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If you're over 30 and commute to work by train or bus, here's a psychological test you can conduct during rush hour. Come to the station wearing a sweater, jeans, and sneakers, and carry a knapsack. Watch the reaction of all the men and women in business suits. Here are people who probably see you every day; some may have even nodded or smiled or exchanged a few words with you. But today, they scarcely look up at you. People who would normally clear a space on the seat next to them now put a briefcase or a newspaper there-just as you walk by. If you stop and ask to sit, you'll be greeted with a look that could have come from Siberia.
Wear your usual business attire the next day, and you'll be welcome again. (And rest assured you'll get an equally chilly reception if you decide to wear a business suit on the off-peak train.)
Still, everyone seems to be talking about the new and all-encompassing trend toward business-casual attire in the office. Even IBM, the venerable bastion of the navy suit, has instituted "casual" days where people can dress down without being dressed down. As summer approaches, you'll still see plenty of suits on those commuter trains and buses. But come Friday, you might wonder whether the dry cleaners went on strike the night before.
Recently, Levi Strauss created a Guide to Casual Business Wear, which includes videos, surveys, and lists of suggestions for companies that want to adopt a full or partial casual code. It's a smart marketing move, since Levi Strauss stands to gain considerably from this sort of trend. Which leads us to Myth Number One: Dressing casually will save people money because they don't have to...