The Future of dressing up
Our society, perhaps I can say the whole world, is getting more and more casual. It raises the question about the future of dressing, more in case dressing up for events. And not just events, in times of home office and zoom meetings, it is more than vital to evaluate the situation. And I wrote this post as my humble opinion and insight into this matter.
I'll try to keep it short (something I don't manage to succeed in lately) and to the point. Of course, I am open to discussion, should anyone desired to start talking about specific topics.
I won't be talking about stubborn supporters of wearing sweatpants all day and night long. I highly presume this is not the blog for them, nor any such person is reading my posts. As I write a blog for people who like to dress up (at least from time to time) and they realise the value of quality garments in term of lasting.
I am delighted that some authors on their blogs already opened this subject, and I would like to add a few of my points to it.
However, you may say that it is entirely about your comfort in a home; it's clear, as proven in many ways, that clothes have a strong influence on our productivity. If you wear a shirt and smart trousers, you will likely be more productive than in your pyjamas. Obviously, our brain is still in "pyjama" mode when we're wearing pyjamas, and our work clothes allow our brains to think as we were in a job.
A home clothes are truly not home-office clothes… Ph.: Ondra Sustik
No one will blame you if you will not wearing suit trousers, but flannel in winter and cotton chinos when warmer seems to be a good start. Another thing is, if you used to like to dress nicely before any lockdowns, I assume you will not be satisfied with a dirty t-shirt from yesterdays lunch. I continuously look for ways of dressing myself home and paying attention to what I wear, even when walking to a park for a short walk.
At home, I keep sane, mostly thanks to my Colhay's shawl-collar cardigan and Pantherella socks in which I feel comfortable. And for a walk, well do you know saying "Dress like you are going to meet someone very interesting today"? Words to live by now. Plus, there is nothing wrong to wear a flannel suit or cashmere coat for a walk. It's comfortable just as sweatpants (yes, really is) and much warmer than cotton in loose shape.
Shirt and cotton chinos are undoubtedly comfortable and suitable for most jobs, whether working at the office (not any formal job) or working at home-office.
Plus, keep yourself in training for the time when we will start meeting again. I've been reading a book for a while about attention, it is by Czech executive in big companies and shows you where to put your attention in order to achieve excellent results in everything you want. In the book, he said that he was about to close a huge deal with another company; the only thing that's left was to meet their executive and agree with him.
However, their executive seemed not to agree with pretty much anything. Time passed by, he invited him out for dinner to speak informally, and finally, he closed the deal, and they became great friends. Sometime later, he couldn't resist and asked him why he seemed so opposed to everything when, in fact, he offered him a great deal, and both companies profit from it now. "Well, I was so mad at you. I prepared in a formal way, dressed up nicely, and then saw I am meeting with a guy wearing a hoodie and dirty shoes. The only thing I could think of back then was that I mean so little to you that you can't even put on a shirt."
This response was a big slap for our author. In a book, he says, "I was never in this situation before, and I realised that he is correct. We were closing a deal worth millions, and I led the negotiations in a hoodie. Furthermore, I was truly disrespectful, and that was something I did not intend to be, nor I wanted to."
Perhaps you're saying that it is not your case. Surely if you are dealing with clients, there are certain dressing "rules" that you should follow. And it doesn't always mean a suit. In a case we talked about, a simple shirt and leather shoes would do perfectly. Even if you don't see it that way, you never know who you can insult, and it doesn't mean you wanted to.
It pays off to pay attention to what garments you are choosing.
So think twice before attending any meeting with a client, potential employer, and I bet that even a co-worker can be angry if he puts effort in dressing up for the office while some regularly don't care about it. And even if you work for yourself with no colleagues or employer, it is a sign of how much you value yourself and what perception of others you want to have.
Furthermore, there will always be events, such occasions as the visit of an evening opera (I hope they will be back soon), which will require you to wear some of your finest clothes in your wardrobe. Even though you're not a fan of a theatre - weddings, funerals, promotions or job interviews are just a few of them that comes to my mind. Be mindful of these and be humble and respectful. Do not underestimate the influence your appearance can have. (But mind your manners too..!)
Yours Sincerely,
Denis
