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14 •
PPB
• MAY 2016
INNOVATE
EYE ON
APPAREL
In 2015,
The Journal of Social Psychology
and Personality Science
published “The
Cognitive Consequences of Formal Clothing,”
in which it reported the results of a study
tracking the work performance of participants
who were tested wearing both casual and for-
mal clothing. The study found that abstract
thinking skills, such as those a senior executive
would need to utilize, and the ability to more
quickly see the big picture and think more cre-
atively, improved when participants dressed
more formally.
This may come as a disappointment to
corporate professionals hoping their work-
places will extend casual Friday to casual
every day. After all, there’s little worse than
waking up late, especially while on a work
trip, and realizing you need to iron your
Oxford—and maybe even your blazer.
The good news is that apparel manufac-
turers feel your pain. And increasingly they’re
offering many woven uniform apparel
options—even suits—that mimic the comfort
of athletic performance wear, with a stretchier
feel, moisture-wicking technology, stain-
resistance, UV protection and wrinkle-free,
wash and wear capability. Consider these
hardworking, comfortable woven picks for
corporate apparel programs.
GIVEN A CHOICE, MOST
PEOPLE would rather wear
stretchy, athleisure-type clothes to
the office. If you’re more comfort-
able you’ll be able to relax more
and be better at your job, right?
Not so fast. It turns out that our
brains actually perform better if
we’re dressed more formally.
Recent studies show that our cog-
nitive abilities are enhanced when
we ditch the yoga pants and don
the blazer.
WOVENS:
WHAT’S TRENDING IN
CORPORATE APPAREL
WANT TO MOVE UP THE CAREER LADDER? RETHINK HOW YOU DRESS.
By Julie Richie