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Sacrificie Professionalism for Affordability?
With the cost of living on the rise, we are all finding ourselves with less income available for luxury goods.
The difficulty lies in determining where to decrease spending; unfortunately for the retail industry, cutting costs in the closet are on the rise. $120 Brooks Brothers and Jos. A. Bank dress shirts are being replaced with shirt and tie in a box combinations from less expensive retail chains.
Should businessmen be forced to sacrifice on comfort and quality to essentially put gas in their car and food on the table? Before Corporate America implements week long casual Fridays a number of companies are stepping in to preserve corporate professionalism.
One cuustom dress shirt provider, Hillhouse Tailors, has established a price point comparable to, but more cost efficient than, the competitions off the rack pricing. The benefit: the ultimate in fit and quality with a lesser need for replacement. With an online portal and on-site traveling sales teams, consumers can save time and money on fewer trips to retail locations.
The decision essentially lies in the hands of the consumer; purchase $35 shapeless dress shirts requiring bi-monthly replacement or take advantage of the growing trend affordable customization purchasing a smaller, longer lasting wardrobe individually crafted for a perfect fit.
No matter what the choice, as an industry, will retailers be able to accommodate the average businessman in an effort to maintain professionalism throughout Corporate America.
The difficulty lies in determining where to decrease spending; unfortunately for the retail industry, cutting costs in the closet are on the rise. $120 Brooks Brothers and Jos. A. Bank dress shirts are being replaced with shirt and tie in a box combinations from less expensive retail chains.
Should businessmen be forced to sacrifice on comfort and quality to essentially put gas in their car and food on the table? Before Corporate America implements week long casual Fridays a number of companies are stepping in to preserve corporate professionalism.
One cuustom dress shirt provider, Hillhouse Tailors, has established a price point comparable to, but more cost efficient than, the competitions off the rack pricing. The benefit: the ultimate in fit and quality with a lesser need for replacement. With an online portal and on-site traveling sales teams, consumers can save time and money on fewer trips to retail locations.
The decision essentially lies in the hands of the consumer; purchase $35 shapeless dress shirts requiring bi-monthly replacement or take advantage of the growing trend affordable customization purchasing a smaller, longer lasting wardrobe individually crafted for a perfect fit.
No matter what the choice, as an industry, will retailers be able to accommodate the average businessman in an effort to maintain professionalism throughout Corporate America.
Looking through fashion magazines fashion clearly is not dead, it is just becoming to expensive. On the red carpets you see fashion forward celebrities dressed in amazing suits and dress clothes but what normal person can afford that!? My male co-workers were recently reprimanded for dressing too casually in the office but the trouble is finding affordable dress clothes that look good. About a year ago we were introduced to one company that is introducing the luxury of custom to the mass market; however, I haven't seen many others since.
I used to follow the idiom dress for the job you want, not the job you have, however over the past few months in my current position Ive realised this is not the case.
I've stopped wearing my higher quality shirts to work for a few reasons.
First, our office is in the North West of Melbourne, its not in the city so its really not worth getting too dressed up for the area.
No one else in the building seems to bother much either, I go to some effort but not the extent I would if I was in the city (most days Im the only one in my office wearing a tie)
Lastly, I'm a bachelor living in an apartment with a broken dryer and little time and space to probably wash, iron and maintain these shirts, so it really is easier to go for mid range brands that offer easy care and no iron shirts.
So in the case of office wear, yes I have sacrificed quality. However after my recent assessment I did score high marks on professionalism and appearance, so I dont think my sacrifice in quality was at the expense of professionalism
If my role, position or the organisation I work for changes, then who knows, my work dress style may change to suit. Hopefully Ill get the shirts tailor made.
I've stopped wearing my higher quality shirts to work for a few reasons.
First, our office is in the North West of Melbourne, its not in the city so its really not worth getting too dressed up for the area.
No one else in the building seems to bother much either, I go to some effort but not the extent I would if I was in the city (most days Im the only one in my office wearing a tie)
Lastly, I'm a bachelor living in an apartment with a broken dryer and little time and space to probably wash, iron and maintain these shirts, so it really is easier to go for mid range brands that offer easy care and no iron shirts.
