· Over a quarter (28%) of Brits would not accept a job if they always had to dress formally, with Londoners (40%) most likely to share this view1
· Three fifths (61%) agree that dressing smart makes them feel more confident compared to over a third (37%) who say that it makes them feel uncomfortable
· The Northern Irish have the most formal instincts when it comes work clothing
· In a sign of how Britain has moved on from lockdown, Very reveals views of its ‘women’s workwear’ page are up 64% YOY and views of its ‘workwear dresses page’ are up 9,896% YOY
New research by leading multi-category retailer Very, reveals that over a quarter (28%) of Brits would not accept a job if they always had to dress formally, with Londoners (40%) most likely to share this view.
The research, based on polling of 2,000 Brits, looks at national and regional attitudes to workwear following two years of COVID restrictions and just over a week after the ONS decided to remove suits from its standard basket of goods that it uses to track inflation.2
How Brits dress for work and how they feel about it: the key facts
The majority of Brits (59%) go into work dressed either in smart casual (59%) or casual attire (17%). Only 15% dress formally for work and six percent wear a uniform.
Formal workwear is viewed by many as outdated: nearly half (48%) agree with the statement that suits are a relic of the past, while three fifths (62%) expect that most jobs will not require ties in the future.
Nearly a third (30%) say that being able to dress casually is a key factor in whether they would accept a job offer, with over a quarter (28%) stating that they would not accept a job if they had to dress formally all the time.
How work clothing affects mindset
While nearly two thirds (65%) ultimately agree with the statement that what they wear doesn’t impact how they do their job, respondents report that clothing does have an impact on their mindset at work.
Just over three fifths (61%) agree that dressing smart makes them feel more confident compared to over a third (37%) who say that it makes them feel uncomfortable. Over a third (36%) go as far as to say that they don’t feel like themselves when dressed in formal clothing.
When it comes to output, 42% feel more productive wearing formal clothes compared to 40% who feel more productive in casual clothes.
How do views differ across the country?
The Northern Irish reveal themselves to have the most formal instincts when it comes work clothing. They are least likely to agree with the statement that the suit is a relic of the past (25%), compared to 55% of Scottish respondents and 54% of Welsh respondents.
They are also least likely to feel comfortable going into work in a tracksuit (12%) – compared to 38% of respondents in Yorkshire & The Humber – and believe that most jobs won’t require ties in the future (51%) – compared to 69% of those surveyed in East Anglia.
When it comes to considering job offers and the role of clothing, only 20% of Northern Irish respondents agree with the statement that they would not accept a job if they had to dress formally all the time – half the number of those in London (40%).
They’re also least likely to say that casual clothes make them feel more productive (47%), compared to 73% of residents of the East Midlands, or say that they feel uncomfortable in formal clothes (25%), compared to the Welsh (42%).
Elsewhere, Londoners (43%) are most likely to cite being able to dress casually as a key driver in whether they’d accept a job, followed by 35% of Yorkshire residents and 34% of the Welsh. Those based in the East Midlands (18%) place the least emphasis on the role of casual clothing in whether they’d accept a job offer.
The office is back… with a bang
Very’s internal data captures the impact of ‘the great return’, with views of its ‘women’s workwear page’ up 64% on last year, while views of its ‘workwear dresses page’ are up 9,896% over the same period. Views of ‘workwear jackets’ and ‘workwear trousers’ are up 214% and 20% respectively.
A spokesperson for Very’s search marketing team, commented: “Whether hybrid or full time, most Brits are back to the office in some form or other and with that come questions about work attire.
“The smart casual versus formal debate has raged for some time and it’s clear to see that smart casual is now the nation’s uniform with fewer people wanting or needing to dress formally for work.
“However, despite predictions of the demise of formal workwear, it remains popular. Many respondents to our survey are fans of dressing smart, believing it makes them feel more confident and productive.
“Whatever your views, it’s clear from our research that many Brits feel strongly about their ability to dress in the way they choose, with many even making it a factor in whether or not they’ll accept a job offer. “
