Do We Still Need a Dress Code at Work?
What does it mean to dress professionally, and does it really matter anymore?
Those are loaded questions … the kinds that spark fury in one corner and apathy in another.
Dress Code Answers Not Simple
And while it might seem as simple as looking at the specific business you are in and what your employees do all day, it almost always is not.
The shift to hybrid and remote work has created more relaxed office cultures. In many places, it has made strict dress codes seem less relevant. In fact, a Gallup study found just 3% of employees wear business professional attire. About a third of employees say they wear casual street clothes. More than 40% sport a smart casual style at work.
“In the past, dress codes were used to reinforce structure, signal hierarchy, and project professionalism,” says Ben Wright, Global Head of Partnerships at Instant Offices, “But as workplace norms evolve, so too does the question of what ‘professional’ really looks like. For modern businesses, that increasingly means empowering employees to show up as themselves, rather than fitting a narrowly defined mold.”
Can We Move From Rules to Responsibility?
The problems with workplace attire might not fall purely at employees’ feet (whether they’re in oxfords or flip-flops). Many organizations don’t have formal dress code policies. And those that do often stop short of defining or giving examples of the policy.
After all, “business casual” may mean one thing to a 50-year-old and another to a 25-year-old.
“What we wear is a form of self-expression and in today’s workplace, one that often champions inclusion, individuality, and well-being,” says Wright.
“So how important are dress codes in 2025? The answer depends on how they’re applied. For most organizations, the solution isn’t to scrap dress codes altogether, but to modernize them,” he says.
Dress Code Legal Considerations
Whether it’s a mandated company uniform or a dress code policy, remember there are legal considerations when you tell employees you expect them to dress a certain way.
Employers can generally establish what employees can and can’t wear at work. However, restrictions do exist. 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, or
- Cause hardship for individuals with disabilities.
‘Dress for Your Day’
“Done right, a modern dress code can enhance your brand, empower your people, and support a positive work culture,” says Wright. “Done wrong, it can alienate talent and create unnecessary friction.”
So what works now?
“The most effective approach in 2025 is a ‘dress for your day’ policy, which gives employees the flexibility to adapt their attire depending on meetings, tasks or client expectations,” says Wright.
For example, creative industries and tech startups might choose denim and casual sneakers. Employees in client-facing roles might need to wear clothing that is smart-casual.
“The key is clarity without rigidity,” says Wright.
Where the Attire Line Blurs
Back to that Gallup study. The researchers found the office attire lines get most blurry in the casual space.
“The biggest distinction in work attire today is not between those dressed up versus dressed casually, but rather in the degrees of casual dress,” the researchers noted. “For most workers, and particularly women, the choice is between business casual and street casual.”
To that, here are three timeless guidelines that can help employees decide if you don’t create a specific set of rules (more on that below here).
The three most important elements of any dress code are:
- Be professional, no matter the style you choose to wear
- Be you. Show your personality via your clothes, whether that’s colors, patterns or styles that are professional, and
- Dress in a style that’s conducive to your industry.
Be Specific
Still, some employees – especially if you have a variety of generations – might have different views of what business casual or business professional is.
If you want to be more specific, Monster.com has done a great job of creating some specifics:
Business Professional
Men: button-down shirts, ties, suits, blazers, dress shoes, loafers, Oxfords
Women: suits, blazers, blouses, pencil skirts, closed-toe heels with a maximum three-inch height, flats
Business Casual
Men: blazers, collared shirts, blouses, slacks, khakis, sweaters, boots.
Women: blazers, blouses, slacks, khakis, sweaters, boots, mules.
Casual
Men: solid color t-shirts, denim (avoid rips and low waists), polos, cardigans, sandals (not flip-flops), sneakers.
Women: solid color t-shirts, denim (avoid rips and low waists), polos, knee-length skirts, cardigans, sandals (not flip-flops), sneakers.
Work from Home
Men and women: Refer to business casual when working with others on video. For normal workdays, cotton tops and cardigans that look appropriate on camera in case there’s a call.
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