Do you still wear a tie at the office?

Is the tie losing its appeal? This question is worth asking now that "Friday wear," a trend from the United States where executives go to the office in casual attire on the last day of the week, has spread throughout France to the point of extending throughout the week. Even politicians have adopted this new fashion. However, the tie remains a dress code that primarily depends on the culture of the company in which one works.

In any case, in less than ten years, practices have changed significantly. An essential item, the tie has lost its obligatory character, only weakly resisting the blows of the new wave of managers.

At the end of the 1990s, with the new economy and its start-ups, supposed to revolutionize business practices, a new posture was needed. And it was the tie that paid the price, as a forever outdated symbol of the old economy.

Mark of respect

At that time, the ostentatious refusal of the tie was the rallying sign of all new entrepreneurs or those who aspired to become one.

Today, the somewhat pitiful end of the new economy has not really undermined the discredit of the fashion accessory.

It is no longer rare to see executives, even in very prominent positions, avoid this dress code requirement. Only salespeople still wear ties when meeting with clients. For them, it is above all a mark of respect and politeness.

Above all, this new fashion has solved the delicate problem of the color and pattern of the precious accessory. It has also freed spouses from somewhat conventional Father's Day gifts.

Posted on May 8, 2008

lefigaro.fr