‘No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service’: When it comes to dress code, customer policy would be good enough

Dress codes are a universal way of letting people know what they can and can’t wear at school, work or formal events, but oftentimes, they are vague or poorly enforced and cause controversy. Our dress code has clear outlines on what can be displayed on clothing, but increasingly blurry outlines on what types of clothing can be worn. 

The CFHS Student Handbook states, “Students are expected to wear clothing appropriate for school and that does not produce disruption to the educational process … clothing that calls undue attention to anatomical details may not be worn.”

Clothes are a form of self-expression, similar to hair, accessories, makeup or tattoos. Each person should be able to express themselves in this way without fear of being asked to change out of clothes they feel comfortable in. 

If one person wears clothing that distracts another student from their education, that is not the fault of the clothing nor of the person wearing it. Each student should be able to wear what they want without worrying what administrators and other students will think of their clothes. I think dress codes should have a “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service” policy. As long as students wear a top, bottom and shoes, their clothing should not be something we’re worried about when there are more important issues in our world.