Z/Yen Suits You

Tuesday, 25 April 2000
By Now&ZYen

Original Joomla Article

Z/Yen, the leading risk/reward management firm, tomorrow unveils its report into the competitive advantage of business attire: "The Risks and Rewards of Organisational Dress Sense". The study is based on rigorous empirical research and nationwide surveys over the last three months. Marie Logan, Z/Yen’s business fashion co-ordinator and leader of the study insists, "our study presents a fascinating insight into the issues facing office workers in the new millennium, and, unusually for a consultancy study, recommends some practical solutions."

The following extract should provide some enlightenment.

Issue 1 – You’ve dressed down for the arrival of your favourite "dotcom" client, when your boss schedules an emergency meeting with a very formal "captain of industry".

  • Z/Yen Solution – The "reversa-chino": Khaki on the outside, pinstriped on the inside. Available in three sizes: Regular, Tall or Grande.

Issue 2 – Global warming has hit your office and whatever you wear, you’re too hot.

  • Z/Yen Solution – The "polo shirt with a hole". In a revolutionary cross-over between the confectionery and fashion industries, Z/Yen have designed a new polo shirt with small apertures to enable the skin to breathe more easily. Ian Harris, Managing Director of Z/Yen, comments. "We’re amazed that no-one has had this idea before".

Issue 3 – You want to wear trousers but your boss wants all female staff to wear skirts.

  • Z/Yen Solution – The "convert-a-skirt". In association with the English Zip Company (eZipper.co.uk), Z/Yen have designed a new utility fashion garment. Simply zip or unzip the inside leg to change from trousers to skirt and back again. A new deluxe model with the ability to transform into hot-pants will be available this summer.

Jeremy Smith, Z/Yen’s new Director and expert in Financial Services explains. "Dress Down Friday’s have been a major source of angst among City professionals. Staff working on trading floors don’t have space to store spare clothes. With a spare jacket slung over the back of the chair and a pair of "reversa-chinos", traders and marketers will be fully equipped to deal with any opportunity."

Z/Yen specialises in risk/reward management, an innovative approach to improving organisational performance. Z/Yen clients include blue chip companies in banking, information technology, publishing and distribution as well as charities and care organisations. Strangely, Z/Yen’s portfolio to date is a little light on fashion houses.

For further information please contact:
Ian Harris, Jeremy Smith or Michael Mainelli
Telephone (020) 7562-9562


Further Extract from "The Risks and Rewards of Organisational Dress Sense"

The following extract is a mere smidgen of the detailed analysis contained in the study. Section 43 sets out modes of dress for various sectors based on lounge/informal styles and strict/liberal enforcement:

Sector Lounge / Informal Strict / Liberal Comments
Accountants Lounge Strict Tend to choose to wear jacket and tie out of habit, even when working from home.
Software – Computer Games Informal Strict Local fashions (e.g., goth, grunge) strictly enforced through peer pressure.
Software – Business Systems Lounge Liberal Dress down Friday often perceived as greatest liberating factor since the US Declaration of Independence.
Lawyers Lounge Strict Dress codes often documented in legal agreements countersigned by all parties.
Dot.com founders at startup time Depends Strict mode of dress depends on age and predisposition of founders (see "computer games" and or "accountants" above).
Dot.com founders searching for financial backers Lounge Strict Suits often bought by parents for university interviews. Mode of dress often attracts ridicule when visiting city financial institutions on dress-down days.
Dot.com founders building web-site Informal Liberal Pyjamas.
Dot.com founders during earn out period after IPO Lounge Liberal Often known as "the suit phase". Dress down Friday really helps maintain that start up culture, don’t you think?
Dot.com founders after earn out period Informal Liberal Mostly beachwear, golfwear and nolongercarewear.
Z/Yen staff before 6:00pm Lounge Strict strictly Ally McBeal.
Z/Yen staff after 6:00pm Black Tie Liberal Black Classic Tuxedo, Jean-Paul Gaultier kilts and Ladies Fashion Eveningwear (e.g. Vivienne Westwood bustles).
....Continues for 25 pages