Loosening the Ties: Workplace Attire Through the Decades

Loosening the Ties: Women & Men at Work & What They Wore 1950s Percentage of Employed Salary Common Job Types secretaries 33% 64 cents receptionist - support workers tttttIIII 94% blue-collar jobs - industrial agricultural $1 What They Wore Ladies Gentlemen > Tailored clothing with strict undergarments > Classic American three-piece suit in dark blue, brown or charcoal with uniform ties > Dresses & skirts only > Overcoats & hats > Hat, gloves & handbag In 2011, 29% of workers thought flip-flops were appropriate footwear at work. 1960s Percentage of Employed Salary Common Job Types 1 41% -teachers - nurses -secretories - waitresses ypists - librarians - bank clerks 61 cents - cooks - Bookkeepers shop girls chambermaids - civil servants - cleaners tIIIIIII 95% $1 - factory workers other blue-collar jobs What They Wore Ladies Gentlemen > Pantsuits in solid colours > The classic American suit with coloured shirts > Patterned clothing in plaids and tweeds > Fabrics of wool, suede, leather, twill, velvet, silk, cotton, polyester & cotton-polyester blends Younger executives begin wearing high-collared Nehru jackets In 2012, 69% of workers thought short skirts or mini-skirts should not be worn at work. 1970s DO Percentage of Employed Salary Common Job Types clerical & service workers educators - soles clerks - nurses textile workers various unskilled trades - truck drivers - physical workers cleaning services 1 49% 60 cents titttIII|94% $1 bministrators Sers and civil & mechanical engineers & corpenters What They Wore Ladies Gentlemen > Single-breasted or two-piece suits > Bold colours & plaids > Polyester leisure suits > Suits without ties > Loud & bold shirts made of clingy > Pantsuits, casual sweater sets and knee-length or mid-calf length dresses > Shirtdresses with a long-slit hemline > The Saint-Tropez skirt made of cotton prints, vests, antique blouses & blazers > Lightweight knit turtlenecks or V-neck sweaters with bell-bottoms Almost half of workers in 2012 think wearing leggings in the workplace is not acceptable. 1980s Percentage of Employed Salary Common Job Types secretaries - managers -teachers bookkeepers - sales workers - cashiers clerks waitresses 63% 60 cents - nurses - nursing aides carpenters iiiiii 93% - managers -truck drivers labourers janitors cleaners - supervisors $1 sales representatives farmers auto mechanics What They Wore Ladies Gentlemen > Power suits > Pin-striped suits with narrow lapels > Narrow neckties Shoulder pads inside jackets & blouses attached with Velcro > Wide belts, berets & dangly earrings A whopping 35% of workers still disapprove of open-toed shoes worn to work in 2012. 1990s Percentage of Employed Salary Common Job Types 111 74% finance insurance property & business retail trade 72 cents tIIIIII 91% manufacturing - construction $1 What They Wore Ladies Gentlemen > Mix-and-Match: i.e. - Combining tailored skirts with stretch tops > Toned-down make-up > Subtle jewellery > Casual, lightweight shirts & trousers > Neutral colours: gray, brown, olive green and beige A whopping 35% of workers still disapprove of open-toed shoes worn to work in 2012. 2000s Percentage of Employed Salary Common Job Types 1111111 74% registered nurses - teachers - human resources administrators 73 cents IIII 86% software developers project manager - computer system administrators $1 Ladies Gentlemen > Long-sleeved shirts in solid colours > Khaki or dark coloured pants, neatly pressed > Dark mid-calf length socks > Tailored pantsuits, cardigans & short-sleeved dresses > Casual blouses, crisp cotton shirts, printed scarves & non-traditional accessories > Sling-back shoes & open-toed pumps The Big List of Workplace Fashion Faux Pas Percentages of workers who find these fashion choices unacceptable work wear 2011 vs. 2012 – The Percentage of Workers Surveyed Who Find Certain Wardrobe Selections Inappropriate for the Workplace: - 2012 |- 2011 Ripped jeans or jeans with holes 79% 49% Leggings NA NA 76% 71% White socks with black shoes 47% Flip flops NA Strapless tops or dresses 72% 44% Sneakers 66% NA Backless 72% 35% tops or dresses 64% Open-toed shoes 31% Sleeveless tops or dresses 33% Short skirts/ Mini-skirts 69% 70% 33% 65% 23% Jeans with a blazer Hoodies NA NA 59% None of these everything is 23% Shorts 55% appropriate NA 0% ?) Don't know I 1% 2012 - The Percentage of Worker Surveyed, Who Are Offended When Others: Clip or bite their nails at work Take their shoes off in their workspace 49% 43% Wear outfits where you can see their tattoos Put on make up or brush their hair at work 27% 27% Not offended by any of these 27% Sources www.collegefashion.net www.encyclopedia.com www.lohud.com www.fiftiesweb.com www.helium.com www.ehow.com Adecco www.career.vt.edu www.skwirk.com better work, better life www.thepeoplehistory.com www.fashionbloglife.com 111 G GI