Fit to be Tied? Recession May Inspire More Formal Work Attire

Dress Code: Are you seeing more neckties at work? If so, you could be witnessing a phenomenon that some say is directly related to fears about economic recession and, by extension, job losses. According to an October 7 article in Ireland’s The Independent, “increased sales of formal neckwear are considered a classic sign of an economic slump.” The theory is that “scruffy” dressers may be the first ones targeted if layoffs have to be made. The article notes increased tie sales across Ireland and elsewhere. It will be interesting to watch if this reputed trend manifests in the U.S. Thus far, that doesn’t seem to be the case. A Gallup poll in July found that the percentage of men wearing neckties to the office actually fell to 6 percent, down from 10 percent in 2002. Gallup also found that about two-thirds of men never don a tie, up from 59 percent.