Giles Deacon reimagines post-pandemic office-wear

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jun 24, 2021

Giles Deacon has created a new post-pandemic workwear collection that “reimagines how we will dress for the office as WFH comes to an end”.

Office-suitable clothing has had a tough time in the past 15 months  as people have worked from home and there’s a lot of speculation about what office dressing will look like as people return to their workplaces.

Deacon has linked up with IWG — the giant operator of office and flexible workspace — for the Giles x IWG capsule collection that includes three prototype looks (male, female and non-binary). The pieces have “been designed to combine office sharpness with lockdown comfort style”.

They said the looks are “informed both [by] Giles’ creative vision and a nationwide office worker survey of how attitudes towards dressing for work have shifted since the pandemic”. 

The survey showed people want to “express individuality at work as 55% of workers surveyed said they work better when given the freedom to dress how they like, and 40% said they are more creative”.

With office visits up 58% since the start of the year, office-wear is clearly going to be on people’s minds.

IWG, which operates the Spaces and Regus work space brands, said consumers have a “desire for a return to smarter workwear to feel stylish and confident but without sacrificing comfort and the latest fashion trends”.

The collection uses organic fabrics such as poplin, soft needlecord, compact wool and cotton jersey. “This is a move away from more traditional fabrics commonly worn pre-lockdown, with the aim of guiding workers to make more considered choices for their work wardrobes by buying pieces that are sustainable and have longevity,” IWG said.

The colour palettes have also moved from “traditional black and white to a broader muted palette of charcoal greys alongside soft-washed navy and brown chosen to invigorate strength and dependability of the wearer. Alongside, colours of khaki and sand chosen for their calming properties, with brighter colours such as light blue to help the wearer feel happy, confident and have authority, with red for leadership and determination”.

It added that Millennials and Gen Z workers are particularly conscious of expressing themselves at work via their wardrobes.  Over half (51%) of 18-24 year olds said their outfits reflect their personality, the highest of any age demographic. Some 51% of 25-34 year olds said their office attire is linked to their creativity, higher than any other age group.