For years we believed that it was necessary to either wear a suit, or at least smart trousers, a shirt, and a tie to be deemed professional. However, if the pandemic has proved anything, it’s that we are adaptable, and clothing does not make us more or less capable at our jobs. When COVID-19 hit and lockdown began, the number of people who worked remotely accelerated tenfold. People no longer were required to dress up to go to work, instead working from home in jeans and a top, or for some people they even were successful working in their pyjamas or loungewear.
More Comfortable
If anything, forcing yourself to wear a suit or smart dress can be uncomfortable, tight, and distracting. Wearing clothes that you feel at home in, will allow you to concentrate more on your work, resulting in more productivity. A casual work attire can also help people feel more confident and happier in how they look. This will help them feel comfortable when interacting with others, instead of feeling self-conscious. A relaxed dress code allows for more freedom for your employees. As long as they don’t wear anything offensive to others, they should be able to wear what is comfortable for them.
Cost
Suits can be expensive, especially if you’re required to get a full set. Some people cannot afford or don’t want to spend their money on their work uniform. It doesn’t contribute to the level of their work, and for most professionals, they will never wear the suit for anything else. If someone is worrying about money because they’ve spent all theirs on looking ‘professional’ for their work, they will not be focused on what actually matters: the job at hand.
Reputation
Stereotypically, people may think of lawyers as being difficult to relate to, perhaps even cold. They cannot connect with them, especially when they are wearing designer suits and dresses, and their clients usually wear jeans and a t-shirt. Lawyers are generally well paid, but their job is about working with people. Taking a more casual, or smart casual approach will help make lawyers more appealing to the public, without jeopardising their work.
Great lawyers are made because of their hard work and devotion to their clients. It does not matter what they are wearing, and ultimately, it can have more of a negative effect on their work and reputation. It has been proven that people can be professional and productive whilst wearing their own clothes, so it is time to ditch the formal dress codes and wear something casual and comfortable whilst at work.