How long before the suit and tie are dead and gone?

[Kermit power]

I work in the more conservative end of the IT industry. When I joined the company ten years ago, everyone wore a suit and tie in any office likely to see a customer. When my father worked for the same company, they actually had the colour of their suits, shirts and ties in the contract of employment.

I now can't remember the last time I wore a tie. I went to a customer meeting last week with another pretty traditional company, and just one person out of eight in the room was wearing one.

Increasingly, as well, suits are a thing of the past, and I think working from home and video-conferencing is accelerating this. After all, if you've interacted with a client when you're both sat at home in T-shirts, why would you bother putting on a shirt, tie and suit to meet them in one of your offices?

Of course some people actually like wearing a suit, and that's great for them, but the vast majority of people I know really dislike them, and only wear them because that's what custom dictates.

How long do we think it is before they'll be considered a completely anachronistic foible in the workplace in the way that a bowler hat would be today?

[Simpo Two]

If you'd get married in jeans and a T-shirt, carry on. But somehow you have to distinguish between important things and non-important things. If you feel your work only warrants scruffy, then unless you're an arty-farty or a mechanic, carry on. And you you won't even have to change when you get home, you can just slob about in your work jeans and work T-shirt.

[Kermit power]

Simpo Two said:

If you'd get married in jeans and a T-shirt, carry on. But somehow you have to distinguish between important things and non-important things. If you feel your work only warrants scruffy, then unless you're an arty-farty or a mechanic, carry on. And you you won't even have to change when you get home, you can just slob about in your work jeans and work T-shirt.

If you only classify clothing into "scruffy" or "a suit", that just suggests a staggering lack of imagination, surely?

[Jag_NE]

Simpo Two said:

If you'd get married in jeans and a T-shirt, carry on. But somehow you have to distinguish between important things and non-important things. If you feel your work only warrants scruffy, then unless you're an arty-farty or a mechanic, carry on. And you you won't even have to change when you get home, you can just slob about in your work jeans and work T-shirt.

casual doesnt always equal scruffy. people dressed "smart" can often look very scruffy.

occasionally i miss wearing a suit and tie to work but with ref to the OP, i can see it gone in 20 years, from the vast majority of workplaces, at all levels. i work for a very large american company, the very top (male) brass make a point of not wearing ties unless absolutely neccasary.

[jammy-git]

I prefer to dress smart, but not in a full suit and usually not with a tie. In my industry (web design and development) I think a full suit and tie would give off too much of a corporate, dry, boring look for what is supposed to be a creative company.

[Sparkyhd]

1983 for me.

Have you lot been in a time warp?

[hyphen]

In an office wearing suits, everyone looks respectable and smart (ill-fitting clothing excepted).

Then every so often they do a charity dress down day, and those smart colleagues of yours turn out to be scruffs with no taste in clothes.

Ties need to go unless a formal event, but suits in the workplace are ok.

Most banking/investment (non-branch) are tie-less and many are shirt and trousers without blazers. Insurance seem to still love suits with ties though.

Edited by hyphen on Wednesday 28th June 22:30

[mac96]

I still work in a suit and most of my male colleagues will say that it saves the trouble of deciding what to wear!

I suspect suits are gradually fading from the workplace as work itself changes- while there are conventional offices, suits will survive for a bit yet.

[Vipers]

Our son in law went for an interview in the states for Microsoft about 10 years ago, wore open necked white shirt, suit trousers and shoes.

The guy he saw who was wearing shorts and sandals Smiled and said "Your a bit overdressed".

He got the job, and worked with some nerds who had been there with Bill Gates from day one.

He now works for Apple, clever sod.

[Jonnny]

Motor trade here.. We're still corporate colour suits and ties etc.. Hate it.

Decent shirt and trousers would be more fitting, ties are old fashioned.. They look stuffy imo.

[768]

Not soon enough.

I haven't worn one for most of the last 5 years (IT) but often work with people wearing them. I can't stand them and actively avoid roles that would require wearing one, something I couldn't afford to do at one point.

The used car finance guy next door is never without his.

[Hotel India]

Teacher here. Jacket and tie is required (not necessarily a full suit). I wouldn't feel right not wearing a tie in the classroom, especially as the students wear them.

However, I won't wear one for the regional Head of Department meeting I'm attending tomorrow - not sure what others will do, but I don't really care, as I'm not teaching. No doubt there will be some full on corporate suits and some stereotypically elbow-patched tween blazers.

[ch108]

I've never had to wear a suit for work, but for years in logistics offices, a shirt and tie were expected, even the drivers at one company were expected to wear a company colour shirt and tie.

The company I work for now is a factory, but I along with many others have an office based role. Shirt and tie was the normal attire until younger employees starting, did not wear a tie from day one. Nothing was said, so others (including me) stopped wearing them too. It was strange that the office gossips would be asking you for a reason why you were no longer wearing a tie, but had never questioned the younger employees who had never ever worn one. A bit of double standards there which were showed how daft the supposed dress code was in our place.

Then in the last year, head office decided to make it official, and say that wearing a tie was no longer required at any of our sites, and actually told certain managers who still wore one to stop.

If our company who have a reputation for being a bit stuffy are adopting this approach then I think it is only a matter of time before the suit is no longer required for most business use. For the office I think a formal shirt and trousers still look smart without being uncomfortable. There are some people when dressed in a suit and poorly tied tie, look scruffier than than someone in "business casual" dress code.

