As a business owner, you’ve probably had to make a decision about the uniform policy in your office.

Perhaps you’re one of those bosses who has embraced casual clothing with open arms, believing that dressing up to the nines really doesn’t have an impact on the day-to-day work lives of your employees. Maybe you’re on the other side of the fence, and believe that looking professional equates to being professional for your team.

Wherever you sit in the uniform debate and whatever the look in your office may be, there are studies out there assessing whether being suited and booted really makes a difference to you and your employees. Is it time to say goodbye to the old-fashioned office code, or does wearing jeans and a t-shirt make your team feel like they’re on their way to the nearest bar instead of going to work? We’ve looked at what the research says here…

It helps in client meetings

OK, so the suit may be a little over the top in some circumstances, but it certainly helps with client meetings. Not only does it show your clients that you mean business straight away, but it also helps to create a sense of self-confidence and professionalism in your team. Whilst it’s not impossible that you could secure that big contract wearing jeans, you’re more likely to feel confident if you really do look the part.

First impressions are everything

As many studies have found, we have plenty of opportunities every day to make a first impression on somebody, and in these first minutes there are a few things that shape it. One of them, of course, is how we dress, because it’s a lot harder to distinguish other characteristics (such as accent) outside of this. Being dressed smartly helps you to mark yourself out as a motivated, trustworthy and professional individual straight away.

It gives you authority

From other studies that have been conducted on the subject, it has been found that those who dress smartly are a lot more likely to have authority in their day-to-day lives. For example, Lefkowitz, Blake and Mouton (1955) found that people who wear full suits are three and a half times as likely to be followed when crossing the street against the traffic than those who are dressed in more casual attire. Science, huh?

It’s good for your brand

Let’s be honest here, there’s nothing more important than making sure that your brand projects the right image. You can do this in a lot of ways, for example having laptop cases and sleeves with your logo from CustomLogoCases, but aside from your overall professionalism, your brand is defined by how you present yourself when you walk into a room. Everything you do - and everything you wear - says something about this.

It shows that you’re making an effort

Another upside of rolling up to the office in your smartest attire is that it marks you out as somebody who has really made an effort. A well-tailored suit or an I-mean-business dress shows your boss, your fellow employees, and everybody else that you’re dealing with that you’re making an effort in all elements of your work life. It’s a small thing to do that can have big consequences on how you’re perceived.

That promotion? No problem

As the old adage goes, ‘dress for the job that you want, not the one you have.’ This has many potential meanings, but arguably, it just helps you to a) feel confident enough to get that promotion, b) mark yourself out as a candidate to consider, and c) have you ever heard of that other old adage, ‘fake it ‘til you make it’? Dressing smartly says to your boss and everybody else: I’m here, I know who I am and what I want, and I’m going to get it.

But…

It can make you feel uncomfortable

Whilst all of the points raised above may be true about smart attire, there is something to be said for feeling relaxed at work. Not only does it take unnecessary pressure off, but it can help you to feel more at ease around your colleagues, and allows you to focus on the things that are important. On top of this, as a boss it can feel like you’re trying to control your employees in some way, which isn’t great news for those who prefer their autonomy and freedom in the workplace.

So, if you’re conflicted when it comes to approaching your office dress code, then be sure to keep these things in mind!