'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.
