'More like Annabel's': London law firm seeks to fix dress code

An electric blue sequined jacket and gold leather pants topped with a funky pink hairstyle can be a fashion connoisseur's outfit of choice for a glitzy night on the town. At Vardags law firm, however, it is considered proper office attire.

The divorce and family law firm suggested to its 120 employees that 'they might avoid the cufflinks and business suits associated with "bankers and real estate agents" and wear those items instead.

This is part of a new dress code that's "more like Annabel's", the exclusive Mayfair private club that counts Lady Gaga, Naomi Campbell and Anna Wintour among patrons.

In a memo sent on Wednesday told staff that "you can all be as fabulous as you want, and express yourself fully" and put your "personality to work". There are some caveats, however. /p>

Suits will be likely required for court "more or less" and attire should be "formal, still absolutely upscale and appropriate to the luxury market we engage with, without undermining your gravity as a professional".

Peter York, the style writer and commentator, called the new dress code "high publicity and low thinking".

"If you, as a client, went to a traditional firm law firm, do you want them to be full of personality? I think it's outdated and there's not a lot of substance,” York said. 'lawyers, who is based in London but also has offices in Manchester and Cambridge, had actually been to the exclusive club.

"They should dress like s went to Annabel? How many of these people actually went to Annabel?"