You Should Wear a Suit and Tie to Work (2024)

You Should Wear a Suit and Tie to Work (1)

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Jacob Morgan You Should Wear a Suit and Tie to Work (2)

Jacob Morgan

5x Best-Selling Author, Futurist, & Keynote Speaker On Leadership, Employee Experience, & The Future Of Work

Published Dec 20, 2022

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I recently visited the office of another company and was shocked by what I saw. As I walked through the office, employees were wearing jeans, hoodies, shorts, and even baseball hats!

Was this an office or a frat house?

Everyone needs to wear a suit and tie to work. You work in a professional office environment and better look the part.

To do your best work, you need to look your best. Suits and ties aren’t optional. No excuses, no exceptions. Dressing in anything less than a suit is sloppy and makes employees not put in their best effort.

Science backs me up on this. A study found that when people dressed more formally, they performed better at abstract processing, meaning they were more adept at seeing the bigger picture without getting distracted. One researcher said, “Putting on formal clothes makes us feel powerful, and that changes the basic way we see the world.” You’ve got to feel powerful if you’re going to grow a successful business and make more money!

Suits have long been the symbol of successful people. There’s a reason you don’t see presidents, judges, and world leaders showing up to meetings without a full suit and tie. Suits are practical, timeless, and show that you are a person who matters and who gets results. That’s how I want every one of my employees to feel every day at work.

Wearing a suit also helps employees feel more confident. Confident people make more sales, which means more money for the company! Instead of bumming around in casual clothes or even business casual, wearing a suit and tie signals to employees that it’s time to work and puts them in the mindset to deliver quality, confident work.

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There’s also the sameness of everyone wearing a suit. It’s like a uniform that takes away any distractions. When people wear a suit, they know it’s time to put their nose down and get to work. They aren’t distracted by who’s wearing what or trying to follow the latest trends--they stick to timeless, powerful suits to do good work.

Think about how you show up to a job interview--in a suit! You wouldn’t wear a t-shirt or jeans to get your dream job. Wearing a suit helps people be taken seriously. It shows that employees are committed to their jobs and respect the company and you as a leader.

There’s no reason for employees to wear anything other than a suit to work every day. If employees aren’t willing to wear suits and ties, they aren’t the right fit for your company!

-The Outdated Leader

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Over the last 15 years, I’ve had the privilege of speaking and working with some of the world's top leaders.Here are 15 of the best leadership lessonsthat I learned from the CEOs of organizations like Netflix, Honeywell, Volvo, Best Buy, The Home Depot, and others. I hope they inspire you and give you things you can try in your work and life.Get the PDF here.

You Should Wear a Suit and Tie to Work (6)
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William Lugar

Citizens Teller Made Ready for you

1y

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Now I am curious what jobs require it anymore? Because I actually enjoy dressing nice to work

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Walter Dario Di Mantova

Founder, The GEN Lab | Defiant Humanist l Postdisciplinary Technologist | Anticipatory Anthropologist | Trouble Maker

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Wow! In your world “everyone “ appears to be…male.

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Rachel Minnick, M.A.E.E.

Daring to do new things to improve social good.

1y

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Reading fully before responding: Never outdated! 😜

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Chuck Kellner

Strategic Discovery Advisor @ Everlaw | Legaltech Change Agent

1y

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Bah! Humbug! Why does this post say "Outdated Leader" at the end? Maybe because the underlying study is from 2015 and features Kevin Spacey in the lead article about the study? Here are some thoughts about workplace attire that are a little more updated and forward-thinking.https://hbr.org/2022/09/the-new-rules-of-work-clothes

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Fabrizio Salvador

Professor, Technology and Operations Area, Vice-Rector for Applied Research, IE Business School - IE University

1y

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Well, this is standard practice now. But...there are many offices where people would look at you with a surprised face if you come to office formally dressed. This is no good either I would say. So, before it was all about tie and jacket, or formal woman dress. Now you must be kind of informal. It seems to me we are moving from the tyranny of the classic to the tyranny of the informal 😀

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You Should Wear a Suit and Tie to Work (2024)

FAQs

You Should Wear a Suit and Tie to Work? ›

As long as you aren't attending a black tie event or a similar highly formal event, you can generally wear a suit without a tie. In fact, many guys prefer to wear their suit without a tie because it's more comfortable. If you're attending a beach wedding, for instance, a necktie might make you hot and uncomfortable.

