DECA Dress Code

DECA Dress Code

By Alex Ruhl

Below is the dress code required when appearing before a judge in order to prevent penalty points from being assessed against an individual or team.

Acceptable During DECA Activities

• 1. Business suit, Sport Coat, or DECA Blazer with:
     1. Blouse or
     2. Collared Dress Shirt and appropriate neckwear (necktie or scarf)
  2. Dress Pants or Skirt (at a length at or below the knee) with:
     1. Blouse or
     2. Collared Dress Shirt with appropriate neckwear (necktie or scarf)
  • Optional matching dress jacket, blazer, DECA blazer, or sweater.
• Dress shoes (no Sperry Top-Siders)
• It is recommended, but not required that DECA members wear appropriate hosiery or socks.

**At District and State Competition, no blazer is required.  At ICDC, competitors must wear a DECA blazer when appearing in front of a judge.

Unacceptable During DECA Activities

• 1. Skirts with a length shorter than at or below the knee.
  2. Tops with low cut fronts, open sides, open backs, see through, tube, halter, strapless, sleeveless, off-the- shoulder or midriff tops.
  3. Denim of any color; jeans;
  4. Leggings or graphic designed hosiery/tights
  5. Cocktail, formal or transparent dresses.
  6. String or bolo ties.
  7. Collarless, sleeveless, cut off, golf shirts, polo-style shirts or bare midriff shirts.
  8. Shorts of any kind.
  9. Clothing with printing that is suggestive, obscene or promotes illegal substances or other items which would be considered inappropriate in the home school.
  10. Skin-tight or revealing clothing.
  11. Sneakers, Sperry/Topsider/Boat Shoes, canvas shoes (espadrilles or Tom’s-style shoes), moccasins or sandals.
  12. Hiking, work, army, thigh high, over the knee, riding, Ugg-Style, biker, Wellington, mukluk, gladiator, or cowboy boots
  13. Athletic clothing
  14. Sunglasses
  15. Swimwear
  16. Winter/outdoor wear (i.e. Outdoor leather, denim, jean jackets or coats)

  Remember, twenty points will be subtracted for dress code violations in each section of a competitive event (written test, role-plays, or manual interview), so be sure to be in dress code!