RUTH SUNDERLAND: Why don’t we dress for success?

One obvious question in the Labor Cash for Fashion row remains unspoken. Why don’t the top Labor politicians who have taken so much money from donors to buy new clothes look a little better?

The Chancellor’s suits are businesslike, but too stiff and boxy.

Rachel Reeves is certainly smarter than Angela Rayner, who has the knack of looking like she’s about to pull a pint at the Dog and Duck no matter how many expensive clothes she’s wearing. Sir Keir Starmer just looks boring, despite the designer’s specifications.

Many of you will think this is trivial: it’s about the way they perform, not what they wear. Absolutely right – in theory.

In practice, what we wear to work is very important. Our clothes send messages, some we intend and some we don’t, about our status, our competence, our self-image and much more. Covid wreaked havoc on what little sense many of us had about how to dress at work. While working from home, many of us gratefully changed into our pajamas and tracksuits, and maybe put on a jacket to go on Zoom.

To me, it’s a relief that retailers are reporting a return to smart clothing for women at work this fall. The pencil skirt is making a comeback and #officesiren is apparently a thing.

However, many men have not gone back to the suit and tie. After the Covid-19 crisis, even some high-value male CEOs are likely to appear at photo shoots for a media profile without a tie or even a comfortable sweater. I blame the jeans-and-hoodie tech brigade for this unedifying trend. Casual may be the norm for the maverick world of technology, but in mainstream business, executives tend to be older.

Why look like the grandpa in the Werther’s Original ad when you should look like a power broker?

Business leaders, such as politicians, are visible on the world stage and can be great ambassadors for British style.

It would be great to see more bosses like Dame Emma Walmsley, the CEO of pharmaceutical company GSK, who always looks stunning and is the consummate professional.

The fashion and textile industry is a serious force in the economy, contributing £62 billion to GDP, supporting 1.2 million jobs and bringing in over £23 billion in tax revenue, according to a report from UKFT. The fortunes of listed companies are mixed, with Burberry taking a particularly painful dive on the luxury side.

But it is encouraging to see two of our biggest mainstream fashion retailers doing very well. The prices are affordable, so politicians might even consider buying certain garments themselves and supporting their own industry.

My colleagues and I have written in detail about how M&S has started revitalizing its womenswear. Investors have been rewarded with their shares rising almost 65 percent in the past twelve months.

Then one of the best-managed companies in the FTSE 100 in any sector may not get the full credit it deserves because it is in the rag business and not in a more ‘serious’ sector such as defense or engineering. Its shares are up 42 percent in the past year, it is on track to make £1 billion in profits and it has set its sights on conquering overseas markets.

Smart dressing is never out of fashion – and neither is a good financial return.

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