Is it unprofessional to not wear a tie with a suit? ›

As long as you aren't attending a black tie event or a similar highly formal event, you can generally wear a suit without a tie. In fact, many guys prefer to wear their suit without a tie because it's more comfortable. If you're attending a beach wedding, for instance, a necktie might make you hot and uncomfortable.

Do you have to wear a suit and tie to be considered professional? ›

Business professional clothes should be well-fitted and may be tailored to fit you specifically. Business professional typically refers to clothing choices like dark-colored (gray, navy) suits and ties, pantsuits, tidy dresses, skirts or slacks.

Can I be forced to wear a tie at work? ›

Dress codes must apply to both men and women but may have different requirements so long as these are of a similar standard, and not applied more strictly to one sex over the other. For example, a requirement for men to wear a shirt and tie is not unlawful if women are also expected to wear smart office attire.

What is the meaning of the idiom suit and tie? ›

Describable as formal, serious, and professional. Max you don't work in an office but you still have to make it on time to this construction site like a suit and tie kind of job. Wiktionary.

Should I wear a suit and tie to work? ›

Many employers actually require workers to wear a suit as part of their company's dress code. If you don't follow this rule, your employer may warn you first. If you continue to wear casual attire to work, though, your employer may give you the boot. Check your company's dress code to see if it requires a suit.

Do people wear suits to work anymore? ›

Just 7% of workers say they don “business attire” at work, including 8% of male workers. Even in ABC1 occupations (i.e. middle class jobs) just 10% say they wear a suit, and among those in 'A' occupations (those in higher managerial positions or professional occupations) this still only hits 13%.

Can my employer tell me what to wear to work? ›

As a general rule, an employer may place reasonable requirements on employees regarding dress, appearance and grooming standards, as long as these are applied evenly, don't significantly burden the employee, and don't overstep legally protected bounds of an employee's religious beliefs or gender.

Is it disrespectful to not wear a tie? ›

It's a sign of respect. Needless to say, you should almost definitely wear a tie in the presence of someone with a much higher status in society, such as when meeting ministers and royalty.

Can an employer force you to wear something? ›

Employers have the right to establish dress codes for their employees to maintain a certain image and ensure workplace safety. For example, a construction company may require workers to wear steel-toed boots and hardhats to reduce the risk of injury.

Why do men still wear suit and tie? ›

When is it still acceptable to wear a tie? Even today, ties may still be essential to wear on certain occasions, such as weddings, job interviews or networking events, where you need to make a good impression. This will, however, largely depend on your profession (such as law, business consultancy etc.).

What is the tie rule for suits? ›

Your tie should complement the width of your suit's lapel. If you're sporting a traditional suit with broad lapels, a wider tie is the match made in heaven. On the other hand, contemporary slim-fit suits, having narrower lapels, gel seamlessly with skinny ties.

What is a suit and tie called? ›

A tuxedo is a specific kind of suit. Tuxedos, which can be worn with bow ties or neckties, are considered more formal than regular suits and are often only worn at the most formal events, such as weddings and galas.

Is it OK to wear a suit without a tie to a job interview? ›

For most job interviews, you'll want to aim for a semi-formal outfit. Avoid an overly formal black suit, instead try out the Everyday Occasions charcoal or navy suit, and skip the extra accessories and tie, instead leaving your top shirt button undone for an effortlessly smart look.

Is it OK to not wear a tie with a suit to a wedding? ›

For a casual afternoon affair, you can opt for a smart-casual look with a sports coat or blazer paired with dress pants or chinos. If the dress code is semi-formal, a suit without a tie or a dress shirt paired with dress pants is a safe bet.

What is it called when you wear a suit with no tie? ›

What is it called when you wear a suit with no tie? Wearing a suit without a tie is often referred to as "going tieless" or adopting a "tieless look." This style choice can convey a more relaxed or modern aesthetic while still maintaining a polished appearance.

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