Looking good and dressing well is something that most women take pride in, but just how much are we actually spending?
New research from Brother UK indicates how much of our salary we spend on clothes, and the reasons why we're doing it.
Over two thirds of women report feeling under pressure to dress a certain way to get noticed at work. Looking the part doesn’t come cheap, with women spending 18 per cent of their salary - an average of £341 a month - on their working wardrobe.
Grace Woodward, celebrity fashion stylist, who worked with Brother on the study says: “Despite a difficult financial year and women being encouraged to tighten their belts, they are putting greater emphasis and spending more money on their working wardrobe in an attempt to get ahead. This research shows how important office appearance is, and how women are consciously using clothes as tools to get ahead.”
Furthering our career is the root to our spending, so it would seem, with 6 per cent having bought new clothes to help further their career.
The research also revealed that women are guilty of labelling their colleagues based on their office attire. Over half of women admit they judge their female colleagues based on what they wear to work and over a third worry about what people think if they wear the same clothes too often.
Joanna Williams, Head of Brother UK Marketing and Communications, commented: “Whether we intend to or not, we are guilty on some level of subconsciously labelling people based on what they wear. A tough economic climate has meant people now feel they need to adopt powerful labels about themselves at work in order to move up the corporate ladder.”
The study found that women are adopting these dress tactics, not only to fight off competition from colleagues for the top spot, but also with the recession still fresh, many feel they have a better chance to climb the career ladder internally rather then moving on.
Tagged in Money fashion Brother Grace Woodward Style