When it comes to the dress code at most start-ups, the rule-of-thumb typically is that there isn't one. T-shirts, flip-flops, and torn jeans are par for the course. To a certain extent, that makes sense given the long hours and low pay most entrepreneurs endure. In that case, who's got the time—or money—for fashion? Here's what makes less sense, though: apparently this dressed-down look has started to spread to other sectors (including—gasp—bankers!) leading this week's Portfolio mag to proclaim: "Dress for Success Now Means Looking Like Hell." They put it this way:

"If you look good, you're obviously not working hard enough. Outdoing the next guy in terms of looking put-upon is the new pissing contest."

At the risk of sounding like a snob (or overly stuffy) since when does showing up at work dressed "like hell" qualify as a good idea or suggest that you're working harder than anyone else? We stand in defense of the idea that it doesn't hurt to look professional. Slap a suit, a nice shirt, or hell, even just a good pair of shoes on anyone and it makes them look more professional. And if you're an investor, lender, or even a potential customer, aren't you more likely to work with the person who doesn't look like they just rolled out of bed? Be honest with yourself.

But what about Mark Zuckerberg, the 24-year-old hoodie-loving founder of Facebook, you might ask? What about Steve Jobs and his perma-faux turtle neck and jeans? Aren't they successful, even with their flip flops and sneakers? Consider this: they are—in just about every aspect of their life—exceptions to the rule.

For everyone else, particularly those of us who don't operate a start-up with a billion dollar valuation, looking put-together and professional never hurts. And hey, if that's too much trouble, may we at least suggest the businessbib?

Who disagrees?