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Olga Anderson on Goldman Sachs’s announcement that everyday is ‘dress down Friday’

Olga Anderson on Goldman Sachs’s announcement that everyday is ‘dress down Friday’

Mark.Freed / 20 Mar 2019

E2W are delighted to introduce you to our friend Olga Anderson, a bespoke and ready-to-wear womenswear designer, who in her first post discusses the annoucement by Goldman Sachs that 'dress down Friday' is to be for everyday. 

Goldman Sachs has announced a shift in acceptable office attire – ‘dress down Friday’ is to be for every day. Their statement does encourage staff to “dress in a manner that is consistent with your clients' expectations” but in suggesting a move away from collared shirts and tailored trousers, it’s interesting to consider the consequences this may have on individuals’ performance and how they’re perceived as well as GS’s image.

Traditional attire

Over time, office wear has become somewhat formulaic, a uniform if you will. People wear the same type of outfit day-in, day-out because it’s easy to buy for, no brain power is needed in the morning and it suits their work – the office environment, company image and clients.

Some people like to fit in with each other and to comply with their company’s ‘brand’, and a ‘uniform’ affords them that opportunity. 

But in this world of more power to the individual and a celebration of individualism, shouldn’t we have the freedom to work in what we feel comfortable wearing? Common sense says “yes” but some of us may fear that expressing our own style could open us up to scrutiny, potentially impacting the way we are perceived, addressed or dealt with at work. We might even worry that this will have an effect on the overall image of the company.

What’s important to remember though, is that wearing a suit and abiding by the company’s ‘brand’ doesn’t make you great at your job. Your clothing is just a façade, the exterior, what people see and what Goldman’s is saying now is that they realise its insignificance to their success – they want you to bring yourself to work, not just mentally but also physically. They know that it will pay dividends.

What does ‘dressing down’ mean?

The idea of ‘dressing down’ can conjure up a variety of images: it could mean expensive jeans and a silk blouse to some and to others, it could mean gym gear or what you might wear when no one can see you and you’re working from home! 

However the phrase is interpreted, it does open up the possibilities for employees to express themselves a little more through their clothing and reveal more of their personality.  It might take a while for people to shun the suit and high heels and all the psychology that comes with that but GS is allowing its employees to wear clothes that indulge their self-confidence. That has to be a good thing, not just for individuals’ performance but also for that of the company, in this case, Goldman Sachs. 

We have the ability to create our own vernacular about the image we are presenting to the world. Successful, strong, professional, hardworking and respected businesswomen who have strayed beyond the suit include Diane von Fürstenberg and Oprah Winfrey. And to note, Mark Zuckerberg co-founded an internet empire whilst largely wearing jeans.

'Olga Anderson' is a bespoke and ready-to-wear womenswear designer. She specialises in clothing designed to empower her clients, and as of 2019, became a ‘Women Appreciating Women’ (WAW) Honorary Award winner. She runs her brand with the belief that “fashion and design should empower women”; working meticulously to encourage and celebrate women’s  individuality, accomplishments and passion, both in and outside of their careers. 

www.anderson.club olga@olgaanderson.com 

 


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