Silicon Valley Casual Is Also A Dress Code. As I grow older, I care less about the clothes I wear and more about comfort. In my profession, however, a suit and tie is required when appearing in court or even on a Zoom call with a court. This excellent post from Cultural Offering looks at a book that delves into the reasons behind dress codes. Ultimately, I suppose that Dress Codes are one way to distinguish between the players in any human drama, like a courtroom. However, as in Silicon Valley, they become a form of virtue signaling, and a way to show that the wearer is a warrior against the established norms. This is also seen in fashion, where the destruction of jeans, for example, becomes a fashion desirable. These days, I wear whatever shirt I grab and normal slacks. Judge me by my clothes at your peril. So many exterior cues can be misleading. I can remember being underestimated in my youth because of my southern dialect. I developed the General American speaking voice in college at the recommendation of Paddy Doll, my Communications Director, and it has helped me to avoid such stereotyping. But, it is instructive that, when I fall back to the Southern dialect, I am wrongly assumed to lack intelligence. Assumptions can be used as a weapon. I respect your traditions, and, if you require a suit and tie, I will wear one. But, always remember that clothes most certainly do NOT make the man or woman. 