Whatever Happened To Professional Dress?

Some loved it, some hated it, but everyone can agree professional dress had CB students looking fabulous.

Professional Dress Days, select school days where students wore formal clothing to CB, had been around for years, but was abolished this school year by CB administration.

“It was not an easy decision” says Mrs. Cecilia Powers, co-Dean of Students. “We surveyed all of the faculty and asked for their input on whether the staff felt professional dress was an educational experience for our students”.

Although Professional Dress Days held some educational components, it was also very difficult for the teachers and deans to monitor and enforce.

Teachers were not taking time in their classes to check to make sure the outfits were appropriate and also not taking the time to explain the purpose for professional dress.

Eventually the deans just decided there wasn’t enough benefit to keeping professional dress on a school wide basis.

Some teachers have decided to continue it as components of their classes for involvement in liturgies and class presentations. Some teachers really want students to embrace professional dress and help students find the true value in looking professional.

“The reason we had it is because there is definitely some value in teaching students that different occasions call for different attire” says Mrs. Powers.

Students have mixed emotions on the removal of Professional Dress Days.

“Oh I loved professional dress,” says senior Zac Van Someren (’13). “I got to express myself through my clothing.”

“I hated it,” says Nick Martin (’13). “[It was] way too uncomfortable for school.”