I have always been a people watcher, and I love to see how people are dressed, which I suppose it’s par for the course given what I do for a living. My job often requires me to travel into London. For this, I need to catch a train, which is usually full of other professionals going to their daily place of work.  What I have noticed, over a period of time, is that standards of business dress have got decidely casual. I don’t mean that the business suit has been replaced, though it may well have been, but more that it’s worn carelessly, with no real thought behind it. From my observations, it would appear that few professional men or women feel the need to shine their shoes, iron their clothes or choose a great looking bag/case. Regularly, I spot men wearing suit trousers, a shirt and tie teamed with a FLEECE and trainers! I presume the suit jacket is stuffed into the obligatory canvas backpack or laptop case, along with a decent pair of shoes, but who knows.    

It tickled me, therefore, when I spotted an article in today’s Times about a woman professional who arrives into London via the newly refurbished St Pancras station (next door to my journey’s terminal, Kings Cross). The station is now so smart that she’s upped her game in the clothing stakes. It seems the French, arriving here via Eurostar, have no qualms whatsoever about looking good. No backpacks in sight for them. 

Wonder if that particular philosophy will spread to the adjacent station? I’ve started the trend, well I hope I never let it go, but I wonder if anyone has noticed!

Picture – Champagne Bar, St Pancras station