Once upon a time, wearing anything to the office besides suits and ties was virtually unheard of. Yet now we see organizations embracing “casual Friday” as their everyday dress code. Today, @lornerubis and I unpack (pun intended!) how clothing can impact a culture and discuss whether it makes a difference in an organization.

Over the years, we’ve seen work dress codes evolve and take on various forms. Some organizations, like the technology companies who spearheaded casual dress, fully embrace jeans and t-shirts. Other workplaces, like financial and legal firms, still expect employees to wear more formal professional attire. However, many organizations find themselves stuck between these extremes.

But does dressing up produce better work? Maybe in some circumstances. Consider the airline industry – pilots wear professional suits. In some ways, this attire evokes feelings of discipline or orderliness. We believe that person in the crisp suit will perform all flight checks with the utmost diligence.

In a small way, clothing can affect your culture, because clothes are one way to express a culture. Culture, at its core, is made up of everything: clothes, environment, even how employees move through the office and set up their desks.

Dress codes should intentionally reflect how you want others to see your organization. We know that people can do great work no matter what they’re wearing, but dressing up can project a more impressive or competent image.

At the end of the day, there’s a time and place for everything. Some days, it may make sense to dress up, while other days it may be more practical to dress casually.

Here are our top three insights this week:

  1. Be intentional in your dress code. Consider what makes you feel good when you show up to work and contribute to your culture.
  2. Observe the dress codes around you. Ask yourself why those people wear what they do. What does it say about their organization?
  3. When visiting other organizations, know their dress code before you show up. Often, showing respect is about knowing what to wear.

Here’s to disrupting sameness and achieving #betterwork.

Lynette