Informality in the workplace has been brought about by a new culture of working from home and video conference. The CEO sets the tone for their company. Can they dress down a little?
Louise O'Shea, CEO of insurance comparison site Confused.com, says that she doesn't need to dress smart for work every day.
She says that she does it because she enjoys it. Putting on some of my best workwear and doing my hair and makeup before I go to work has become a sort of personal ritual for me, allowing me to go from one state of mind to another.
The head of an advertising agency thinks so. She thinks CEOs can be more informal.
Everyone's dress code has changed as a result of the Pandemic. If I'm going to give a speech in a large room, I like to feel the energy in my clothes.
Putting lipstick on is one of the things that makes me feel confident.
Many CEOs are having a wardrobe dilemma. In a world that is more open to informality, how do you present yourself for business? Is it possible that those in charge are ready to change their wardrobe?
Peter Done isn't ready to give up his job just yet.
He wears a suit to work every day. It shows a certain standard that I have set for myself. It's up to me to set an example. I should do the same thing if I expect employees to dress well.
Done believes that dressing professionally puts you in a better frame of mind for work, since employees are allowed to dress in a more casual style that used to be associated with the tech sector.
He believes that it is a good practice to dress smart. Customer service leaves people with a good impression, showing that you care and want them to return.
If someone were to show up to a meeting wearing ripped jeans or flipflops, that shows you don't care. You only have a single chance to make a good first impression.
According to Ben Whitter, head of employee coaching and consulting firm HEX Organization, the level of informality has increased as a result of the swine flu.
He says that CEOs want to appear to be more human and not just a robot. We can have confidence in someone who is comfortable around us.
He believes that the suit and tie combination was a bad brand before the swine flu, thanks to a lot of high-profile stories like the MPs' expenses scandal, the Enron collapse, and the 2008 banking crisis.
He says that the suit is the uniform of a trustworthy person.
Peter Done doesn't agree with this. He says that the credibility of the individual is what matters.
What should a leader want to be seen as?
Steven Bartlett promised when he joined the Dragons' Den panel that he wouldn't wear a suit.
He wants to represent a new breed of business leaders that are true to themselves and do not stand on ceremony.
Depending on the size of the company, the CEO's role and expectations can be vastly different. Their choice of clothing could be affected by this.
Smaller start-ups don't usually need to stand out from the crowd, but they do need to impress potential clients and investors quickly.
A successful side hustle has turned into a small business for the man.
He works out of a large co-working space where it's hard to find a suit and tie.
He says that the lockdown almost stripped everyone down to their comfort essentials and that we all began to discover a new level of appropriate dress code.
It poses a dilemma for him when he is about to meet a new person.
If I had to meet an investor or partner, I would feel weird rocking up in my t-shirt. I would be happy if she wore one as well.
Is the move to informal dressing at the top equal for men and women?
It is argued that it is easier for male CEOs to adopt this style.
Louise O'Shea says that the pressures for women are high.
When I do broadcast interviews, people make comments about my appearance. I had conversations with my male counterparts about whether or not this would happen to them.
She wondered what the reaction would be if she didn't do her makeup or brush her hair. Is it possible that I would be known as the CEO who never made an effort, or the CEO who was prepared to challenge old expectations?
Some people disagree that the odds are against women in this area.
The shift to casual could be positive for women. You could argue that women have more opportunities than men because they wear more diverse clothes and have more freedom to express themselves.
It is nice to be remembered. There are so many images that people are interested in.
Sara Simmonds, a former fashion entrepreneur who now coaches CEOs across different sectors, thinks women and men are judged equally in terms of appearance.
"We only want to do business with those we trust, and that first impression comes from what you wear and how you present yourself," she says.
She says that you still have to pay attention to what you wear.
First impressions still count even though formal dressing can set your clients at ease. Trainers that are clean and crisp are important. You need to have a style and stick with it if you want to add something to this.
Your clothes are a weapon.
The producer of CEO Secrets, Dougal Shaw, has a verified account on the social networking site.
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