The new hybrid work model, which is becoming increasingly prevalent throughout the world, has not only changed how and when people work, but also how they dress.
According to the economist Nicholas Bloom, the hybrid working model has increased 3-4% globally, with more and more employees taking advantage of shared working spaces, at-home offices and flexible desks at their employer.
IWG, a global leader in the hybrid work model through the provision of 4,000 workspaces across 120 countries, notes that people have adopted new “styles” to go with the hybrid working mode.
In a survey of 1,000 hybrid workers in the USA, 79% said they now dress differently, primarily driven by the need to be more comfortable. Around 85% of males, 77% of females, and 62% of non-binary or gender-fluid persons said that they have adopted a new “look.”
Age seems to play a big role in the uptake of a more casual style, with 86% of Millennials making the switch, followed by Gen X at 77% and Gen Z at 74%. Baby Boomers, however, are resistant to “dressing down” from their tradition office attire with only 51% saying they have changed their work attire following their transition to the new working model.
Survey respondents note that their main “switch” involved pairing a blazer with jeans, or a dress with sneakers. Meanwhile the four key “fashion trends” related to hybrid work fall into the following categories:
- Quiet Luxury- 47% of respondents choose to dress casual but accessorize with luxury
- Dopamine Dressing- 38% opt for vivid colors and patterns in a search for post-pandemic optimism
- Preppy Streetwear- 25% pair stylish but comfortable outfits with sneakers, which they consider to be more modern
- Individualism- 22% take advantage of the relaxed dress codes to break stereotypes and dress creatively
Founder and CEO of IWG Mark Dixon explains that the demand for a hybrid work model is expected to continue increasing and impacting all aspects of our lives. The work model reduces costs for the companies, improves the quality of life of workers and reduces the negative impact on the environment, meanwhile driving change in both the real estate and fashion industries.
