Upgrading the wardrobe for fall, especially during economic slowdowns, is a difficult balancing act. If there’s a question as to whether there’ll be a next paycheck, it may not feel like the right time to spend money on clothes. Then again, as layoffs mount on Wall Street and beyond, working men might feel the need to appear more serious so as to avoid the ax.
“Work-wear is more relevant any time the economy is in a downturn,” says Michael Fisher, menswear editor at Stylesight, a trend forecasting firm.
In Depth: Men’s Fall Workwear Essentials
Fisher’s belief is shared by many. According to a survey conducted by Yahoo! (nasdaq: YHOO – news – people ) HotJobs, 75% of recruiters believe how you dress to the office affects your job, salary and possible promotions, and 72% say it is important that employees dress like their bosses.
