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The fact that the dress code at work has become increasingly informal, we know that by now. But did you also know that almost a third of people are willing to receive 10% less salary when the formal dress code at work is abolished? A recent study has yielded this, and even more remarkable results…
Done with the formal dress code
Stitch Fix, an online styling service in the United States and the United Kingdom, has investigated the effect the pandemic has had on our clothing style.
It has been found that work-from-home clothing, a term introduced in March 2020 as a result of the pandemic, is no longer as important. In January 2021, this trend reached its peak. In this month, people were searching massively for good work-from-home clothing. But half a year later, in July 2021, we were done with this search. People gradually shifted back to ‘normal work clothing’.
In early 2022, it turned out that we didn’t quite want to return to our old style. People still have a need for new clothing, but work clothing is no longer a priority. In the top six reasons why people want to renew their wardrobe, the return to the office ranks last. Especially the need for a new style (32%), having a different size (27%), and social activities (21%) contribute to the desire to buy new clothing. Only 17% of people want to purchase a new wardrobe because of the return to the workplace.
31% prefers to receive less salary rather than a formal dress code
Yet, we haven’t completely forgotten work clothing. In October 2021, there was an increase in demand for formal clothing. In fact, demand had increased by 39% compared to the same period in 2020.
We just have different preferences. 71% finds the balance between style and comfort more important than before the pandemic. Of those surveyed, 77% indicate that they are definitively saying goodbye to certain formal clothing items. Especially the classic suit is gladly pushed aside. 51% of baby boomers (1941-1955) say they will never wear the suit again. The younger generation is somewhat less adamant about this. 45% of millennials (1986-2000) say the same, followed by Generation Z (2001-2015) with 38%, and Generation X (1970-1985) with 36%.
Finally, 31% is so done with formal work clothing that they would rather receive 10% less salary than adhere to a formal dress code.
Formal dress code makes way for comfort
Well, those were a lot of numbers. A lot of remarkable numbers. The most striking to me is the fact that people are willing to give up 10% of their salary so that they don’t have to wear formal clothing. I find this quite significant. Imagine you earn 2500 euros net per month. Then you would be giving up 250 euros so that you can wear a T-shirt and jeans to the office? It almost sounds like these people are afraid of a formal dress code. Because what’s so bad about wearing a shirt and trousers? Or a jacket over it? Not a chance I would consider giving up so much money for a casual dress code.
What I also find remarkable is the big difference between generations when it comes to wearing a suit. It is often thought that as a company, you attract young people with a casual dress code. It is assumed that young people are strongly against a formal dress code. These figures show that especially the older generation doesn’t want to wear a suit. Young people have less of a problem with it.
And that makes me happy again. Because formal clothing is nowadays not as uncomfortable as it used to be. There are wrinkle-free shirts, pantyhose, and suits that regulate temperature or are even made of a fine jogging fabric. Many people don’t know this, and that’s exactly why we shouldn’t cancel the suit en masse. Let’s give it a chance to prove itself anew. Time for Suit 2.0!
Best regards,
Aileen