«Smart-casual is a style for the office and should not be confused with outfits you might wear to the beach or in the garden,» says Sigvard Wohlwend.
A more relaxed dress code has just been introduced at Bank Frick in Liechtenstein. The new dress guide gives employees more freedom to choose what they wear, the firm said on Thursday.
From now on, smart-casual will be an accepted form of attire for dealing with clients – i.e. a modern, hybrid style that constitutes a middle ground between business and casual clothing.
More Freedom For Women
From now on, men in suits can lose the tie and leave their top button undone. Chinos and dark jeans are now permitted too, as long as they are not faded or distressed, and smart polo shirts are an alternative to long-sleeved shirts, the bank writes. Women have even more freedom here: while smart-casual outfits include one business style element, the rest of the outfit may vary.
«What matters is that the outfit is clean and tidy with no holes in it,» emphasises Sigvard Wohlwend, Head of Corporate and Market Communications at Bank Frick. «The smart-casual look allows for brighter, more colourful outfits.»
Client Structure Changed
Another feature of the smart-casual look at Bank Frick is classic trainers. Bank Frick is celebrating its 20th birthday in 2018. To mark the occasion employees were given Adidas trainers in the primary company colours of the Bank. Staff are free to wear the dark blue or turquoise-coloured classic trainers as part of their office outfit.
The newly introduced dress guide was prompted by Bank Frick’s changed client structure, among other things. «Today, many of Bank Frick visitors and clients have more of a fintech or blockchain background.
Younger Business Clients
Often these are younger business clients who look different to the established clientele that dominated our client structure a decade ago,» said Wohlwend.
