Why We Need To Revive The Suit In The Workplace

The Value of Being Well-Dressed: Why We Need To Revive The Suit In The Workplace

Michael Pascalis • September 2, 2024

The Value of Being Well-Dressed: Why We Need to Revive the Suit in the Workplace

In recent years, workplace attire has become increasingly casual, with many employees opting for chinos, shirts, and sports coats over the traditional suit. While this shift may seem convenient or trendy, it raises an important question:

What's wrong with wearing a suit?

As more people embrace a laid-back approach to dressing for work, we might be losing sight of the value and significance that a well-dressed appearance brings to the professional environment.

The Decline of Formal Workwear

Gone are the days when everyone in the office adhered to a uniform dress code. Today, it's not uncommon to see a mix of styles within the same workplace. One person might wear a suit, while another sports a shirt and trousers, and someone else may show up in jeans and a hoodie. This shift towards casual attire reflects a broader cultural trend, but it also introduces inconsistencies in how we present ourselves in professional settings.

The move away from suits has been partly driven by the rise of casual work environments, such as tech companies and startups, where relaxed dress codes are the norm. The pandemic further accelerated this trend, with remote work making it easy to adopt a more laid-back style. But now that people are returning to the office, it's time to reconsider the impact of what we wear.

The Psychological Power of the Suit

One of the main arguments in favour of the suit is its simplicity and ease of use. When you have a well-tailored suit in your wardrobe, you don't need to spend time in the morning deciding what to wear. You can simply put on your suit, knowing that you look polished and professional. This simplicity is not just about saving time; it also helps you start the day with a clear mindset. When you're dressed for work, you're mentally prepared to tackle the challenges ahead.

Moreover, wearing a suit sets the tone for the day. It signals to yourself and others that you're serious about your work and ready to engage. It's not just about appearance; it's about the attitude that comes with dressing well. A suit can help you feel more confident, focused, and in control—qualities that are crucial for success in any professional setting.

Casual Fridays and the Slippery Slope

This brings us to the concept of "Casual Fridays" – which seemed like an innocent and fun enough thing, but may well have led to some negative habits forming. Casual Fridays was once a popular way to give employees a break from formal attire. However, this practice often led to a more relaxed attitude towards work itself. When people dress casually, they often subconsciously adopt a more casual approach to their tasks, potentially affecting productivity and professionalism. Casual attire can blur the lines between work and leisure, making it harder to maintain the same level of commitment and discipline that a formal dress code encourages.

A well-dressed workforce can positively influence workplace culture. When employees dress smartly, it builds a sense of pride and responsibility. It creates an environment where people are more likely to take their roles seriously and where interactions are marked by a level of formality and respect. This, in turn, can lead to higher levels of productivity and job satisfaction.

In cities like Sydney, where the culture has become increasingly casual, there's a growing need to encourage a return to smart dressing. It’s not about enforcing strict dress codes but about promoting the idea that how we dress matters. A city that embraces a well-dressed workforce is one that values professionalism, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic.

< Older Post Newer Post >

Why Good Tailoring Beats Shorts In The Summer Heat

By Michael Pascalis • October 24, 2025

Smarter tailoring, breathable fabrics, and better cuts keep you cool and professional—without resorting to shorts at work.

Eight Things to Consider for Your Summer Suit

October 22, 2025

The conversation about summer dressing too often circles back to gimmicks. Shorts in the office, polo shirts in the boardroom, but these are symptoms of a deeper problem: we have forgotten how to make and wear proper clothing for the climate we live in. A summer suit, chosen with care, remains the most elegant answer. But not all suits are created equal. If the heat leaves you dreaming of linen drawstrings, it’s not the suit’s fault. It’s the wrong suit. Here are eight considerations that turn summer tailoring from punishment into pleasure. 1. Fabric First The single most important decision is fabric. Natural fibres are non-negotiable. Polyester and other synthetics trap heat and suffocate the skin; they are cheap in every sense of the word. Tropical wool, with its fine yarn and open weave, has been the quiet hero of summer tailoring for decades. Linen, either pure or in a wool blend, brings unmatched breathability and texture. Cotton offers a crisp alternative for the more casual office. The principle is simple: fabric should breathe. 2. Lightness of Weave Weight is not enough; weave matters too. A dense cloth, no matter how fine, will feel like armour in January. Fresco, hopsack, and other open-weave constructions let air circulate without sacrificing drape. They prove that you don’t need to bare skin to keep cool. 3. The Case for Unlined Jackets Every layer in a suit traps heat. A fully lined jacket in the peak of summer is as unnecessary as it is uncomfortable. Half-lined or unlined jackets offer structure without insulation. Stripped back to its essentials, the jacket still frames the shoulders, flatters the waist, and gives shape, only now it does so without suffocating the wearer. 4. Rethinking Fit The tyranny of the skinny suit has done more to ruin summer dressing than the thermometer ever could. Narrow lapels, shrunken jackets, and trousers cut like leggings may look sharp in shop windows, but in the real world they cling, sweat, and stifle. A summer suit demands room to breathe: a touch more fullness in the chest, pleats in the trousers, a slightly longer rise. These small concessions to airflow make all the difference. 5. Freedom of Movement Tailoring was never meant to be restrictive. The best summer suits allow ease: side vents that open as you walk, trousers that fall cleanly without gripping the thigh, shoulders that move without resistance. Comfort is not the enemy of style, but rather it is its foundation. 6. The Role of Colour Summer is no time for charcoal and midnight navy. Dark cloth absorbs heat and looks heavy against the season’s light. Pale grey, beige, sky blue are shades that reflect the sun and signal ease. Seersucker, with its puckered surface, even lifts the fabric off the skin to create tiny channels of air. If ever there was a fabric designed for August, this is it. 7. Care and Longevity Summer is unforgiving. Suits face sweat, humidity, and relentless sun. The careless solution is cheap rotation: buy more, wear them out, throw them away. The wiser approach is investment. A well-made summer suit, rested between wears and hung to air, will last for years. Quality not only looks better, it endures. 8. Dressing with Intent The final consideration is not technical but philosophical. A summer suit is more than cloth and cut. It is a statement that professionalism need not wilt in the heat, that respect for the occasion is not seasonal. To wear one well is to prove that elegance adapts. Shorts may make headlines; tailoring makes an impression. There is nothing radical about suggesting that a summer suit can be cool, comfortable, and dignified. It has always been possible. The knowledge is there, in the choice of fabric, the looseness of cut, the restraint of lining, the play of colour. What is required is not reinvention but remembrance: a return to tailoring that understands climate rather than fights it. Eight considerations for made to measure suits for summer, then, but really one principle: good clothes work with the body, not against it. And in the heart of summer, a well-made suit is not a contradiction. It is liberation.