'Corporate apparel' - the term brings to mind images of conservative business suits and plain ties, as well as conservative skirts and formal blouses, with very formal-looking accessories. This, however, is fast changing. Corporate apparel is no longer boring or staid, but it is now trendier, more colourful and more comfortable. This article seeks to explore the evolution of corporate apparel as well as the trends that are emerging in the same all over the world.

Evolution of Corporate Apparel

The traditional clothing that has always been accepted as corporate attire consists of a button down shirt and a formal skirt or trousers for women. For males, formal trousers and button-down shirts are the most preferred traditional corporate garb. Business suits for both men and women are also acceptable, generally with the inclusion of a tie in case of men. In case of skirts and suits, plain ones in dark colours are considered acceptable. Talking about formal shirts, plain shirts in light colours as well as those with stripes and checks are the most preferred. In India, the salwar kameez and saree are very widely preferred by working women, and it is largely accepted as corporate attire.

The concept of 'Casual Fridays' emerged in the late 1950s, initiated by USA and Canada. People started dressing in casual clothes instead of traditional workwear on Fridays. Over time, this trend got modified, and different organizations began setting up different days on which their employees could wear casual clothes to work.

It was in the 1970s that the concept of 'business casuals' emerged. However, it became really popular only in the 1990s. Business casuals convey that business is not all about seriousness and being highly formal, but one can feel comfortable and at home as well at work. There is no fixed look for business casual; the look of casual business clothes differs from one organization to another. It is necessary that business casuals be less formal than the traditional suit-tie-and-business-shirt office wear and should be neat. At the same time, it should not be too casual. It should suit the kind of atmosphere of the organization. Business casuals are very much in in the world of work clothes today. There are a few organizations, however, that still prefer to stick to traditional formal work wear.

Corporate Apparel Prerequisites

Whether an organization adopts a highly traditional approach to clothing for their staff or a more relaxed one, there are a few general prerequisites for selecting a particular garment as corporate apparel. These can be stated as under:

• 'Decency' and not 'fashion' is the first priority in case of corporate apparel. Business clothing, especially business casuals, has to strike the right balance between comfort and decorum. At the same time, it has to look smart.


• Usually, in organizations where there is no company-specific workwear provided, a formal dressing style is adopted.


• Corporate apparel need not be very expensive, but it should be clean and well maintained. It should be free of wrinkles.


• Corporate apparel should be a reflection of a person's job profile. For instance, the apparel for a manager should be designed in a different manner from that for his subordinates.


• The apparel selected for work should suit the climate of the place where the organization is located.


• Corporate apparel should be suitable to the kind of atmosphere prevalent within the organization.


• Comfort is a very important aspect of corporate apparel. The fabric and the pattern used should be such that it provides comfort to the wearer.


• Accessories used along with corporate apparel, such as jewellery and wristwatches, should be subtle and not attract attention.