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When I first went to work, my grandmother said to me, "clothes maketh the man." I didn’t really understand what she meant at the time. I had taken a job in the pathology labs of a London teaching hospital, where jeans, T-shirts, and trainers (or sneakers, as our US colleagues would call them) were the norm. You were covered in a lab coat, and everyone looked the same.

When I landed my first commercial role as a technical representative for a UK distributor, everyone wore suits, shirts, and ties. It was a very smart, professional look, and I have to admit, I liked it.

Over the past few decades, workplace attire has transitioned notably from formal suits to more casual dress codes. This shift reflects broader changes in organisational culture (Peluchette, Karl & Rust, 2006).

As I mentioned, prior to the 1990s, formal business attire, including suits for both men and women, was standard in corporate environments. The boundaries between work and after-work fashion were very clear: executive attire in the office, casual attire at home. I remember putting on a shirt and tie on the odd occasion I worked from home. These were the days before Teams and Zoom, so no one knew what I was wearing on phone calls, but I did!

However, the early 1990s saw the emergence of "business casual," a term I really didn’t understand. In 1990, I worked for a large healthcare company. We would have quarterly sales meetings in quality hotels throughout the UK. The dress code had always been formal. Then, as the second meeting of 1990 was arranged, the boss announced it was business casual attire. Every one of my team asked me what that meant. They knew what was acceptable in formal wear, even with changes in fashion, but what was acceptable in business casual? I couldn’t give any guidance. I had to ask the boss what was acceptable, and clearly, denim and trainers were not on the list. So, there was a ‘casual code’ we just hadn’t learned what it was.

This shift to business casual was influenced by economic recessions and the tech industry's relaxed culture (Brower, 2023). Companies like Hewlett-Packard pioneered casual dress policies, leading to the widespread adoption of "Casual or dress down Fridays." By 1997, approximately 83% of U.S. companies had implemented some form of casual dress policy (Frith & Gleeson, 2004).

Dress down Fridays even permeated into home life. My sons were at primary school, and they started having ‘mufti’ Fridays (no school uniform) as a way of raising money for charity, as children (their parents) would donate some money for the privilege.

Dress codes serve as a visual representation of a company's culture. A shift to casual attire can promote a more relaxed and open environment, potentially enhancing communication and reducing perceived hierarchies among employees. However, it's essential to balance this with maintaining professionalism, as overly casual attire might blur boundaries and affect workplace decorum (Furnham, Chan & Wilson, 2013).

I remember an occasion about 15 years ago when I was meeting with the CEO in London. We had an important meeting booked with a potential client’s legal team. I arrived early and waited for the CEO in the road along from the client’s office. As he approached, his clothes looked strange. While on the train down to London, someone had spilled coffee on his white shirt. He had already elected to not wear a tie and had a light-coloured sports jacket rather than a suit jacket. In comparison, I was overdressed. I told him not to worry, that we had plenty of time to get another shirt, but he declined and said they would understand.

We attended the meeting in an impressive boardroom. All conversations were aimed at me. Nothing was directed at him. Eventually, he spoke up and made it clear he was the CEO. It was then that my grandmother's words, “clothes maketh the man,” came to mind, and I totally understood the context.

Experiences like this solidified my views on how my dress code would be perceived in the workplace. For me, formal attire would always be the safest and most professional choice. But is that still the case?

I've watched this dynamic shift firsthand. I've seen the positives that come with the modern 'work casual' dress code and how it positively impacts workplace culture. It’s clear that this more relaxed approach has its advantages.

So where do I stand now?

The relationship between dress codes, morale, and productivity is complex. Some studies indicate that more casual dress codes improve employee morale. For instance, a survey of human resources professionals revealed that approximately 65% believed casual dress codes enhance morale. However, the same study found that productivity outcomes varied based on company size (Howlett et al., 2013).

In companies with 26 to 100 employees, productivity slightly decreased as dress codes became more casual. Whereas in larger companies (101 to 500 employees), about half of the respondents observed no change in productivity, while approximately 40% noted improvements. Yet, for companies with over 1,000 employees, opinions were divided, with some reporting no effect and others noting productivity gains (Martin, 2020).

These findings suggest that while casual dress can boost morale, its impact on productivity may depend on organisational size and culture (Sabharwal, 2022).

Attire significantly influences perceptions of professionalism and ethical behaviour. Research indicates that individuals dressed in casual attire are perceived as less ethical compared to those in business casual or formal attire (Oh & Park, 2023). This perception is, however, balanced by the appropriateness of the attire within the given context. Therefore, while casual dress codes offer comfort and may enhance morale, organisations should consider how such policies might affect perceptions of professionalism both internally and externally (Furnham et al., 2013).

Gender plays a role in preferences for workplace attire. Studies have found that women tend to prefer dressing more formally at work, whereas men often lean towards casual clothing. These differences may stem from societal expectations and the varying impact of attire on career advancement perceptions for men and women (Howlett et al., 2013).

Conclusion

The evolution from suits to casual dress codes in the workplace reflects changes in societal norms and organisational cultures. While casual attire can enhance employee morale and comfort, its effects on productivity and perceptions of professionalism are nuanced and may vary based on company size, industry, and existing cultural dynamics.

As a final note, this old fogey was pulled kicking and screaming into current norms and now dresses appropriately, but I still can’t go as far as jeans, T-shirts, and trainers at work.

1.     Peluchette, J., Karl, K. & Rust, K., 2006. Dressing to impress: Beliefs and attitudes regarding workplace attire. Journal of Business and Psychology, 21(1), pp.45–63. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-005-9022-1.

2.     Brower, T., 2023. The End of the Dress Code: What to Wear for Work Now. Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2023/03/26/the-end-of-the-dress-code-what-to-wear-for-work-now/.

3.     Frith, H. & Gleeson, K., 2004. Clothing and Embodiment: Men Managing Body Image and Identity at Work. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 5(1), pp.40–48. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1037/1524-9220.5.1.40.

4.     Furnham, A., Chan, P. S. & Wilson, E., 2013. What to wear? The influence of attire on the perceived professionalism and competence of individuals. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 43(9), pp.1838–1850. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12136.

5.     Oh, S. K. & Park, H. J., 2023. Clothing Appropriateness at Work: Effects on Ethical Judgment and Impression Formation. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1034011. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1034011.

6.     Martin, L. J., 2020. Dress Codes in the Workplace: Effects on Organizational Culture. Central College Writing Anthology. Available at: https://central.edu/writing-anthology/2019/06/04/dress-codes-in-the-workplace-effects-on-organizational-culture/.

7.     Howlett, N., Pine, K. J., Orakçıoğlu, I. & Fletcher, B. C., 2013. The influence of clothing on first impressions: Rapid and positive responses to minor changes in male attire. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, 17(1), pp.38–48. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/13612021311305128.

8.     Sabharwal, M., 2022. What Does Your Outfit Say About You? Analyzing Dress Codes in Public Organizations. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 42(3), pp.480–504. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734371X211057721.