Has 2018 marked the end of the business suit?

Women are benefitting since ditching trouser suits and shoulder pads

This could be the year we see an end to traditional business attire, according to new research by Travelodge. Examining the modern workplace, Brits are more likely to be found sporting jeans and trainers than a full suit, with around 70% preferring to dress comfortably.

The study revealed that just one in 10 employees are expected to wear a suit to work, with over half of workers believing casual dress code is more affordable and takes less upkeep and takes the pressure off having to always look your best. 43% went as far as to believe the business suit no longer has a place in the office and if they saw a colleague wearing a suit to work they would stick out like a sore thumb.

While there has been a more dramatic shift in male work attire, women have adapted their look too amid the trend for casual work clothes, with shoulder-pad power suits being replaced with skinny jeans, a smart jacket, a t-shirt or top and a pair of flats. The lack of a strictly enforced dress code is being seen by specialists as a major boost for gender equality, with women given the same opportunity to present themselves as their male colleagues.

“In the past, women had to dress like men to reach senior positions in the workplace,” explained Professor Karen Pine, psychologist at Hertfordshire University. “Now they can dress as they like and assert their individuality through their work attire, without fear of bumping up against the glass ceiling.”

The articles of clothing men have admitting to abandoning in the workplace included the faithful tie and pocket square, while women have scrapped the skirt suit and bow for a more modern look, citing business icons as influencing their decisions. Men have admitted to following in the footsteps of tech innovators Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs’ dressed-down looks, while women are most likely to take inspiration from West Ham and the Apprentice’s Karen Brady CBE and mega-star Oprah Winfrey.

“Over the last three decades, we have experienced a big movement in the workplace, where traditions and protocols have fallen enormously,” continued Professor Pine. “Having a dress-down Friday every day enables workers to be independent, and showcase their personality and attributes by how they dress rather than the position they hold, which leads to stronger bonds between co-workers and removes barriers, enabling everyone to get on with their jobs.”

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