Smart vs casual - does your outfit matter at work?
Louise Chandler
A creative champion for marketing communications | Leading conversations about equality, diversity and inclusion with the REACH Network
Dress for success is a phrase I grew up hearing.
Also, I recall seeing TV programmes and films that show people at work in pinstripe suits, smart shirts ties, blouses, briefcases. Basically, seeing formal outfits gave me the visual cue that if you want to create a good first impression, you must dress smart!!?
Do you remember the 80s film (I’m showing my age) Working Girl with Melanie Griffith as Tess McGill? If you haven’t seen it, check it out! Tess has aspirations to be an empowered, confident businesswoman but doesn’t quite ‘look the part’. She wears sneakers and leather jackets with bouffant hair to her New York city posh job. There are scenes in the film when she actively chooses to change her look. She acknowledges that if she wants to be taken seriously in the office, she needs to dress ‘sophisticated’ with suits and stilettos and transforms herself accordingly.?
Here’s a scenario and question: If you met a new client for an important meeting for the first time (hoping they will hire you for a project) and you wore ripped jeans, tatty Converse trainers and a coffee-stained t-shirt - would you feel comfortable to make a good first impression??
In recent years I’ve heard of corporate offices having a ‘dress down Friday’ where employees can wear jeans, but the rest of the week must include wearing a tie.?Does your workplace have a dress code?
Does your outfit affect your work mood, productivity and capability to do a good job?
The high street retail scene is certainly trying to keep up with our consumer fashion trends, needs and wants for how we present ourselves.
In August 2021 Marks & Spencer announced it will ‘no longer sells men's suits at more than half of its 254 bigger stores as the pandemic hit "fast forward" on the trend for casual wear.’
Fashion brand Ted Baker closed around 500 of its shops recently and faces financial uncertainty. Reading the BBC article: What went wrong for the fashion label?
Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, told the BBC that consumers recognised in lockdown that they could opt for athleisure instead of being "suited and booted".
Another perspective… maybe it’s our style habits that have changed things. As individuals who are influenced by different cultures, histories and eras - we no longer want to look the same. We want to wear something that represents our attributes, character and personalities.
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I know I always feel good when I wear pink
Perhaps it’s all about wearing what makes you feel more comfortable and represents your personality. Personally I feel torn - I think it's good to make an effort about how you present yourself in a professional working environment. But injecting some colours in to your outfit can make you feel like an individual
Some people in the workplace are embracing bold fashion choices like in this article?
So, will you grab sparkly jacket and neon trousers outfit for your next meeting?
Tell me your thoughts: Smart vs casual - does your outfit matter at work?
Love this article? Great, check out other Self-employed Stories that I wrote:
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Media executive and content creator, journalist, scribe and storyteller.
2 个月It's an interesting conundrum, Louise. As a more mature working person, I was always imbued with the principle to always dress smartly as you are effectively an ambassador for your employer. First impressions always count. I do try and adhere to that rule of thumb, but my contact now with outside organisations has reduced significantly. Often, the only time I make contact with them is via an online call. I still like to be smart - statement jacket over more casual trousers, usually black jeans, and I usually wear dark colours with a contrasting scarf. But as soon as purple comes back into fashion, I shall be a vision in ultra violet!