Ivan powerless against power dressing

Business wear for men and
women returns to Cayman

Friday,  January 21, 2005

When Ivan struck Cayman in September 2004, it seemed to have immediately robbed Cayman residents of many and varied things including clothing. So much of these items became mops, padding for beds on floors, soaked with sea or dirty water or were simply not found. 

But, with these lost wardrobes a new type of more relaxed dress code was found. However, even in the face of the comfort and suitability to the climate offered by this new code, it has now virtually disappeared – and without much objection, if any at all.

Right after the hurricane there was virtually an unwritten code that allowed anyone to go anywhere be it work, church, out for dinner or wherever, in whatever they had left to wear, no matter how unusual.

Ties just disappeared along with long sleeves and suits, and in their stead came jeans, shorts, T-shirts and other casual clothes. 

According to a representative from one of the world’s top four accounting firms with offices here in Cayman, “up to October there was no formal statement on attire, we just allowed persons to wear anything that was clean. The company’s focus was on making sure families had other essential needs.”

However, only some six or so weeks after the hurricane, the reign of the extremely casual ended. 

“We had no formal policy until the end of October,” said Vicki Hew of Attorneys-at-Law, Walkers.

“Prior to the hurricane we would normally have a dress-down-day once a month where full-length jeans, Walkers T-shirts and other items of business casual wear were allowed. We therefore asked that business casual wear be considered the standard dress code for daily office wear up to the end of the year,” she explained.

Rhonda Serrrano of Butterfield Bank explained that the business casual wear code, which does not allow for shorts, flip-flops or other very casual items, but a minimum adherence to polo shirts and full-length jeans, will remain in place for another few weeks up to 25 February.

The move back to the dressing-for-success - with stockings, skirts, ties, long sleeves, suits and the like – seemed, however, to be done with consummate ease. A representative from the Government Personnel Department said, “there was no written notice for persons to return to attire that was worn before the hurricane. Since this year, everyone is just not turning up in casual wear.”

Moreover, many people were already being seen arriving at the office in business dress as early as November. A representative from Motor and General Insurance Company said, “the dress-down period was very temporary,” underscoring the fact that there was disdain for casual wear in the office.

One banking representative stated that the only whisper of regret she heard was from a male who did not mind being in long sleeves, but the break from wearing a tie was good. However, there were many other reports of a preference by men for the general return to the dress code. One gentleman was even heard to say “I think in a more business-like way when I wear my tie.”

   Back...