If someone were to ask you what keywords perfectly capture the aesthetics of the 2020 working world, what would you say? The words that come to mind for me are sweats, old t-shirts, and blue-filter glasses. It’s not a coincidence that two out of those three definitely don’t fit under the umbrella of business casual.

In the years after the pandemic, when workplaces started to open up again, some people were excited to return to dressing up for the office, while others weren’t as thrilled. One study from 2021 found that “nearly a third of consumers said they would rather take a 10% pay cut than have to get dressed for work every day.” Unfortunately, as of 2023, Gallup found that 51% of working women were required to wear business casual clothing on most days and roughly one-third of men reported the same.

Based on these numbers, it’s safe to say that business casual attire isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, but it shouldn’t be a source of stress. That’s where this article may come in handy. There are some basic rules you can follow to ensure you’re meeting the expected level of professionalism without compromising on comfort or personal style. Let’s dive into them.

The Don’ts

If you’re going through your closet and trying to figure out which clothes are work-appropriate and which aren’t, here are seven clothing items that you should definitely put into your weekend-wear pile:

-Most Jeans

-T-Shirts

-Athletic Wear/Sweats

-Flip Flops/Sandals

-Overly Bright Colors/Loud Patterns

-Clothes that are much too tight or much too loose

-Anything with Large Logos

Now, these rules aren’t going to be universal. For instance, some offices might have no issue with dark-wash jeans as long as they are paired with a button-down or classy blouse. Other places might be open to bold looks and encourage self-expression through clothing as long as it’s not too distracting. The nuances of these dos and don’ts are things you’ll have to learn on the job, but to be safe, follow these rules when you are new to the office to make sure you don’t accidentally present yourself as unprofessional.

The Dos

So what can you wear in a business-casual setting? The following are going to be safe choices no matter the workplace:

-Skirts/Dresses (not low-cut, and to the knee or longer)

-Slacks

-Button-Downs/Blouses

-Polo Shirts

-Sports Coats/Blazers

-Closed-Toed Shoes

-Neutral Colors/Tasteful Prints

Affording Business Casual

If you’re reading the above list and worrying about the cost of filling your wardrobe with these sorts of clothing items, we get it. Nice slacks and high-quality shoes are expensive, and people shouldn’t have to break the bank just to show up to work looking their best.

Thrift stores are a good option for those looking to shop on a budget, and some communities hold clothing swap events. Additionally, there are actual programs in some areas that help low-income individuals dress to impress in the workplace. Before you spend your full paycheck at the mall, try doing a quick search for alternative options because good used clothes are out there if you’re willing to do some digging.

Self-Expression and Gender in the Office

As you might’ve noticed, we purposefully avoided dividing this article up into male and female categories. This is because companies across the country move towards having more inclusive workplaces. Business casual clothes do not have to be gender-specific, and in fact, the right to dress in a way that authentically expresses your gender identity is protected by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Final Thoughts

As we discussed at the beginning of this article, workplace dress codes aren’t always very popular, and we understand that this guide might not solve all your workplace wardrobe concerns. It’s one thing to be forced to wear stiff slacks to the office, but if you genuinely don’t feel as if you can safely express yourself at work, that’s unacceptable. Not only that, but it’s a perfectly justifiable reason to look for a new job.

So if you’re ready to move onto your next opportunity, CyberCoders has a lot more to offer than just fashion advice.

Our recruiters are experts in finding you the perfect job match, and we won’t compromise on anything that matters to you whether it’s decent pay, inclusive workspaces, or casual Fridays, we’ll help you find where you’re meant to be. Check out our website to learn more!