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Jeans

Letting Employees Wear Jeans Might Help Solve Your Talent Problem

Last year around this time, we were dawning on the era of denim in the accounting profession. It started with Baker Tilly, picked up steam with Crowe Horwath, faced some backlash and then finally hit the mainstream in the spring when PwC went all in.  I'm sure there's a number of people out there that […]

Deloitte "if you just follow, you'll never lead" sheep billboard

The Accounting Firm Dress Code Revolution Rolls On

In this first half of 2016, accounting offices across the country have witnessed a bolt of denim throughout their halls. It’s been quite an interesting fashion evolution for a profession that’s been banally formal since, well, always. It’s captivated everyone, including PwC’s Tim Ryan who, knowing that he needed to set the proper example, asked […]

PwC’s Tim Ryan Sought Sage Advice in Avoiding Dad Jeans

As we've witnessed, several accounting firms have granted their employees the privilege of wearing jeans to work. And if your firm hasn't jumped on the denim bandwagon by now, you probably feel like your dress code is something straight out of Mad Men. Now banks are taking a hint. On Friday, the Wall Street Journal […]

PwC Jumps on Jeans Bandwagon

Last week, someone posted an Open Item requesting opinions about PwC's new dress code. Then yesterday a tipster dropped us a note about it and provided some visual evidence. It confirms the text posted from last week and gives us some further context: I love that someone at PwC insisted on italic type for stylish. […]

a stack of blue jeans

The ‘Everyday Jeans’ Policy Backlash Has Begun

As the culture wars in the accounting profession continue, it was inevitable that concerns would arise around the “Don Your Denim” policies. On Accounting Today earlier this week, one worry that was brought up is that the casual dress policy is allowed “as long as you don’t have a client meeting” and that would discourage […]

Crowe Horwath Two Steps Closer to Pure Anarchy

Not be outdone by their crosstown1 rivals, Crowe Horwath announced earlier this week that not only can their employees wear whatever they want, they can work wherever they want, too (subject to approval of course):

Baker Tilly Makes Everyday Denim Dreams Come True

If there's one thing all accountants can get excited about, it's being granted the privilege of donning denim at the office. Time was, no accountant in their right mind would show up to the office in jeans for risk of public shaming. These days, things are less strict although there was a near mutiny in […]

Here’s Some Shit You’ll Hear Accountants Say During Busy Season

For some of you, this marks your first busy season. That's pretty relatively exciting. You'll learn many things along the way but communicating effectively with your peers and superiors will be one of the most important learning curves you'll climb in your young career. Likewise, for the veterans out there, it's imperative that you communicate […]

Several KPMG Denver Employees Go Rogue, Wear Jeans Without Approval

I agree with our tipster who wrote, “I’m just sitting here in disbelief that it’s such a big deal (in Denver of all places) that it merited an officewide email.”

From: [Denver OMP]
Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 2:03 PM
To: US-DEN KPMG Office Everyone List
Subject: Today

It appears as though many of you thought that today was a regularly scheduled jeans day for the Denver office. This was not a scheduled jeans day; however let’s turn this into a positive. If you are wearing jeans today, please [see the] receptionist, and pay your $5. All monies will be donated to the Red Cross to benefit the tornado victims in the south. Thanks everyone for your generosity to those in need.

A source in HoK Denver told me that he saw “several partners wearing jeans” so it’s entirely possible there’s a Rocky Mountain mutiny in the works but I’ll try not to jump to any conclusions.

Ernst & Young Toronto Invites Employees to Don Their ‘Best’ Denim This Summer

It’s not everyday we get news from north of the border, so it’s nice to see our Canadian friends reaching out to us. If you’re from the True North and have some gossip or other newsworthy items to share, send them our way. As for today’s news, we’ve been informed that Ernst & Young’s Toronto office has given the green light to their employees to rock half of the Canadian Tuxedo starting this Friday through Labor Day. Our tipster was quite excited about this since, “This is unheard of in Big 4 accounting firms in Toronto.”

Hi everyone,
If you watched my “[Toronto OMP] Korner” video from last week, you’ll know that the topic of Jeans Day was discussed.

I know many of you have been waiting for a few Jeans Days in the [Greater Toronto Area], so I’m pleased to share that there will be many opportunities for you to wear your best jeans to work over the summer months.

Starting this Friday, 20 May until 2 September, every Friday will be Jeans Day.

From time to time we’ll add a charity-challenge component to Jeans Day. However, for the most part, feel free to wear your best jeans to work on Friday just because.

Retaining a professional appearance is important to us — even when wearing jeans. Please — no rips or tears in your jeans, no t-shirts or running shoes either. If you’re seeing a client on a Friday, please wear your usual office attire.

Best regards,

[Toronto OMP]
Managing Partner, [Greater Toronto Area]

All the emphasis is the original, so you know when “best” is best, the Toronto brass means business. Per usual in these situations when you give an inch of denim, some people take a mile of looking like a complete slob, so please pass the warning on to the Toronto leadership.

Big 4 firms have a staunch pro-denim track record here in the States, as E&Y’s FSO was given a similar reprieve from the drabness of the business casual uniform last busy season and KPMG’s Summer Blast last year. It’s likely that you’ll be seeing more denim around the office the summer again this year but we’d be very interested in seeing pictures of some egregious vilolations. So if you fancy yourself a member of the fashion police and see a perpetrator, take a pic and send it our way.

Ernst & Young Announces Canadian Tuxedo Fridays for the Remainder of Busy Season

Officially, it appears that it’s just half of the Canadian Tux. You can show up in the jacket if you want but we’d advise you lose it while at the office.


Oh right, showing up at your client from head to toe in denim is not advisable so that eliminates a fair share of you. As for the rest of you, kindly schlep that extra outfit with you just in case. You never know when you’ll need the biz-pro or biz-casual uniform handy. On a somewhat related note, it’s not entirely clear is if the Texas Tuxedo is allowed.

Allowing denim on Fridays during busy season is probably not unprecedented but it may be enough to get some of you through the next 30-ish days. Enjoy.