Interesting news from Davos, courtesy of the Beeb’s Tim Weber.
Apparently ties are resurgent at this year’s event. And I don’t think that’s a simple fashion tip from Tim – “ties will be big this year”. There’s a bigger story here.
In past years the tie has actually been banned from Davos. Perhaps that was because it was emblematic of a male-dominated Westernised approach to business and leadership. It was symbolic of many of the old orders and prejudices the event sought to overcome.
Or perhaps delegates lived in fear of seeing Bill Gates sporting something "wacky" on the final day of conference, like a middle-aged public sector lifer who “brightens up the office” with his Mickey Mouse tie each and every Friday since he got it from his wife Margaret for Christmas in ‘98.
I suspect it’s the former.
According to Tim, posting on Twitter, one delegate was overheard saying: "People are in formal business dress, they don't want to be seen by shareholders to be relaxing and taking it easy."
The return to ties tells us people are now getting very serious about the world we live in. Dress is becoming more sober and people are either hiding behind the veil of respectability, or dressing to impress, depending on their circumstances.
Lest we forget the first bite is with the eye, I’m put in mind of a scene from US sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm where the following conversation takes place between client and lawyer:
Client: "I'm a little puzzled. What's with the outfit you're in? Is it a Halloween party?"
Lawyer: “It's casual Friday."
Client: "Casual Friday…what does that mean?"
Lawyer: "It means we dress like we would at home."
Client: "But you're not at home."
Lawyer: "I know that sir; it's casual Friday."
Client: "I know; you told me that already. What do you do on casual Friday?"
Lawyer: "We come in, we do our work, but we dress casually."
Client: "I don't like it."
Lawyer: "It's just the one day of the week…"
Client: "I don't care if it's a half-day each week. I don't like it. I'm here to change my will. A lot of money is involved! It's very important to me! I want you to be on the cutting edge when you're handling my business!"
Lawyer: "I'm sorry ... please ... understand ..."
Client: "You look like a cowboy! You look like J.R.! You should be in Dallas, not L.A.! You should be sorry because you just lost my account. Go wrangle somebody else!"
Lawyer: "But sir, if you'll just come back on a Monday..."
Comments