Workwear Is Undergoing An Identity Crisis

In this age of digitalisation, workwear is undergoing an identity crisis

- Namrata Kedar

Flashback to the ’80s – a period defined by power dressing. It was a time when every woman aimed to be a man in a man’s world. Double breasted suits, boxy cuts and oversized shoulders doubled as an armour in an attempt to conceal their inherent femininity. Within a decade, designers such as Armani trimmed and tailored these silhouettes, softening them and allowing the female form to announce itself.

Circa today, women have overtaken the workforce. Their millennial ways of adopting an alternative lifestyle or unorthodox career choices have blurred the boundary between work and play, which is reflected in the way they carry themselves. Therefore it’s no surprise that millennials are all about creating a personal brand that embodies who they are, rather than making a professional statement. Another side effect of digitalisation is the spawning of co-working spaces and an entrepreneurial culture that encourage interactions via email. All these factors have dismantled homogenised uniforms and led to the casualisation of workwear.

Individuals are now seeking transitional pieces – a crossover between duty and off-duty dressing. Brands on their part are trying to design workwear apparel for the newer generations through authentic collections offering office staples with contemporary updates, that will form the basis of a modern wardrobe.