IOD directors club gets a dressing down
The Institute of Directors, a business club, has announced that it is to cast aside 100 years of tradition and send the suit the way of the bowler hat by allowing members to don shorts, T-shirts and trainers.
The Pall Mall based institution has hitherto enforced a strict dress code for anyone wishing to set foot within, barring entry to anyone not decked out in ‘business attire’. In a concession to scruffiness however these requirements are being relaxed to ‘smart casual’ a vague term which encapsulates everything from shorts and T-shirts to trainers.
Taking the form of a three month trial the move is designed to appeal to a new breed of tech entrepreneur who is more at home on their scooter than in a Bentley.
Explaining the radical step an Institute spokesperson said: “We are doing a lot more work with tech companies and start-ups.
“We have been the home of British business for over 100 years and we have always been a forward looking organisation. Reflecting social changes and adapting to the needs of our membership is part of that philosophy."
Not all garments will be given the green light however with ‘indecent’ attire, such as Che Guevara T-shirts, still off limits.