Your Complete Guide to What to Wear to Work

Yes, your employer can tell you how to dress. But they can’t do so in a discriminatory manner.

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Are you wondering what to wear to work or find yourself confused when browsing the internet for outfit examples of business casual or other dress codes? We feel you. Top it all off with the fact that many workplaces don’t have a clearly written dress code citing specific dress requirements, making getting ready in the morning even more confusing.

On the whole, attitudes towards office attire have been changing over the last century. In this article, we aim to help you better navigate work dress codes, and how to always choose the best office outfits, even on your first day in a new company.

What Is a Work Dress Code?

A work dress code is a guide set by a company to tell employees what to wear to work, signposting what is appropriate in their specific workplace. It could be a specific set of clothes such as a uniform or standards to follow when picking your own clothing and managing your overall appearance.

By law, employers are able to establish what you can and can’t wear at work. However, specific restrictions do exist under the Equal Employment Opportunity Act (EEOC). For instance, employers can’t impose a dress code that discriminates against employees. More specifically dress codes can’t:

  • compromise gender identity or have different standards for men and women
  • conflict with an employee's religious faith
  • cause hardship for individuals with disabilities

Challenges of Workplace Dress Codes

Wearing a uniform or having to obey certain requirements about what to wear to work can be challenging or annoying for some because:

  • It’s uninspiring. Especially in the case of uniforms, some might find it boring to wear the same thing every day.
  • It can reduce your individuality and creativity. Not being able to express yourself through things like the colors you wear can kill your overall creativity.
  • It can be uncomfortable. Let’s face it, most of the traditional office attire pieces, unless specifically tailored to you, can be stiff and uncomfortable.

Benefits of Workplace Dress Codes

But there can definitely be interesting advantages as well, such as:

  • Save time and decision-anxiety. Have you ever noticed how many successful public business figures tend to repeat outfits? They do so to reduce decision fatigue. By not wasting time deciding what to wear every morning, you can spend your energy on more important tasks.
  • Improve your sense of professional belonging. Uniformity in clothing is not only good for creating company cohesion in front of clients, but also to foster a team spirit among colleagues.
  • Boost your confidence and prevent bias. Ever heard of the term “power suit”? Certain outfits are traditionally associated with power. Wearing them can immediately help you feel more confident in your role. Plus, when there’s a dress code in place, there’s less space for negative bias on your appearance from others and more for your talent.

Types of Work Dress Codes

Can’t wait to dress for success and be sure of what to wear to work every day? First, let’s learn about the four main dress codes that tend to pop up in workplaces.

1. Business Formal

Business formal is the most elegant dress code in work environments. Similar to “black tie”, it’s mostly reserved for evening awards ceremonies, benefit dinners, and other office special occasions. Some business formal women’s pieces include:

  • long evening dresses
  • made-to-measure suits
  • flats
  • heels

For men it’s common to find:

  • dark-colored suits
  • button-down shirt
  • ties
  • dress shoes
  • Oxfords

Accessorize with cufflinks or simple jewelry.

2. Business Professional

Business professional refers to conservative office wear that we traditionally associate with employees in industries such as law, banking, finance, or government. This is also often subscribed for people in professional settings like conventions, congresses, job fairs, or job interviews.

For business professional attire for women, think of perfectly tailored pieces like:

  • suits
  • blazers
  • blouses
  • pencil skirts
  • closed-toe heels with a maximum three-inch height
  • flats

Men’s attire includes:

  • button-down shirts
  • ties
  • suits
  • blazers
  • dress shoes
  • loafers
  • Oxfords

Accessories such as belts and jewelry should be understated.

3. Business Casual

Business casual is perhaps the most common, and yet the most confusing, dress code in less conservative industries, especially for client-facing roles. It combines:

  • blazers
  • collared shirts
  • blouses
  • slacks
  • khakis
  • sweaters
  • boots
  • mules

Colors should still be neutral such as black, grey, blue, or tan, and patterns should be muted – sticking to stripes or plaid. In the most progressive offices, it’s also becoming more and more common to see simple white sneakers and dark-wash, or black jeans as business casual as well.

4. Casual

In breaking down what to wear to work, a casual dress code is the most relaxed that you’ll find. A casual dress code for work is popular among creative industries as well as startups.

Yet, hold your horses, that Star Wars or favorite concert t-shirt you love might still not be the best pick if you want to look professional. Swap it for:

  • solid colors t-shirts
  • jeans (avoid low waist or ripped ones)
  • polos
  • knee-length skirts
  • cardigans
  • sandals
  • sneakers (stick to solid colors)

Work from Home Attire

Work-from-home outfits depend on your industry, role, and even the specific day ahead of you. In general, however, if you have a team or a client meeting planned, it’s wise to stick to at least business casual just like you would in a face-to-face encounter.

For normal activities, on the other hand, comfortable clothes like cotton tops or cardigans that look good on camera - just in case of unexpected calls - are fine. Finally, make sure that you feel confident and put together during any day when choosing what to wear to work.

Are Work Dress Codes Here to Stay?

Most workplaces have slowly but steadily been shifting their dress codes over the years. Even before the mass exodus to working from home that came with the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies were moving towards more relaxed office attire favoring things like casual khakis, polos, and sweaters, even in accounting and finance departments.

As people started to return to the office after a long time at home, the metamorphosis was complete. Jeans, t-shirts, and even Crocs, athleisure wear, and other similar casual clothing were popping up in offices. Suddenly casual was not for Fridays anymore in many sectors.

Does this mean that office outfits are dead? We don’t believe so. While the idea that you can pick what to wear to work more freely is exciting, keep in mind that first impressions still matter in the workplace. Rightly or wrongly, the wrong clothes can negatively affect how people judge your skills and personality. That’s why it’s important to maintain some degree of professionalism in your clothing, at least during first encounters such as job interviews or client meetings.

How to Know What to Wear on Your First Day of Work

Picking your first day of work outfit can feel tricky unless you know for sure what’s expected. You don’t want to turn up either underdressed or completely overdressed and have heads turning your way, leaving you feeling uncomfortable. Luckily there are a few tips you can follow to make sure your office attire blends in from day one:

1. Research the Company

Look up the company website and their corporate social media pages to find clues about how employees dress. Among photos of special occasions, you’ll often find day-to-day imagery as well.

2. Dress For Your Sector

Common sense is your best friend here. Do you work in finance? Glam it up and go for business professional. Are you starting a new position in a start-up? Choose the business casual route.

3. Just Ask

Once you’re officially offered a new position, directly ask if the company has a particular dress code. You can also ask people in your network that either work at your new company or in similar environments what they wear to work.

Get a Job in Which You Won’t Even Stress About What to Wear to Work with Monster

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