Clothes maketh the man, goes the old dictum. And in corporate India, that often seems to be the case.
According to a Reuters-Ipsos poll, Indians are the smartest-dressed office goers on the planet — 58% said they would dress smart for work compared to only 12% Hungarians. The general feeling in India is that the better you dress, the better you do at work.
Of course, we know that when we think we look good, we tend to act that way. But is there something else that the poll, conducted in 24 countries across the world, is trying to say about Indians? Perhaps that we are very formal when it comes to business or that we are extremely conscious that well-dressed people do better in life. Indian life is traditionally hierarchical, with several rules that determine our social status.
It could also mean that we are very fashion conscious and all this explosion of big-brand, high-street stores has had an effect on us. At least it has taken us away from terrible fashion faux pas like safari suits.
Of course, polls, like statistics, do not always fill in the big picture. Employers might, therefore, just be a bit wary of well-dressed employees and remember the other old dictum — appearances can be deceptive!
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