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Ties and high heels out as hybrid office return sparks casual comfy boom By Reuters

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© Reuters. Blanca Lorca, wearing casual clothing, works at her Madrid home, Spain September 30, 2021. REUTERS/Sergio Perez

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Clara Laeila Laudette, Corina Pons

MADRID, Reuters – Blanca Lorca (Spanish fashionista) used to wear high heels and tailored clothes for work. But the COVID-19 lockdown changed her taste in style and shopping habits.

As a part of her return to the workplace, she now wears neutral shades and has slack suits after months spent working out of her Madrid home.

Professionals across Europe are looking for new wardrobes and hybrid work after spending 18 months wearing loungewear.

This is great news for retailers who have been hard hit.

While comfort has been largely eliminated from ties, dresses, and heels, it has created a need for more versatile clothing. Smart enough for work but casual enough for dinner parties or teleconferences.

According to data, personal apparel sales, which includes clothing and shoes, grew 8.5% over the twelve months to August. This was due to increased mobility and back-to work mandates.

According to a Bank of America note (NYSE:), more than 25% of British workers surveyed by Office Group stated that they will continue to dress less formally even when in work, and almost a third said they plan to try different styles.

Lorca stated that after being away from home so many times, comfort is what you seek, while at the same moment, style is important to you. Lorca was wearing loose-fitting trousers and a light shirt as she browsed the Zubi boutique in Madrid.

“I seek clothes that last, don’t get out of style (and) can be used for all occasions.”

PYJAMAS and ZOOM

Brands of great stature are paying close attention.

Retailers such as Zara, Mango and H&M are highlighting “smart casual” trousers, shirts and dresses on their websites, alongside the lounge- and sportswear which lockdowns made ubiquitous.

Numerous fashion companies have released new collections to celebrate this special back-to work season. This is because easing restrictions and vaccine campaigns encourage mobility.

El Corte Ingles department store, which is a well-known Spanish brand, stated that demand for officewear has increased over the summer and accelerated in September when clients returned to work.

The most successful shops in achieving pre-pandemic levels of sales are those that sell workwear or casual wear, according to analysis and fashion retail sources in London. Madrid is a European city with high vaccine rates, and has helped people recover.

Women whose employers required them to return partial payments have worn the blouse above pyjama pants for Zoom calls. But they now pair it with flats and easy trousers, Zubi owner Elena Zubizarreta said to Reuters.

According to CCOO (the country’s biggest trade union), 78% of Spanish citizens are currently fully vaccinated. Around 80% of workers have returned at minimum part-time.

However, not many people are able to ignore the rules of formal dress.

    Alberto Gavilan, talent director at staffing agency Addeco, said formal attire was now the exception. According to him, “Most people will choose the business casual code which has proven so efficient and comfortable in recent month’s.”

“FASHION HAS CAME AROUND”

According to a survey done by Dynata in June, more than half the Spanish people who wore formal clothing for work prior to the outbreak were excited about purchasing new clothes for office returns. This is the highest figure among eleven countries.

British and Japanese had 19%, 21% and respectively, 21% respectively.

Idealo.es, a Spanish price comparison site, said that online searches for sports tracksuits fell 96% between January and August due to the increased vaccination rate.

Valme Pardo, communications specialist, said, “Fashion is changing and you feel like having new items to go back after almost two decades away.” She laid boldly-printed dresses on her Madrid bedroom bed and also wore plenty of tailored trousers and long blazers.

Also, comfort is a must-have for men.

Lucia Danero in Madrid is a shopping consultant at El Corte Ingles.

She said that it used to be unthinkable to wear a sweatshirt to work, but now it’s commonplace.

See also: ‘RELAXED CITY.

This trend is worldwide.

International brands Vince,  Me+Em,  Uniqlo  and  The White Company, as well as U.S. and UK retailers such as  Nordstrom  and  John Lewis, are dedicating “site space to modern workwear staples, with a strong emphasis… on seasonless pieces to ensure versatility and longevity,” trend intelligence agency Stylus said in a recent report.

    In fact, despite workplace mobility still sagging 30% below pre-pandemic rates, apparel sales are on average 5% higher in major Western markets, Jefferies (NYSE:) bank said in a note to clients in September.

Fashion behemoth sells both online and in-person Inditex The MC: (Meaningful Concentration) was even greater in August than it was during the pre-pandemic.

Pablo Isla, Inditex’s executive chairman, stated at a conference that autumn/winter has been a successful season. He then announced the new Massimo Diutti collection as “Relaxed City.”

Yet even as demand recovers, retailers are grappling with disruptions to global supply chains: sales at H&M grew less than expected in the third quarter, before being hampered in September by supply restrictions.

    “There’s an urge to get ‘dressed up’ after spending so much time at home… but we’ve gotten used to being comfortable and we want… garments such as unlined blazers and jackets, wider trousers and intricate knitwear,” said Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor at H&M.

Madrid Fashion Week was backstage when designers bet upon new beginnings. This included colourful jumpers and bright dresses that were not restrictive.

“Heels were left only for very special moments. However, they are no longer needed for very specific occasions.

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