Why Do We Say ‘White-Collar’ and ‘Blue-Collar’?
An office dress code might include guidelines for the formality of dress, along with any restrictions on attire, such as “no shorts” or “no open-toed shoes.” Some jobs even require uniforms — for example, you’re likely to see matching coveralls in a mechanic’s shop or the same polo shirts worn
by salespeople in a big-box store. The terms “white-collar” and “blue-collar” pertain to occupations but don’t refer to the required clothing for a job. Instead, they indicate the type of job by referring to traditional clothing, even if that’s not what today’s workers wear. Calling someone a white-collar worker implies...
