Dress for Succession – How the TV show can revive workwear

Workwear is bouncing back, and its recovery perfectly coincides with the return and renewal of the boardroom-based hit TV show

Read on to optimize your hybrid working assortment with inspiration from Succession’s best-dressed characters, new market arrivals and future runway direction.

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Key takeaways

• An uptick in consumers returning to the office, coupled with a combined 17% increase in new workwear styles YoY, presents a lucrative opportunity for investment in this space. With the third season of Succession airing now and confirmation of a fourth, retailers can continue to look to the Roy family and its cohorts for workwear direction.
• While Kendall Roy is known for his sharp suiting, retailers can commercialize his looks with more relaxed tailoring to appeal to a broader consumer base. To engage the commuter, promote Tom Wambsgans-inspired puffer vests or update Roman Roy’s longline woolen coat with functional parkas.
• Modernize Shiv Roy’s signature high-waist trouser and turtleneck combo with investment in wide-leg silhouettes and oversized jackets. Retailers can capitalize on the rising blazer dress trend as a directional piece to create social media buzz.
• The underpinning theme of Succession dressing is exuding wealth with quality over quantity. While the Roy’s are infinitely rich, their dress style isn’t flamboyant. Keep this in mind when backing the above trends and invest in premium materials, merchandised alongside timeless leathergoods and delicate jewelry to increase basket spend.

The state of workwear

A recent survey found that more than half of working adults in the UK are traveling to work again, with rising numbers seeking a hybrid approach. Specifically, research shows that Gen Z is looking forward to getting back to the office, with 32% feeling more productive working away from home, whereas their Gen X and Baby Boomer counterparts prefer working remotely. While many companies in the US have delayed their return dates due to the threat of COVID variants, 45% of workers want to be back in the office full-time and 24% would prefer a hybrid arrangement.

After a sluggish 2020, workwear is showing signs of recovery in retail. Matalan recently reported a pickup in full price smart and formalwear sales as consumers trickled back into the office and updated their wardrobes. Retailers have tapped into this demand with overall new apparel styles up 59% YoY in menswear, driven by shirting and trouser investment. In comparison, women’s workwear grew 5%, overshadowed by partywear drops. However, tailored blazers and trousers are seeing backing – up 22% and 31% YoY.

Menswear Succession trends

Arguably the most stylish male character, Kendall Roy sported earthy green and brown hues in season two before returning to dark suits for season three. While arrivals for brown-colored suits have decreased YoY, green color options are rising and, after navy, are the fourth top-stocked color at all retailers. However, green hues only make up 5% of all suits that have seen a majority SKU sell out this year, making it a high-risk investment for fashion-forward retailers who want to get involved in the rise of Gen Z green.

Tom Wambsgans regularly wears a puffer vest on the show. For 2021 arrivals, quilted appeared in 17% of product names compared to just 9% last year, highlighting an increase in smarter styles. boohooMAN dropped a “Quilted Smart Gilet” in khaki within its Fall 2021 line, while Mango’s offering included a water-repellent vest, ideal for those traveling to and from work.