THREADS THREAD
Presenting a professional appearance has become anathema to ATC professionals. In the USA, I believe it is because the dress code was seen as one of the few management imposed rules that might be negotiable back in the 1970's.
"You may be able to make us toe the company line as to pay, hours of work, etc., but this is a free country and I'll be damned if you can tell me how to dress!"
The result was the sloppier the better, and FAA decided it wasn't worth the fight. To this day many USA controllers look like bums at work. They believe that nobody sees them, so what's the big deal.
Actually, lots of people do see them, either in person as they come and go to work, online and in the press. Maybe it's time for a bit of self-evaluation by some controllers as to how they dress for work.