked back into the house alone and began asking me questions. I told him "The viewing is over,. How dare you walk into my home. Get out." I then gave the EA an earful for not watching members of the party.

Next day I rang up and gave the boss down the banks. I told him there would be no more viewings until they agreed to a 30% rent reduction for the inconvenience. They would not agree to I deliberately made it difficult for them. They had no idea I had a mobile (early 1990s) so they would ring on the landline. I would see their number and not answer.

Another time I threw out an EA who was doing an "inspection" because she was taking photos without my permission. I snatched the phone from her and deleted all the photos. I would only allow her to photograph recent repairs. My possessions are none of her business.

I probably know more about housing law than the average lettings agent. Some of them have made dresdful blunders which would have landed the LL in a lot of trouble had I chosen to go to court. I think these people make up the rules as they go along.

No wonder they are one of the most hated professions.

I agree suits are very rare these days, but male estate agents wear them. I expect female estate agents to be smartly dressed in what ever is their style. I just do not expect them to turn up for viewings looking as if they have only just rolled out of bed aand haven't bothered to get out of their crumpled nightwear.

I knew an estate agent abroad once who held the keys to properties while owners were away. She and her lover used to secretly have sex in the bedroom before a viewing so no one would suspect her visit to the house. Maybe your agent did the same, M0nica?! Hence the dishevelled look.

There’s a bit of a standing joke in our development. See a man in a suit entering a property and they are either an estate agent or an undertaker.

Our last home was marketed and quickly sold by an all female staff team. None looked scruffy, no two dressed the same. I think sometimes it’s harder for women, a suit on a man is an easy option.

It’s noticeable that the female GP’s attached to our surgery look far smarter than the male GP’s. No idea if that can be generalised.

Joseann We got to the house before she did.

Some of the most utterly unpleasant and untrustworthy people look very polished on the outside.

zakouma66

Some of the most utterly unpleasant and untrustworthy people look very polished on the outside.

There are already numerous threads on politicians zakouma66