The slackening of office dress codes was supposed to be a good thing. A liberation from the (polka-dotted) ties that bind, freeing us to experiment with our style. But it hasn’t really worked out that way.
Inspired by the utilitarian habits of Silicon Valley, men across the land have resorted to an endless rotation of plain tees, sensible knits and slim trainers. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but it’s no surprise that many are turning back to office tailoring as a result.
Thankfully, there are ways to ensure that a two-piece suit is ‘chillaxed working space’-appropriate. Swapping a shirt for a plain, tucked-in tee is one of them, but experimenting with your fabrics is the real game-changer. For a good example of the latter, let’s take a look at Orlando Bloom’s promotion-worthy outfit at the LA premiere of new Amazon series Carnival Row.
Decked out in full Tom Ford, Bloom’s silk/linen blend suit is power dressing at its most casual. The royal blue screams professionalism, the wide peak lapels demand respect, and the lightweight material is too busy sipping on Aperol spritz with its feet up on the desk to make any comment at all.
What’s more, 42-year-old Bloom finished it off with a Sixties-inspired knitted tie. As Riz Ahmed proved earlier this month, going off-piste with your neckwear is another great way to breathe new life into a classic look.
Navy isn’t the only way to go, of course. Other materials deserve a look in, too.
