Corporate Wear Gets Designer Touch

More fashionable and ‘multitasking’ office wear is what the young executives are preferring nowadays, says Aditi Hindwan

High heels, uber-cool trousers and waistcoat — that is how 28-year-old chartered accountant Ananya Ghosh dresses to work everyday. And she is not alone. Both her male and female colleagues make sure that what they wear to office is in tune with the latest trend in corporate circuit.

Going to office was never so fashionable before. With more and more international fashion players stepping into the Indian market, corporate wear too is getting attention that was missing so far. “I make sure I look my best when I go to work, because in today’s world, people judge you by what you wear. Moreover, I want to look good for myself and with so many brands in the market, I have a wider choice now,” says Ghosh.

With long working hours and strenuous deadlines to meet, executives end up spending most of their time at work. So what they wear to work is what they wear most of the time and as such office wear becomes essential part of their wardrobe. “For six days a week and almost 12 hours a day, I am clad in office wear. So the statement I want to make through my dress has to be through the office wear only,” says Amit Anand, a banker.

Such outlook of the corporates has led apparel brands to evolve themselves accordingly. Says R Satayajit, COO, Allen Solly, “The Indian woman is high on fashion and likes to make sure that she looks good at her workplace and otherwise. When we started corporate wear for women in 2002, they liked to stick to the conventional skirts and blazers. Over the years, their demands regarding corporate wear have increased manifold.”

Executives also look for the clothes that can ‘multitask’. “If I plan to go for coffee after work, I want to ensure that I don’t look out of place. My dressing to work should be stylish enough to ensure that I can carry it post work plans with élan,” says Vikram Cheema, an investment banker. Adds Ghosh, “Weekends are the only time we get to be home with family, so most plans with friends for dinner or coffee happen only after work. The office wear thus become quite important as we get no time to change. The good bit is that today’s style of corporate dressing allows me to look stylish even at work.”

What about the price factor? Is corporate wear offered by the apparel majors affordable to the office executives? Says Satyajit, “Our brand caters to those who want to look stylish at work. Corporate executives take home exorbitant salaries, and with changing times, they want to spend a relevant part of it on how they look.”

Besides clothing, there is a whole lot of accessories that go with the corporate wear to help achieve that perfect look. “Accessories are big hit with the young corporate consumer. We have come up with a range of beads and bracelets for young women which they can wear to work. A string of pearls is a hit with most western wear formals. Bracelets and earrings too in pearls look classy and timeless at work,” says Anil Moolchandani, CMD, Archie’s India Limited. Such is the craze of accessories that other accessory brands too have come up with a special range for corporates. “The accessories for the smart, corporate women do not have to be overtly feminine and should be free of clutter besides being enough to add a dash of colour to the clothes,” says Sukanya Dutta Roy, country manager Swarovski India. “So we offer sleek and splendid pendants, pierced earrings, elegant hair clips, sparkling bracelets, lovely rings and stunning brooches, in range of colours and styles,” she adds.

Men too are high on accessories. “Ties can break or make your look for the day. And while at work I make sure that my tie matches with my handkerchief,” says Cheema. Designer Puneet Nanda of Satya Paul says “Although the corporate customer is still conservative when it comes to ties, we offer them a range in all shapes.”

Shoes complete the corporate attire. Both women and men look for high comfort and style when they choose their shoes. “For work it’s not very practical to wear high-heeled shoes, that’s why I like shoes which look good and are high on comfort level,” says Ghosh. “Brands too cater to the needs of the customer perfectly,” says Lokesh Mishra of Woodland. “Women prefer wedge heels at work as they are comfortable and men like to stick to basic colours of black, brown or tan.”