This is an organisation that is well acquainted with heated discussions on contentious topics. None, it turns out, as touchy as neckties.

The general sentiment regarding menswear – and ties in particular – seems to sit firmly in either of two camps.

There are those who think it an archaic and impractical accessory at best; a silk noose or a tether to corporate serfdom at worst.

The other camp are those who lament over the lack of stylistic freedom afforded by menswear, and who fervently defend the necktie as the only formal sartorial semaphore permissible – the flamboyant peacock of the menswear world, if you will.

Given these diametrically-opposed perspectives, it is no wonder that the online world erupted in a furore over the recent style choice of Greece’s Finance Minister, Yanis Varoufakis.

On the one hand, there were those who saw Varoufakis’ devil-may-care choice of attire as a deliberate break with Greece’s ousted political class; an attempt to modernise the government of a conservative society. After all, the necktie has long been a palpable symbol that a man belongs to the educated, quite literally, white-collar class. Who knew such a subtle accessory omission could result in such pandemonium. How upsetting to not be able to adequately distinguish what social class a man belongs to!

Except, it was not just the omission of a tie.

Varoufakis met with the head of the Eurogroup, Jeroen Dijsselbloem (who by comparison, could have just stepped off Savile Row), clad in an untucked shirt, jeans, a leather jacket…and no tie. His choice of attire has been interpreted by some as less defiant, sartorial rebellion and more inappropriate arrogance.

And that is probably a spot-on reaction. While a tie-less, sartorial shift in gear might signify an end to the old way of doing things and a representation of greater Greek independence, there are ways to do it with panache. Scruffiness is not that; it is probably best to avoid looking as bankrupt as your country.

But the reality is, people use visual cues to make judgements. Humans are quick to judge and form opinions, and try as we might, we are psychologically prone to judging others based on their appearances. We develop stereotypes and put people into boxes, an evolutionary mechanism to break down ever complicated information into simple categories.

Among divided opinion on whether the relaxed fashion sense of the Greek Finance Minister is a sign of refreshing political change within the Eurozone’s sickest member, or a portent of fractious times to come, remains to be seen. This correspondent leans towards the latter, but that could be the result of working for a German economist who proudly sports a casual tie on casual Friday!