Cool BIZ

In America , the Business Casual craze was introduced two years ago as more and more companies (large and small) were changing their clothing requirements to allow their employees to be more comfortable. This trend has continued not only for small business but also for the usual stuffy, strict dress code of insurance, financial and real estate companies. About 50% of financial, insurance, and real estate companies allow casual dress once a week, and 34% of them permit it all the time, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. The SHRM says 44% of all businesses have adopted all-casual, all-the-time policies, up from 36% in 1998.

Save the World?
This trend is not only in the US but all over the world. For example, if you walked in the cities of japan a year ago, you would have seen a sea of black and grey suits, tailored to perfection with large double windsor ties topping of the look. But recently a new trend, called “CoolBiz� is sweeping across the nation. This trend did not start with young trendy dot com companies, instead it was promoted by the Prime Minister himself for environmental reasons. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told his Cabinet and the entire central government to shed their ties and jackets between June1 and Sept. 30th. "The move is meant to show (the government's) resolve to achieve Japan's target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent" as pledged in the Kyoto Protocol, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda explained. Environment Ministry officials stated the ministry is lobbying various sectors of society to promote a more flexible dress code and to refrain from overcooling offices.

The removal of a jacket and necktie results in a 2-degree reduction in the heat felt by the body, meaning that individuals can feel comfortable in a room where the air conditioning is set at a little higher temp, which in turn saves energy they said.

Whether it is saving the planet or just setting a relaxed atmosphere at work, we are faced with an even greater problem. What clothes are appropriate for the “CoolBiz� movement and what new looks are hot for fall 2005?
Here are a few easy buys to pick up that will give you over 50 outfit combinations:

Choose 2 mid-weight sport coats, one light and one dark.

Add 3-4 wrinkle free striped shirts,

Finish with 3 neutral wrinkle-free pants

Mix and match, in the morning, grab 3 items and you’re gone. Quick tip: By habit we buy pieces of clothing here and there. A shirt that is on the clearance rack, pants our girlfriend found for us etc. and then we have a bunch of clothes that are a pain to put together into easy outfits. Instead, save up and go on a shopping spree in one day, grab these 8-9 items that you can color code in one day and have your wardrobe set for fall, winter and spring

Recommended Stores for good buys:

Marshalls
TJ Max
Nordstrom Rack
Banana Republic outlet
K&G Men’s clothing

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