Corporate dress codes shifting
The number of professional male workers who buy ties has plummeted from 70 per cent in 1996 to only 56 per cent today, according to new figures from the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB).

The biggest shift in choice of attire has come from office managers, with just 28 per cent having purchased a tie in last year. In 1996, 23 per cent of men working in IT had not bought a tie in the past 12 months, against 56 per cent today.

BMRB TGI survey director Julian Tooke said: 'With many companies taking on an increasingly relaxed attitude to dress codes, the tie is suffering as a result. One possible factor for this is the American influence, where not wearing a tie has been mainstream for some time. This has a knock-on effect - if your clients don't wear ties, then you won't feel the need to wear one either.

'Another reason may be the growing popularity of the patterned shirt, which can be difficult to find the right tie for.'

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