Now we are in June and temperatures are reaching ‘roasted commuter’ point on the trains, it is time for the powers that be to exercise a little common sense (and mercy) by declaring short sleeves all round. Not so, according to new research done by the Aziz corporation, an executive consultancy that conducted a survey into current attitudes to work attire.



The survey reveals a clear move away from casual dressing as business becomes more formal in the post dot.com era. The research encompassed the views of 100 company directors – from predominantly blue chip companies – and showed that casual dressing is falling out of favour.



Thirty seven per cent of directors now require staff to wear formal outfits at all times, which represents an 8 per cent increase on last year. Only 31 per cent of UK businesses now allow staff to dress casually at all times, 10 per cent less than in 2000. Unsurprisingly, finance companies came out on top in the poll, with 80 per cent saying that staff should be formally dressed at all times, regardless of whether they are meeting clients or not.



Chairman, Khalid Aziz, commented:



“Although it is obviously important that you feel comfortable in what you wear to the office, your clothes must also project the right image. While being more smartly dressed does not necessarily mean that you are better at your job, there is no doubt that the more formal the attire, the more seriously people are taken.”



Interestingly enough the survey also found that male directors were happier to permit mini-skirts in the office than their female counterparts. 37 per cent of men said they were perfectly acceptable in a business situation as opposed to 15 per cent of women. How bizarre!