The new senator for Pennsylvania doesn’t wear a suit to work. For public appearances he prefers what those in the US call, “work wear” usually a hoodie. He captured the white collar vote and his style of dress is a simple, effective way of saying I’m one of you. Hoodies are also popular office wear for senior executives in Silicon Valley because of their image of being ,”cool” and “youthful”. A hoodie is very symbolic, wear it with the hood up and you go from trendy to deviant! It’s a practical garment like jeans that has become fashionable and as was the case with jeans associated with rebelliousness. So is a hoodie the ultimate in casualness? Can you imagine a time when local authority senior managers would wear a hoody to work instead of a suit? No, but the Labour councillor might for the same reasons that the new senator for Pennsylvania does. The height of casualness for most senior managers seems to be to remove their tie! Whilst of course keeping it in your suit pocket just in case you got a call that the chief executive or leader wanted to see you. And of course suit and ties for committee meetings even if some of the members have taken to wearing hoodies.
Blair Mcpherson former Director author and blogger www.blairmcpherson.co.uk
