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CNN Live At Daybreak

Some Companies Give Up on Casual Friday

Aired February 15, 2002 - 06:39   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is Friday, and many of you will be wearing khakis and denim shirts to work today, but not those who work at Wall Street's Lehman Brothers. The blue-blood investment bank is going back to formal attire five days a week. We're going to the expert to see if there's a deeper meaning behind this.

Stefano Tonchi from "Esquire" magazine joins us this morning from our New York Bureau -- good morning.

STEFANO TONCHI, "ESQUIRE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, good morning.

COSTELLO: So why are so many companies abandoning casual Friday do you think?

TONCHI: Well, because let's say a business suit helps you do good business. What we are seeing at many companies that clients feel not confident when they are relating and talking to somebody that is not wearing a suit. We have seen kind of a -- we talk about the 20 percent less productivity in people wearing casual clothing.

COSTELLO: So it is...

TONCHI: I think...

COSTELLO: So it is a business statement, not really a fashion statement. Is it because we got a little...

TONCHI: It goes both ways. It really goes both ways, I would say. We are seeing like on the line we show especially after September, a lot of more conservative suits and much more like of a formal approach to clothing. At the same time, I think it is also a business decision. I think when you spend your money consulting a banker or a lawyer or an accountant, you really want to feel confident. And if the person in front of you is wearing a suit, I think you get that effect.

COSTELLO: Well, maybe one of the problems was that people became a little too casual on causal Fridays.

TONCHI: Exactly. We are seeing a lot of people very badly dressed, I think. And there is a way to do casual that can be, how to say, a little bit more expressive. I mean, sometimes some professions request people to express their style, to actually -- I know in my business, like in this fashion business, you are really like the man to be like -- to present some element of personal style. But for many people, it's very hard, I mean, to have to think in the morning about what to wear. I think it's distractive. So...

COSTELLO: Absolutely. Hey, let's go back to that. What is "Esquire" magazine touting? I mean, do you buy the casual dress thing, the personal style thing?

TONCHI: What we are suggesting, and actually our March issue is all about what style is today, and who are the best dressed men the States. We are suggesting to dress properly for your role in the world, to dress properly for the job. That's really like what we suggest. And to do that, there are like a few very quick, I think, advice. First of all, I think you should fit comfortable in your clothes. You should choose things that fit your body type, things that fit your age group. You should not wear too many logos. You don't want to say too much about yourself. And fit comfortable, really that's the bottom line.

COSTELLO: OK, quickly now, you mentioned that you were going to mention some of the best dressed men in America. So who is one?

TONCHI: Well, we have in the same group somebody like from Hollywood like Dylan McDermott with somebody like Mr. -- you know, President Bush. You will tell me what do they have on common? One is wearing a lot of designer's clothes; the other one is more of a conservative like blue suit or blazer. Both, I think they dress properly for their job. And that's really the point.

COSTELLO: Well, good for them. OK. Well, we're out of time. Thank you very much for joining this morning and giving us some fashion tips.

TONCHI: Thank you for having me. Thank you.

COSTELLO: And I think Dylan McDermott would look good in anything he wore.

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