Clothes make the man. Then as now.
When it becomes important, clothing plays a supporting role. In this age of casual dress, the dress code is more subtly defined, but is more important than ever. Dress for Success.
The Cat Walk of the G7 Summit in Cornwall
The vote at the G7 summit in Cornwall could not have been clearer. Casual Dress? Wrong. The official summit picture of the G7 leaders shows a suit and tie for the men and a blazer and pants for the women.
Style models?
Not all.
Many a suit had clearly become too tight and also the variant too big, completely shapeless and unironed was represented. Some, however, knew how to use cut of their clothes, colors and fabric qualities so perfectly that it became clear on all screens.
Power Dressing?
Definitely yes.
Lack of individualism?
Not at all. Some scored highly individually with perfect shirts, pocket squares, cufflinks and good footwear in addition to color choices.
“Power dressing has never gone out of style, but is defined differently in women’s fashion today”
says Olivia Dahlem, owner of Quartier Frau in Frankfurt am Main, which offers sustainable business fashion combined with matching accessories and organic cosmetics for women who use clothing very consciously in their professions to underline their individuality and professionalism.
Olivia Dahlem, owner of Quartier Frau, Frankfurt am Main
Knowing that in many companies, industries and organizations, clothing is still an important factor in being accepted and identified.
Uniforms in the military, police, and many other institutions have an obvious statement and coding. In other organizations, dress codes are more subtle, but no less important.
The right clothes strengthens self-confidence
Well-chosen clothing strengthens self-confidence and is thus the most important prerequisite for radiating authority and being successful.
Olivia Dahlem sees this change very often when women dare to appear with individualism and elegance, away from the relatively standardized one-size-fits-all look.
For the HSBC Bank in Düsseldorf, she had the opportunity to advise and dress some female employees in terms of clothing as part of the Fashion Revolution Night.
The feedback from colleagues and bosses was very positive. A look that radiated individualism and yet did not violate the unwritten rules of a major bank, let the women appear confident, feminine and competent without feeling like they were dressing themselves up.
Individualism without breaking the rules
This can be done through the choice of colors, cuts and accessories. A high quality of fabric and the right fit also helps to cut a good figure for decades. This benefits the important issue of sustainability.
Olivia Dahlem on the occasion of a lecture in the run-up to the Frankfurt Fashion Week 2021
Casual dress at the video conference? Not in Australia.
The dress code, which the Australian Department of Home Affairs also wanted to introduce for video conferences, led to an outcry in a country where casual dress is a big issue.
Swimming trunks and flip flops are worn by almost everyone in Australia. The Australian Prime Minister also combined it with a business shirt and blue blazer for a photo on his Instagram account. Horst Seehofer would have made it into all the headlines.
Sneakers, ripped jeans, polo shirts, sleeveless blouses or dresses, shorts, bathing shoes and UGGs, all of which the Ministry of the Interior no longer wants to see on its employees.
Even if they sit in front of the screen in the home office to participate in video conferences, closed business shoes and long sleeves were defined as the dress code for both men and women employees.
The outcry Down Under was great
One politician demonstratively removed her jacket on camera during a TV interview to reveal the sleeveless top underneath and, like many, makes the argument, “Aren’t there more important issues?”
The Ministry of the Interior had to withdraw the dress code because it had not previously been agreed with employee representatives.
The unwritten law
Goldmann Sachs and UBS were also heavily criticized when they introduced an updated dress code.
Many outraged voices overlook the unwritten law that those who dress today for tomorrow’s job are promoted within the Group.
This is more true than ever, during and after the pandemic.
A dress code is not an iron law but a guide to what the company expects from its employees if they want to be successful there.
Make no mistake
There are industries in which the unwritten law is: casual clothing is mandatory. Often, the tone behind the scenes is especially cool in places where casual, feel-good workplace attire is mandatory. Cool as ice.
Even the editors of fashion magazines can continue to dream and claim that the transparent blouse and Birkenstocks are now suitable for any board meeting. This only applies if you are chairing the board meeting yourself.
For everyone else, dress for the job you want.
