Does What You Wear to Work Actually Matter?
Up until working at The Everygirl, every job I’d ever had had a dress code that bothered me to no end. From a “no shoulders” rule as a concert usher in high school to a “covered knees, covered chest” rule at a restaurant job in college, I along with many others hear society’s message loud and clear: dressing modestly equates to being taken seriously, and therefore makes you “better” at what you do. Let it be known that acknowledging this ideal as a misogynistic dumpster fire is far from a new revelation. But through none other than the power of TikTok, Gen Z women have recently brought the conversation of what it means to “dress professionally” in the workplace to the forefront—and we should absolutely be hearing them (and their stellar office ‘fits) out.
However, the nuances of the great work attire debate cannot go unrecognized. One TikTok video that garnered quite a bit of buzz sums them up perfectly, as a woman shared how she was asked to reschedule a job interview because she was wearing shorts, with almost all of the 30K+ comments agreeing that she deserved to be turned away. You could argue that this ends the conversation, point-blank period: What you wear to work does, in fact, matter. Well, it does matter, yes—but not for the reasons we’ve been conditioned to think, and maybe not for much longer. Here’s how women in the office today are challenging what it means to “dress professionally”:
The narrative that clothing defines capabilities is changing day by day
I’ll say it: I have seen more cool, creative, expressive, it-girl outfits in office OOTD TikToks than I have on some NYFW runways—and that is a world I want to live in. Unfortunately, change doesn’t happen overnight. That said, our “for you” pages are flooded with videos challenging the traditional office dress code norms set by past generations, not from a place of rebellion but from one of self-expression and a desire to feel confident in the workplace.
Emily Blair Media, an award-winning public relations agency, sets a perfect example of a workplace that sees fashion as a way to empower instead of hinder. Controversially, they openly have a “no dress code” policy in their Gen Z-dominated office. They frequently share office OOTDs on TikTok amongst their impressive “on-the-spot” PR pitches and inspiring advice sessions, demonstrating how someone’s OOTD in no way defines what they bring to the table as a hard-working woman.
A bright-colored top, naked knee, or a sneaker does not negatively impact anyone’s performance—an environment that hyper-sexualizes or shames the expression of its employees does. Associating modest, business attire with how seriously someone takes their job is a deep-rooted patriarchal belief and standard that will take time to reverse, and these silly little videos have become a huge stepping stone in that process.
Workwear expectations are outdated, to say the least
You think you fell out of a coconut tree? When it comes to office dress codes, Kamala Harris kind of hit the nail on the head. Particularly in 9-to-5 corporate spaces, the expectation of what employees (particularly women) should wear to work is a long-standing tradition that has reigned supreme for much longer than the newer generation’s widespread push to redefine it. Like all social or political movements, challenging prejudiced norms is a mandatory first step to creating the change we want to see. However, it’s not until people who embody our visions are in positions of power that the culture will shift entirely. Will your 57-year-old boss in finance ever come to terms with you stunting your eclectic grandpa aesthetic in the all-staff? Probably not. But, promotion by promotion, we are moving closer to that reality.
A bright colored top, naked knee, or a sneaker does not negatively impact anyone’s performance—an environment that hypersexualizes or shames the expression of its employees does.
The goalposts shift little by little with each generation
Like Emily Blair Media, there are already Gen Z-dominated companies that have shifted dress code expectations entirely, but there are not quite enough to change these universally accepted rules of thumb overnight—and that’s totally OK. As of right now, HR, manager, and CEO roles are filled by generations more accustomed to traditional office dress codes—whether they are boomers, Gen X, or millennials. So, making a complete 180-degree switch is easier said than done. However, things are changing. At The Everygirl, for example, our predominantly millennial-led meetings feature women rocking no makeup and matching sweat sets. And when we’re in the office, everyone’s unique personal style is on full display—even if “unique” sometimes means collectively pulling up like a ’90s Gap ad.
Until a time when younger generations outnumber the older ones in positions of authority, patience is key. Is this a bit frustrating at times? Yes. But can we still push the boundary of what it means to dress professionally within these rules? Absolutely, and those rules will evolve generation after generation.
There are more stylish days ahead for employees
Through these fun little TikTok videos, Gen Z has made it known that the conversation of what it means to “dress professionally” isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. At the end of the day, dressing in a way that makes you feel like the most powerful, confident, and productive version of yourself should be the baseline standard, and however that manifests itself from person to person shouldn’t matter. The narrative of “professional dress” will be completely flipped on its head in due time. Until then, all we can do is continue to push boundaries where we can, keep the discourse going both online and next to the office water cooler, and know that there are brighter (and God knows more stylish) days ahead.
MEET THE AUTHOR
As the Branded Content Editorial Assistant, McKenna assists the sales team with the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, pitching and contributing stories of her own, and more. Some of her favorite topics to write about are entertainment, culture, and lifestyle. More
