Is office dress code dead? Experts weigh in

'Casual Friday’ seems to have trumped power dressing. In the era of the ‘flat shoe’ uproars, gender equality and fluidity and hoodie-donning billionaires, it’s more about asserting your personal style than being a strict sartorial conformist. The New York City Commission on Human Rights announced new guidelines for the municipal human rights law that expressly prohibited “enforcing dress codes, uniforms, and grooming standards that impose different requirements based on sex or gender.” Mark Zuckerberg, for example, is on the record as saying he dons the same gray T-shirt every day so that he can focus his energy on other decisions. Is personal expression is going to trump the desire to create a corporate identity? How has this power shift impacted the Indian culture?

Anita Dongre Designer

The definition of corporate has changed

Designer Anita Dongre opines that fashion has always been about personal expression. “The language and nuances change with time and generations. The definition of corporate has changed. Because the culture of the word corporate itself has seen a sea change. From a stiff western idea of corporate to the easier start-up culture, from antiquated views of women needing to be like men and projecting masculine codes at work to being strong voices and still retaining their natural feminine self. So the so-called corporate identity itself has altered. One can take a creative approach to dressing in ‘work’ mode, even if they’re wearing jeans. It’s very individualistic. Experimenting with outfits that help you feel more like yourself is key.”

Anita’s popular label, AND was conceived with the very concept of providing women elegant office-to-evening staple that can transition from work to play in a fashionable flash. “Think high waist skirts, shift dresses, culottes and flared pants, a combination of separates in prints as well as solids, and matching separates. Today, women are remarkable professionals who have made it to the top in all areas of business, the arts, sports, culture, science and more. So, yes AND is definitely doing well in the workspace. Feeling good today is a powerful component of the toolkit at work. Earlier, work wear for women were stiff versions of men’s work wear, restricted to suits, fitted pencil skirts, and buttoned-up jackets. As a brand, AND has changed the notion of corporate wear and introduced easy feminine work wear.”

She adds, “Power dressing has always been a western concept, whereas we as a country, have always been about casual dressing. It’s just that we have more women going out and working today. For different mindsets, my brand Global Desi, which is a sharp contrast to AND, has also changed the way women dress. So, I don’t think there has been any big shift as such.”

Anupam Chakrabarty MD, Lindstrom India

‘The workwear must reflect the spirit of the organisation, whether it is formal or casual’

Anupam Chakrabarty, MD, Lindstrom India a work wear services company feels that while it is essential for employees to express themselves, it is also imperative to have a common ideal while working in a group with others. “Being a workwear services company we cater to several industries and it is extremely important for us to maintain a proper workwear regime in order to safeguard our as well as our client’s employees from health and hygiene issues. At the production level, there is a set list of garments and workwear that the employees wear where the products are designed along keeping in mind working conditions as well as user level convenience. However, at the corporate level the dressing could be relaxed but with branding to build the sense of corporate identity and image building of the organisation itself. We believe that potential clients would be happier to interact with a person in let’s say a best in class hospital/airport/retail showrooms in clean corporate branded uniform rather than someone in a casual individual workwear,” he says.

Casual dressing in corporate scene en vogue

Anupam adds, “Adoption of casual dressing in the corporates have been in vogue for some time now but there are other sectors or corporates, who are very particular about their dress code. A good balance needs to be achieved between having a uniform dress code to enhance team spirit in an organisation, improve hygiene and health amongst employees with a few exceptions to enjoy free days for casual dressing. Most organisations in India have not put adequate thought behind the value that a workwear can create and it is only now that people have started realising that this could be a very simple tool not just for creating team bonding and spirit but also creating a brand image. The idea is that when employees have the right kind of workwear they feel more satisfied thus improving the creation of excellent customer experiences.”

Istayak Ansari Co-founder and Director Lloyds Luxuries Ltd

Your first impression becomes your everlasting impression

Istayak Ansari, Co-founder,and Director Lloyds Luxuries Ltd says, “Over time, entrepreneurs believe in dressing in such a way that brings out and reflects their personality rather than dressing to meet the gender stereotypes. In fact, personal expression creates unique, one-of-a-kind and everlasting impressions as you are what you wear. I believe it makes everyone stand apart and hence creates a distinct corporate identity. Your first impression becomes your everlasting impression. As Mark Zuckerberg says, it draws focus and attention to the bigger and greater decisions. You can work faster, better and finer and be you, all at the same time. I believe it has worked positively and can do wonders.”

Sonal Khatri, Corporate Fashion Stylist, MBD Stylebox feels that the world has become a glocal village, everyone has a shrine for their individualist needs and wants. “From classical music to rock and metal, from hippie-trucks to Rolls Royce, from a boho hut to home at moon – there are many factors. Moreover, the youth is taking an active part in politics. It’s an interesting time when society is slowly giving equal rights and freedom to men, women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders to be who they are.”