You know how Elias sounds smugger and smugger as the show progresses? I like to imagine that he also starts to wear more ridiculous eye attire…
He goes from your boring boss in dark green three piece suit to bright green or combination of gold and black. And also extensive amount of eye jewelry from rings to earrings and ties with eyes…
The archival crew takes it as a mockery.
The rest of the Institute simply thinks he is going through a mid life crisis.