Is There a Business Dress Code in This Economy?

In a world of casual wear, tattoos, piercings and financial hard times -- not to mention less face-to-face communication -- is there still a dress code at work?

Even in button-downed national financial centers, clothes seem to have gone from straight-laced to creative, but how far is too far?

Newsweek employees recently got their company some unwanted publicity by leaking a new internal dress code manual. It outlaws some items you might see regularly in your workplace.

“Denim jeans, sweat suits, low-rise pants, sneakers, sandals, flip-flops, halter tops, camisoles, baseball caps, sweat suits, t-shirts, tank tops, micro mini-skirts, shorts, or anything else that is deemed unprofessional or excessively distracting are inappropriate business attire and should not be worn to work,” the code reportedly states.

The reaction has ranged from supportive to hostile. Violating the code can reportedly result in suspension of employment.

Newsweek has undergone some severe economic setbacks, and some employees apparently see the dress code as one more attempt to control a volatile situation.

What do you think? Does appearance count in the office? Do you have a work dress code?

Tell us in comments.