We associate green shades, armbands, and few other things with accountants of the last century. Don’t we? It’s because we have seen our accountants making style statements wearing such accessories in the past.
Though in this era, the accountants and professionals belonging to any other reputable professions don’t do that now, we usually find ourselves thinking why have they stopped wearing those marks of identification? Or were green shades and armbands just an accountant’s thing?
In this brief post, we would try to shed light on a very popular accessory worn by accountants. We would try to clear your doubts and serve you all the worth-sharing information. So, let’s not beat about the bush and find out if the armbands were “really” just an accountant’s thing?
Why do accountants wear armbands?
To be more appropriate, accountants used to not wear armbands anymore. Armbands were not a “specific” accountant’s thing, the men belonging to other professions used to wear the same for the same particular reason.
The accountants used to wear green shades
The green shade, which is also known as a type of visor in the accounting world, was an accountant’s, telegrapher’s, copy editors thing in the past. They used to wear green shades not just to get recognized but to lessen the eyestrain caused by incandescent lights and candles.
As it was excessively used by the people involved in accounting, auditing, and economics, we just started knowing it as a sign of recognition. It was never meant to be a mark of recognition but worn to protect the eyes from harsh candles and lights.
The armbands were not just worn by accountants but men belonging to all reputable professions
Yes, it’s true armbands were worn by people belonging to all reputable professions including accounting. Armbands were a mandatory part of formal clothing, so as the accountants had to look professional CPA even back then, they used to wear them as a part of formal clothing.
Why do accountants and people belonging to other respectable professions have to wear armbands?
Back then when armbands were a thing, the people belonging to accounting and other reputable professions used to wear them to hold the sleeves up high so that their cuffs do not become soiled while working.
The men’s ready-made shirts at that time come with extra-long sleeves. So the armbands were worn to hold them up to the correct length.
Armbands were a necessity back then
The said part of the formal look was not used usually be worn by choice, it was just a necessity. If all shirts in the market suddenly start being tailored with extra-long sleeves, we would have to wear armbands to hold them up. That’s how armbands were a necessity back then. These armbands were never worn by a choice.
Armbands were usually worn by people working with ink and paper
The people belonging to the wealthy groups would wear armbands as well but their use was breathtakingly common among the people that had to work with ink and paper all the time.
Armbands remained popular from mid 19th to 20th century
Armbands were a thing or maybe it’s more appropriate to say necessity from the mid 19th to 20th Century. Thankfully, the formal shirts now come with rightly long sleeves. We do not have to wear armbands to hold them up at all.
Armbands are still made, sold, and worn
Though we don’t normally see the wealthy well-dressed man wearing armbands they are still demanded, tailored, sold, and worn. The use of armbands is now limited to few professions. These sleeves garters are now worn by musicians, bartenders, and poker and card dealers, etc.
It has become mandatory for poker and card dealers to wear armbands just so they do not conceal the cards in their sleeves, the musicians wear it when they try to dress like Tony Jackson while performing. The bartenders wear armbands to hold their sleeves up while wiping down the bar. The bartenders don’t need to wear armbands, they wear them by choice.
The armbands are associated more with bankers than with accountants
The armbands were just as popular in bankers as in accountants as they both have to work with ink and papers. For some reason, people of the 21st century associate this part of clothing with bankers. When, in reality, it was worn not just worn by bankers but professionals of all reputable professions.
Summary
The appropriate answer to the question “do accountants wear armbands?” Is that yes, Accountants and professionals belonging to all reputable professions used to wear armbands for the same reason?
The armbands, around the mid 19th 20 century, were a mandatory part of formal men’s clothing. The armbands were worn to hold to extra-long sleeves up. Though, they are not as immensely demanded as they used to back in the 19th and 20th century but still, the armbands are demanded, made, sold, and purchased on a large scale. The armbands are now worn by musicians, bartenders, poker, and cards dealers in the casino.
