Tom Ford, a luxury clothing designer, made a prediction in 1999 about how technology would affect the way people dress in not so distant future.
“Life is changing. He said that we are working more at home and more on our computers, which is a positive sign for the future. Many people believe fashion will die simply because they’re at home. It doesn’t matter if you wear your underwear and a T shirt to work. Who cares? Who will see you?”
Did his prediction come true during the COVID-19 epidemic? You’re not the only one who feels this way.
Many people worked remotely during the pandemic lockdown. Companies’ formal dress codes were dissolved, and employees in offices no longer had to wear fancy clothes. Sweats replaced slacks. People ditched heels. The T-shirt became the dominant fashion item.
Many of these workers are now returning to work, so we may be entering a new era in work wear. The question is: What should you wear to work?
NPR’s Morning Edition interviewed people who were navigating this question as part of NPR’s Work Life series. They include Jeremy Gonzalez (27), who began working on Capitol Hill in November.
He said that he wore a suit and tie when he first began coming in. After a series of pandemics and a fluctuating schedule, he now prefers to wear jeans and a button down or a poloshirt.
Others in politics are also noticeably downsizing.
One thing was peculiar when the leaders of the Group of Seven countries took their group photo last month in Germany. They all threw out their ties. This was the first time in 40-years that a G-7 portrait was taken sans ties. It could also be seen as a sign that formal dress codes are being relaxed.
Looser dress codes have made their way into Wall Street, a notoriously formal workplace culture. Traditionally, suits were the only option for men.
Ken Giddon, whose family owns Rothman’s, a Manhattan men’s shop, says that confusion is the operative word. “People don’t really know what to do.”
He noticed that people are less sure what to wear when there are fewer offices.
Do you wear dress slacks to the office? Do you wear khakis? Can you wear jeans?” He said. “Nobody has ever drawn the line and no one knows the right answer.”
He advises that you start with a dress trouser or blazer and then assess the atmosphere in the office. Then, go from there.
Robin Givhan, Washington Post senior critic at-large, agrees that aEUR” is a bit more dressy.
She said, “What I have noticed is that there is a real return to fashion with a capital F.” It’s something that people who love it will continue to love. It’s about setting boundaries again. The clothes you wear out in the world are the clothes you wear, and then there are the clothes you use for your leisure time or downtime.
Givhan believes that comfort will remain a top priority.
Givhan stated that she is not expecting a return to constricting shoes or serious heels. “I see a lot of flats in offices as well as on runways.
Not everyone enjoys wearing formal attire. Givhan says that not everyone desires the same level of separation between professional and personal selves.
She said that for some people, it can be very invigorating to have the fullness of their personality with you wherever you go. “I think there were other people who felt frustrated that their workday didn’t seem to end. It just seemed like it was all one big blurry mush of being constantly online.”
Just like Tom Ford had predicted.
Jeevika Verma was the one who produced the radio version and Rachel Treisman edited the web version.
