Why was the dress code policy created?

Answer 1

For centuries, certain occupations have used a specific kind of dress code to help the public to identify members of that occupation-- priests, for example, or members of the military. Schools have also found that students tend to have more discipline and exhibit better behavior when there is a dress code. Wearing a school uniform can create a sense of equality, by eliminating competition among various factions of kids: in schools without uniforms, there is sometimes jealousy from the kids, who can't afford the latest fashion towards the kids who have more stylish or up-scale clothes; and some of the kids who are considered poor are mocked for not dressing in designer brands. But having a dress code and a school uniform prevents these sorts of behaviors.

As for other kinds of dress codes, they too seem to go back a very long way-- dress codes can not only identify a person's occupation, but they can identify the person's status in society or show that a certain person is in charge (in a factory, a male owner might wear a jacket and tie, whereas his workers might dress more casually). One reason for dress code policies is to instill pride in group members, by making sure none of them are dressed in a sloppy or careless manner. So, dress code policies were probably created to create a feeling of group solidarity, and also because some people have long believed there is a link between good behavior and dressing in a more formal way.