So in the case of office wear, yes I have sacrificed quality. However after my recent assessment I did score high marks on professionalism and appearance, so I dont think my sacrifice in quality was at the expense of professionalism
If my role, position or the organisation I work for changes, then who knows, my work dress style may change to suit. Hopefully Ill get the shirts tailor made.
You do make a really good point. I do think that professionalism is an attitude more than appearance. Any thoughts regarding the decrease in cost of dress clothes? Do you think that if the cost was lower people may purchase more? It may be me but I love a guy in a nice suit/shirt and I see that fading out of the corporate world!
Post by manda
Any thoughts regarding the decrease in cost of dress clothes? Do you think that if the cost was lower people may purchase more?
It's an interesting idea, but of the stores I see do it they're frequently nowhere near as successful as the high-priced, label driven market.
A few years ago a politician (I forget which one) said that the Australian environment and culture really wasnt suited to the popular corporate attire of a suit, shirt and tie. I tend to agree here, the summers are too hot for such dressing, but because the corporate image is so engrained in our minds we tend to look down on the idea of a company that doesnt institute such a dress code.
I dont think lowering the cost will have everyone rushing out to buy quality shirts. Changing materials to better suit our climate, and perhaps relaxing the dress code would see greater changes. Thats not to say lowering it so its polo shirts with the company logo, I have two of these and think theyre tacky and are my back up shirts for the days I really cant be bothered.
Also the changing work environment I feel is impacting on dress codes. Mass call centres, the rise of the internet and other electronic forms of communication means we have less physical contact with our customers and clients, and as a result dont really have any reason to dress to impress or maintain a standard (unless we get a visit from corporate, clients or customers)
I dont think lowering the cost will have everyone rushing out to buy quality shirts. Changing materials to better suit our climate, and perhaps relaxing the dress code would see greater changes. Thats not to say lowering it so its polo shirts with the company logo, I have two of these and think theyre tacky and are my back up shirts for the days I really cant be bothered.
Also the changing work environment I feel is impacting on dress codes. Mass call centres, the rise of the internet and other electronic forms of communication means we have less physical contact with our customers and clients, and as a result dont really have any reason to dress to impress or maintain a standard (unless we get a visit from corporate, clients or customers)
Brilliant point WR - a lot of people don't even pay attention to the fabric and it's relation to the season! I know of people who buy Super Wool 200 suits in Summer simply because they think the higher number conveys a better quality. It doesn't. What I'd like to see in Australia is an increase in the use of Flax and Irish Linen (to hell with Italian Linen for corporate dressing), and an adoption of the North Western part of Europe's tradition of wearing short sleeved shirts in Summer as office attire.
Post by Daniel
Brilliant point WR - a lot of people don't even pay attention to the fabric and it's relation to the season! I know of people who buy Super Wool 200 suits in Summer simply because they think the higher number conveys a better quality. It doesn't. What I'd like to see in Australia is an increase in the use of Flax and Irish Linen (to hell with Italian Linen for corporate dressing), and an adoption of the North Western part of Europe's tradition of wearing short sleeved shirts in Summer as office attire.
I totally agree with your point on short sleeves, hell I even started a thread about it. Although I still think it looks a little odd when paired with a tie, but it may just come down to what I'm used to seeing, given time it may become second nature.
For the moment, it looks like I'll just wear my lighter coloured shirts in summer with the sleeves folded or rolled up. It just dawned on me that having most of my business shirts in dark colours may make washing easier, but will see me boiling in summer whenever I step out of the office.
i tend to dress well for work- because thats how i choose to portray myself..
but i will spend big on staples that will last (suits/coats/shoes/basic well cut shirts) and then buy the "seasonal" items at cheaper chain stores (cue/portmans/sportsgirl). but i want the expensive items to last! to give the illusion of professionalism is not expensive, however, it involves buying key pieces that are relitively well cut and fitted (especially for females).
my bf on the other hand is a princess who will only wear hand made perfectly fitted corporate stuff- and it looks amazing
but i will spend big on staples that will last (suits/coats/shoes/basic well cut shirts) and then buy the "seasonal" items at cheaper chain stores (cue/portmans/sportsgirl). but i want the expensive items to last! to give the illusion of professionalism is not expensive, however, it involves buying key pieces that are relitively well cut and fitted (especially for females).
my bf on the other hand is a princess who will only wear hand made perfectly fitted corporate stuff- and it looks amazing
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