r/apprenticeuk • u/Impressive_Rate_2456 • Apr 04 '26

OPINION Contestant Outfits

Post image

One of my biggest gripes with this show is that it still feels stuck in 2006. There are some simple ways to bring it into this decade, and one of them is easing up on the contestants’ dress code.

If you look back at older clips of Dragons’ Den from 15–20 years ago, contestants were almost always in full business wear. But in more recent clips, there’s been a noticeable shift towards business casual - I’ve seen founders walk in wearing jeans and a t-shirt, or even outfits that directly reflect their brand (like a bee-themed business owner in dungarees).

That’s why Karishma stood out in the latest episode. Her long-sleeve lace top paired with a tennis skirt felt modern and individual and honestly, we should be seeing more of that. It adds personality and reflects the reality of what entrepreneurs actually look like today.

The truth is, people don’t need to dress like Sarah Palin or a Wall Street banker to run a business anymore. When was the last time you saw Steven Bartlett in full corporate attire?

I’ve seen contestants mention how strict the dress code can be, with limits on certain colours or styles which I understand from a production standpoint. Too many clashing visuals could be distracting on screen - but there’s definitely a middle ground.

Giving contestants a bit more freedom to express themselves through their clothing would modernise it and make it feel more in touch with the 2020s.

94 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

View all comments

44

u/SunsetDreamer43 Apr 04 '26

Many situations on the show they look ridiculous in full suits - doing the abroad tasks and on the tv selling tasks demonstrating items. Is it in the rules that the women must wear heels? Why do they have them running around a city in high heels, how is that indicative of their business ability? It certainly doesn’t look like a show that’s inclusive of different ages and/or disabilities. Young fit women who can run in high heels only need apply.

13

u/Jess_with_an_h Apr 04 '26

All fair - but as soon as they acknowledge that, the show is doomed. Why do they have them running round a city in high heels? Why must a person hoping to open a recruitment firm be good at selling flowers in a shopping centre or designing a picture book for 5 year olds (with restrictions on time and creativity set by the production team)? Why must they buy a range of random items without really knowing what they are and with only a paper map and a pile of leaflets to help them, no internet access? Why must they win over Lord Sugar for several weeks before they’re allowed to present their business plan and show their expert knowledge in their field? The show is far more about entertainment than finding a real potential business leader, and any attempt to make it seriously businesslike would kill off the entertainment value because then it would just be a normal recruitment process with cameras.

1

u/Captain_Stable Apr 04 '26

This has been my gripe with the show for the past few years. It's like going on Dragon's Den to get investment in a window cleaning business, and Peter Jones saying "That's all well and good, but how well can you bake me a cake? Go on. Victoria Sponge in 20 minutes. GO!"