Are people starting to dress more smartly again?

[Sandysoles]

Just wondering really - I rarely go into the city so don’t see the office types. Has the post-covid relaxed look gone? Are people who are no longer wfh getting their smart togs back out?

Not that I’m seeing - only older folk like me (40s) with any hint of a heel and definitely much more relaxed than pre Covid. But people do look smart - wish I could have dressed like them at their age!

No I think the opposite.

I actually miss proper formal dress.

Possibly. One of our female trainees is always very smart. Not in a pre-Covid heels way but cropped jacket, tailored trousers, shortish tailored skirts, opaque tights and patent ballet pumps or Mary Janes. I've never seen her in jeans or trainers.

Oh and lots and lots of dresses, all ages and all career levels.

I haven't seen signs of it yet but I really hope so.

I imagine it will happen at some point, just because fashion simply doesn’t work unless new things become ‘current’, but I don’t see any signs of it yet. But I work in a field where ‘business wear’ was never a thing, and where you might see women wearing wide trousers and shirts/jumpers, Cos dresses, skirts and biker boots, jeans and interesting knitwear etc. Not tracksuit bottoms or gym gear.

What @Rerrin said- the fashion industry can’t survive if they don’t persuade us to about-turn every few years. It will be interesting to see how far they manage it in future, though. I’ve read some very interesting stuff recently about one of the reasons “fashion” is losing its grip and women are far less concerned about keeping up with the latest looks is that it now moves so fast that anyone who isn’t an influencer, and who actually has to pay for clothes, can’t hope to keep up so many of us have given up.

I really want a pair of kittens

Yes! I've seen some smart dresses in Zara recently and thought this.

I think it's a bit of both! I am drawn to more formal clothes and silhouettes at the moment. I'm not sure if that's because I'm being pushed that way by trends or because of where I am in my life/career. I'm enjoying it although it's a very different look than when I was working 10/15 years ago. And I wear more comfortable shoes.

What I am very much noticing though is a lack of awareness, if that's the right word, of the appropriateness or otherwise of clothes. My old firm had a 'dress for your day' policy way before Covid which seemed to work well. Post Covid, I think some people struggle to realise that there are times when, for a myriad of reasons, it's appropriate to dress more formally. Indeed, there are also times when it's appropriate to dress less formally. That level of judgement seems to be missing at times. 90% of the time, it doesn't matter but three are occasions when it does.

I think it’s creeping back in but is not that noticeable yet. In the financial district in london I’m seeing more heels and suits again (albeit fairly relaxed ones).

I totally welcome it. I feel like I’ve been slouching around since Covid and that we’ve all gone into this weird mode where we can’t really be arsed with anything. Dressing smartly again would make me feel more optimistic but doesn’t really work when I am almost exclusively wfh!

Yeah, right

When I see men forcing their feet into uncomfortable shoes, which throw out their whole body alignment and shorten their calf muscles... oh, wait.

That just doesn't happen.

I think suits and kitten heels or pointed heel boots and shoes are coming back, and it’s becoming smarter without excessively corporate in the workplace. Dresses and trainers are apparently now less on trend if you read articles but plenty still wearing them!

Yes I think so - it started with boots becoming more delicate and refined: slimmer fit, pointed toes, kitten heels, thinner soles, then sling back kitten heels became totally mainstream

there’s more tailoring and structure and just a generally smarter vibe, I’m really enjoying it 😊

I think so yes but not to the level of smart it was 10-15 years ago. I have worked in the same setting for almost 15 years and when I first started work I wore pencil skirts, shirts, heels to work. Now I wouldn't dream of wearing those clothes to work. I wear wide trousers, casual top and trainers. I did prefer the smarter tailored look so would welcome it back in a minute! Maybe not the heels though!

I don't know if it's on trend or not but I've recently changed to an office role (after five years of WFH+ mat leave) and I'm really enjoying dressing up. I wear button up shirts, wool tailored trousers and brogues. Not quite pre-covid times, as I tend to wear a cardigan instead of a blazer over the top, and I've never worn heels.

Completely agree with you on that. I interviewed half a dozen people recently, and the one person who had put a jacket on, even though she was at home, got extra points for it because it just demonstrated how seriously she was taking the process. Whereas I’ve had other people who think it’s ok to stop to talk to their dog, or answer the door. In the middle of a bloody interview!

I always thought men got the short straw in business wear. Absolutely no flexibility in warm weather, and a noose around their neck all year round. Even airlines had pulled back on mandatory heel wearing for women, smart flats have been acceptable long before covid.