There goes the sun

So summer's been and gone now - clocks change next weekend, sob. It was a good one though...well better than it seemed it was going to be at one point. With the summer gone it seems strange a group of scientists should choose now to publishing findings that dark clothing is better than Hawaiian shirts for sun protection.

Although dark clothing is usually shunned in hot weather for light, floaty, bright colours, Dr Ascension Riva, who led the study - published in the journal Industrial and Engineering Chemistry said, “The colour of cotton woven fabrics is a factor that has a remarkable influence on their protection against ultraviolet radiation." She added, "Clothing manufacturers could use information from this study to better design sun-protective clothing."

So, what are you waiting for, get to it - in time for next years heatwave!

A hot suit

Government ministers in Bangladesh have been told, nay, ordered to stop wearing suits to work in an effort to save energy. Due to the heat of the country many offices run air-conditioners all day long, causing mass energy use and often power outages too.

To combat this dress codes have been re-written so government workers may wear just shirts and trousers, and the shirts can be worn untucked. Businesses across the country will be asked to consider implementing similar dress codes to help save energy too.

An interesting development no? Someone Company Clothing knows was most perturbed to be told by his employee that wearing shorts in to work - even on the hottest day(s) of summer - was not acceptable, despite not being a customer facing worker. Perhaps he should move to Bangladesh?

What do you think? A wise move? Would you be happy for staff to wear shorts or untucked shirts if it helped save energy, or does it remove a layer of professionalism that the suit brings? Let us know below!

Summer breeze

So another washed out weekend comes and goes in the damp squib that is the British Summer. From Cornwall To Carlisle the rain comes pouring, ruining BBQs, crickets matches and picnics.

And for the organisers of a world record attempt, it somewhat hampered their efforts too - well, the 'most amount of women in bikini's photographed' was going to require good weather wasn't it? Why this qualifies as a world record we don't know - seems pointlessly random. However, it was for charity, so that's good and overrules concerns on the nature of 'what is a world record'.

How about you; any great summer plans washed out by the rain and wind?

Hot Hot Heat

My word it's hot out there. Almost unbearably so. Have you got any tips for staying cool?

We were interested note a little article in the Metro today about calls for office workers to be allowed to wear shorts to work in such hot conditions - we were interviewing people about the pros and cons of this style of office wear just last issue; don't ever say we don't follow trends!

And not only that, but on the way to work this morning, we spotted someone wearing those weird looking feet glove flip flops (see post below), and have to say in reality they look a little better than they come across on just a blank image.

What do you think? Are shorters and the like an acceptable dress code in the office in such hot conditions? Or are wearers being too quick to find any excuse to subvert dress codes? Let us know using the comments form below.

Summer footwear

Hello all! It's summer! It's Glastonbury! It's...going to rain!

But we don't care. Footwear in summer is an odd conundrum. Flip flops? Trainers? Barefoot? Why not combine them all together and make a weird piece of footwear called the Vibram FiveFingers (no, not a funk guitarist) but a shoe that offers protection and comfort when you're clambering over rocks and the like.

People do, apparently, have a bit of a love/hate reaction to them, and we have to say in the Company Clothing office find them "deeply disturbing". Still, if you've got a pair let us know what they're really like below.

Enjoy the sun!

Summer fashions / new issue

The new issue should be with you shortly - if you're a subscriber, and if not a click on the cover image to the right will set you on your way to a few cheeky freebies in the form of PDFs of some of the articles in the issue.

In one article we talk to people about dealing with changes to dress code staff often take upon themselves to stay cool in the summer heat; and this weekend looks to be a "Phew what a scorcher!"

Does anybody have any good tips to beat the heat? Let us know, we're melttiiiinnnnnggggg.....

What's acceptable?

With the onset of summer the wardrobes of office staff across the land will soon be changing. Out go the overcoats and scarves, and in come the...well, what? Aside from losing items of clothing to cool down, what can office staff to do to stay cool?

It depends on each organisation, but most professional, office based workers still wear a suit, shirt and tie, or just a smart shirt with trousers and shoes. There seems little scope for change. But what about flip-flops? Should they be allowed on hot days? Or caps, or sun hats. Shorts even? How laid back does an office have to be to make shorts permissible? Or is it much safer to stick to those black trousers and smart shirt?

Perhaps now it doesn't even matter. Casual dress is such a part of so many places that many places probably won't even notice the gradually exposure of flesh over the coming months. What do you think? We'd love to hear your thoughts, opinions, stories and so on this topic as it's something we're putting together for our next print issue.

Alpaca Mac

A cute animal story to ease us all back into the working week after the joys of bank holiday Monday. A baby alpaca has been given a little high-vis coat help keep it warm in the inclement spring weather. Bless.

Straw hat

There's been some heated discussion in the Company Clothing offices of late about the merits of hats - heated discussion to keep us warm you see. The cold weather has no doubt seen people digging out anything that might keep them warm - gloves, ski socks, bulky jackets, and of course hats. But just because it's cold does that excuse bizarre choices - can you eschew fashion for the sake of warmth?

Jack Straw certainly made a bold choice when he wore a 'shapka' as he emerged from Number 10 the other day, but we were split as to whether he had a certain "sartorial elegance" or whether he looked "a bit of a berk". Well, we knew who could settle this for us: our readers, who know what's hot and what's not: so what do you think? Hat or no hat?

Snow is falling...

Yes, it's snowing...Company Clothing has, like most of the country, been forced into Plan B mode and so is working remotely, using the modern wonders of the internet, email, blogs, and twitter to get its daily work done. Outside the streets are covered in snow, children are hurling snowballs at one another, and there is no bread in the cornershop. A magical time.

Which brings us to snowmen, those lovely rogues who turn up once a year with their bewitching eyes of coal, delicious carrot noses, old hats dug out and placed atop their fine heads, an old, mangy scarf draped around their neck for an air of sophistication. Dressing the snowman is an art on par with its construction. So what's your favourite method for dressing? What's the must have? The carrot, the coal or the hat? The arms made of twigs? Buttons? Perhaps a monocle? We'd be delighted to hear your thoughts on this snow filled day!

Right, we'd best make anothet cup of tea, and get back to this remote working malarrky.

Also we hope this didn't happen to you today.

Above: The invasion force was unstoppable.