There has been a lot of hullaballoo about how inexpedient it is to wear suits and ties to work. Some are of the opinion that business-casuals are suitable for most professions. Some others have said that the clothing required by most corporations are not suitable for the tropical climate. Yet others have gone as far as recommending traditional attires, because they consider suits and ties, an imposition of the West.

The first point to be made is that suits and ties are not for every profession. There are positions within the service industry that do not require the full business attire. Nevertheless, there should be dress norms in every corporation. Whether employees wear full business attire or business casual, there must be dos and don’ts to prevent a professional environment from looking like a madhouse. It is recommended that professionals who meet regularly with other professionals or clients should always be in full business attire.

Many professionals have also complained about suits and ties not being suitable for the tropical climate. That argument might seem valid, but the truth is, wearing a suit is not any less comfortable during the summer in temperate regions. As a matter of fact, many temperate regions are hotter in the summer than the tropics. There are frequent heat waves, yet many professionals in these regions still wear their suits. Choosing a suit with the right fabric would certainly help in alleviating the discomfort that comes with the tropical heat. In addition, proper functioning air conditioners must be provided by corporations that require their employees to wear suits.

There is also the argument that suits and ties are a cultural imposition of the West. Suits may have their origin in the West, but as societies have evolved, they have become widely accepted as the international business attire. Today, very few people consider suits strictly a Western phenomenon. We all have a sense of national pride, but the truth is a Nigerian wearing  babariga or agbada to a business meeting is not any more out of place than a Scotsman wearing a kilt to the same event. There are western traditional attires that are equally inappropriate within corporate circles. Below are three reasons why those who call for the extermination of the suit from the Nigerian corporate scene might want to reconsider:

Communication
Dressing is one the most powerful forms of non-verbal communication. You can tell a lot about a person from their dressing. Sometimes, “the outside is a reflection of the inside” (emphasis not mine). You can tell a lot about a person’s attitudes and behavior by carefully observing their dress mannerisms. The way a person wears a suit is a predicator of certain attitudinal and behavioural tendencies. The ability to coordinate an outfit with other accessories and stay in it, tells a lot about a person’s organized life. A suit is an outfit that needs to be well coordinated, hence the way a person wears one, tells a lot about his organized life. The ability to stay in character while wearing a suit also tells a lot about the ability to comport one’s self.

Discipline
Dress codes promote discipline. When a person is dressed professionally he takes a different persona. A soldier takes on a professional persona when he is dressed in his uniform. School students tend to behave themselves when they are in their school uniforms. White collared professionals are not much different from soldiers or students in this regard. Being properly dressed in a suit promotes discipline and decorum. A work environment where dressing is regulated is more likely to have a decorous culture and atmosphere than one where there is no regulation.  

Globalization
The world is shrinking, and certain trends are no longer ascribed to a particular geographic location.  A suit is no longer viewed as a facet of only European or western culture. It has become a commonality among professionals all over the world. In a global market, there is little room for the sectarian attitudes and ethnocentrism that derail from substantive issues. No doubt, every person should take pride in their roots. But being able to find common ground with other professionals, as well as project an image of professionalism that resonates with the global image of professionalism, is needed for success in the global village we live in. Being Nigerian is more than adornments; it is what you can do to make Nigeria a better place. And if you can make that happen smoother and faster by wearing a suit, as opposed to an agbada or babariga, please go ahead and wear a suit.