[menguin]

Simpo Two said:

If you'd get married in jeans and a T-shirt, carry on. But somehow you have to distinguish between important things and non-important things. If you feel your work only warrants scruffy, then unless you're an arty-farty or a mechanic, carry on. And you you won't even have to change when you get home, you can just slob about in your work jeans and work T-shirt.

If you determine the quality of work by whether someone is wearing a suit or t shirt and jeans then you are archaic and stupid.

In my industry (igaming) wearing a suit with a tie would be seen as a ludicrous and unnecessary thing. Smart trousers and a shirt? If you want. Jeans and a polo shirt? Sure. Shorts and a t-shirt? Why not.

So long as the work is getting done and to the level of quality expected then who gives a st what you're wearing? It's no different to schools not letting boys wear shorts when it's hot but letting girls wear skirts. Makes no sense.

And no, I didn't wear a suit for my wedding. I wore shorts and a shirt. It was a tropical wedding. Why on the one day that should be entirely about my wife and I and our happiness should I wear something that is totally out of character for me, And something that would make me feel uncomfortable?!

[iphonedyou]

This old chestnut again.

The oddly recurring theme is a sort of 'trying too hard' from people who don't wear suits and ties. A bizarre need to prove that I'm absolutely OK with this and in fact I prefer it - ha, suit wearers!

Constant references to quality of work irrespective of attire, time warps, odd appeals to popularity (everyone I know hates wearing them! - really?) and similar. Who cares; you enjoy your casual look and I'll still be happy enough wearing my suit.

Makes no odds.

[ajcj]

iphonedyou said:

This old chestnut again.

The oddly recurring theme is a sort of 'trying too hard' from people who don't wear suits and ties. A bizarre need to prove that I'm absolutely OK with this and in fact I prefer it - ha, suit wearers!

Constant references to quality of work irrespective of attire, time warps, odd appeals to popularity (everyone I know hates wearing them! - really?) and similar. Who cares; you enjoy your casual look and I'll still be happy enough wearing my suit.

Makes no odds.

This seems like the most sensible approach to me. I am in the office now, wearing jeans (smart black) and a good shirt (cufflinks). For a customer meeting, or an interview, I will put on a suit and tie for two reasons: it is a sign of respect to those you are meeting; and I feel sharper, smarter, and more professional when I wear it.

Why close yourself off from the pleasure of putting on a really well-made suit with a crisp shirt and good shoes, and knotting a silk tie? If you have taken care, and bought quality items, you will look taller, slimmer, and more assured, and feel it too.

If you don't feel that way, fair enough, but you are missing out on one of life's pleasures, and I'll bet you have never worn a really good suit.

[PurpleTurtle]

I like wearing a suit but we ditched them 3 yrs ago (IT in the motor industry). One bloke out of 100 steadfastly remains a full suit and tie merchant, just says he prefers it, fair do's.

Jeans and a smart shirt/polo shirt every day for me. I draw the line at chinos - can't bring myself to wear 'em.

Anyone other than the above bloke wearing a suit now in our office now is assumed to have been for an interview.

[boyse7en]

ajcj said:

iphonedyou said:

This old chestnut again.

The oddly recurring theme is a sort of 'trying too hard' from people who don't wear suits and ties. A bizarre need to prove that I'm absolutely OK with this and in fact I prefer it - ha, suit wearers!

Constant references to quality of work irrespective of attire, time warps, odd appeals to popularity (everyone I know hates wearing them! - really?) and similar. Who cares; you enjoy your casual look and I'll still be happy enough wearing my suit.

Makes no odds.

This seems like the most sensible approach to me. I am in the office now, wearing jeans (smart black) and a good shirt (cufflinks). For a customer meeting, or an interview, I will put on a suit and tie for two reasons: it is a sign of respect to those you are meeting; and I feel sharper, smarter, and more professional when I wear it.

Why close yourself off from the pleasure of putting on a really well-made suit with a crisp shirt and good shoes, and knotting a silk tie? If you have taken care, and bought quality items, you will look taller, slimmer, and more assured, and feel it too.

If you don't feel that way, fair enough, but you are missing out on one of life's pleasures, and I'll bet you have never worn a really good suit.

I don't think anyone was saying that a suit and tie combo should be banned in the workplace, just that is becoming increasing anachronistic.
What you wear for your job does present a certain image (and as most workplace interactions are very temporary or short-lived, first impressions are important).

Whatever your views on the stylistic virtues of the suit and tie, you cannot deny that they are less common, even in traditional office environments.

[HTP99]

We don't have to wear a suit, just trousers, white shirt and company tie and I hate it, it is uncomfortable and dated, I am customer facing and being in the motor trade I think customers would feel more relaxed, in an environment that quite alot of people feel intimidated in, if we were dressed in a less formal and more casual way.

The majority of us, including managers, want branded polo shirts or open neck short sleeve shirts, however the old school MD won't have any of it, I argue that I can purchase a £100k Tesla from a guy in a polo shirt, but I can't sell a £10k car in one, but it falls on deaf ears.

[meehaja]

I'm in the process of changing from not being allowed to wear suit and tie (bare below elbows, nothing around neck) to full suit and tie (customer facing, SMT, important high class image). It's weird to me as I wore a uniform for 15 years, and it feels like going back to uniform. That said, I like a suit and tie, I've always looked young for my age, and a well fitting suit and tie makes me at least feel like I look more distinguished and important!