And the Winner is…
The London Times by Fiona Smith

Hans Jorgensen is a cultural specialist from the London School of Economists and his seminars cover the very broad topic of cultural differences in professional circumstances with a spotlight on attire. London Times Magazine interviewed Mr. Jorgensen to get his take on the situation.

First of all, analyzing the possibilities of cultural interactions would result in too many scenarios to properly evaluate. Perhaps, it would be easier to look at just a few. I have based the majority of my efforts in three areas. They include Asia, Europe, and America.

One of the most multifaceted cultural challenges in professional circumstances is the Asian zone. As emerging markets mature, there tends to be a more conservative approach to business manners. This can be offset with the speed with which the market is expanding. The style of business found in Japan has been changing dramatically following the post-economic miracle era of the 50s and 60s. Young Japanese executives have been taking on a style that is similar to the style of cross Pacific offices, in contrast to that of their aging predecessors. In contrast to the Japanese style is the Korean business class which tends to be more along the line of the more traditional European attire. Seoul is a suit city. Shanghai is the same. History tells us that emerging economies tend to have a more formal style with general liberalization with the passing of time. When visiting, it is best to favor a formal approach. This way there is less risk of embarrassment.

Closer in concept to a common international style is the European mode of function. Similar to Asia there is a wide variance in convention. Copenhagen and Madrid are as different as Amsterdam and Paris. In Europe, the further north you go, the less conservative the style. A generation ago, Amsterdam was considered a suit and tie city. Now if you go to work in a tie, people will think you have a job interview. In the meantime, Athens has maintained a conservative style. Similar to Asia the rule of dress is beware of the attire of the target city.

One might think that it is the Americas that are setting these trends but the cultural seclusion that stretches from Miami to Anchorage Alaska, and from San Diego to the North Pole are pretty much the same. This might prove to be a major handicap in the near future. Cultural isolation and monolinguistic attitudes are fine when you control economic purse strings, but times are changing and the necessity for appreciation of difference can eventually help people win out. Similar to Europe, America used to have an old school style. Apart from cities like New York and Washington DC, which are not really typical American cities, Americans are laid-back.

Where does the suit and tie come from? England. The word suit comes from the French word suit which means to follow. Thus, suit is a coined term for business attire and was meant to indicate that business garments would follow a pattern. Same material. Matching coat shoes etc.. Trends indicate that the formality in business dress is becoming more casual. How do you think we will be dressing at work in 100 years?

The London Times Fiona Smith