As companies prepare to welcome employees back to the office, many young professionals are navigating the challenge of blending office dress codes, current trends, and their own personal styles. Gen Z workers, who experienced the transition from college to remote work and virtual meetings, are now finding themselves uncertain about what attire is appropriate as they transition back to the office. Seeking inspiration and guidance, some of these individuals are turning to platforms like TikTok for fashion ideas.
However, some human resource professionals have expressed concerns that the younger workforce may be dressing too casually. Cindy O'Peka, the owner of O'Peka Human Resources and Consulting, stated that she has observed outfits that are more suitable for a night out than for a professional work environment, according to the New York Post. In response to this trend, certain companies are taking it upon themselves to remind new hires of what they consider appropriate workplace attire.
For example, Protiviti advised its new employees to opt for more professional clothing and avoid wearing ripped blue jeans, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. To gain insight into how Gen Z workers are navigating this blend of personal style and corporate expectations, Insider interviewed 11 workers aged 26 and under, who shared their experiences and choices regarding what they wear as they return to the office.
Office location: Orange County, California
Job: Founder of SRK Capital Mortgage Brokers, a real estate finance company
Company dress code: "Our company fosters an individualistic approach to workplace fashion, allowing each colleague to express their unique style and personality through their clothing choices," Naranjo told Insider. "The majority of my colleagues like to stick to a business casual style."
A breakdown of his outfit:
- Double Breasted Jacket: John Henric — $249
- White Oxford button down: Ralph Lauren — $130
- Pocket square: Brunello Cucinelli — $240
- Jeans: J.Crew — $148
- Loafers: Loro Piana — $980
"My workplace style is all about versatility; I aim to curate outfits that smoothly transition from the professional environment to a more casual setting, like a dinner with friends," Naranjo said.
"I love dressing in a way that captures a timeless and elegant essence, while remaining effortlessly approachable and comfortable," he added.
Office location: New York City
Job: Photographer
A breakdown of his outfit:
- Shirt: Plain white t-shirt
- Shoes: Yeezy NSLTD Boots
- Accessories: Customized fitted baseball hat
"I thrift a lot of my pieces. I rarely go out and buy pieces for work purposes," Reed told Insider.
"I obviously want to dress nice for my shoots, but I feel like you can find a lot of hidden gems in the most unexpected places. Plus I like to be stylish but comfortable when I shoot," he added.
Office location: New York City
Job: Commerce producer and writer at a digital and print publishing company
Company dress code: "My company does not have a set dress code, but I would describe the overall attire as 'smart casual,'" Hyman told Insider. "Almost anything goes — I don't think I've ever seen anyone wear a suit or tie. A pair of jeans, fitted t-shirts, casual dresses, and tailored trousers are all acceptable and the norm."
A breakdown of her outfit:
- T-shirt: H&M — $15
- Jeans: H&M — $30
- Floral duster: Free People — $70
- Shoes: Larroudé — $20 (on sale)
"I try to incorporate my personal style into my work ensembles, which results in a combination of vintage-esque and feminine street style," Hyman said.
"I typically wear flowy and oversized clothing for optimal comfort since I am sitting at my desk most of the day. You can probably find me wearing a long dress or skirt, or a pair of loose-fitting jeans whenever I'm in the office," she added.
Office location: Arlington, Texas
Job: Strategic foresight consulting and nonprofit management
A breakdown of his outfit:
- Suit jacket: Thrifted
- Button down: Walmart dress shirt
- Pants: Walmart athletic chinos — $19
- Shoes: Skechers — $85
- Tie: Gifted
"As a young professional who travels frequently I try my best to dress with class while still accounting for affordability and social flexibility," Johnson said. "My outfit choices allow me to feel stylish and account for my budget and the random youthful adventure I may take after work."
Office location: Irving, Texas
Job: Account manager for a printer and copier company
Company dress code: "Our office is filled with a variety of dress codes," Reed told Insider. "We have a warehouse downstairs and they are usually in khakis and polos. The sales team upstairs are more in business professional clothing. The men are in button up shirts with ties and suit jackets for meetings and the women are in business professional dresses and heels."
A breakdown of her outfit:
- Body suit: Romwe — $29 from Amazon
- High-waisted pants: Zara — $45.90
- Loafers: Circus by Sam Edelman Deana — $64 from Macy's
"I would describe my work style as young business casual, but I know not everyone agrees that all of my outfits are "business casual," Reed said.
"I try to wear something I think is cute yet professional and comfortable," she added.
Office location: Seattle, Washington
Job: Software engineer
A breakdown of her outfit:
- Top: Salmon-colored button down from Mango
- Pants: Zara
- Shoes: Nike Air Force 1 sneakers — $110
Pradhan said her favorite brands were Express, Zara, Mango, and Nordstrom.
Office location: San Francisco Bay Area
Job: Management consultant
Company dress code: "It really depends where you're working from that day," Chiang told Insider.
"When we're at our client sites and interacting with our clients, most follow strict business — slacks, blouse, blazer, and heels or flats. However, when we're at our own offices, especially those in more tech-y areas, I see a lot more people dressing on the more casual side of business casual — jeans or trousers, sweaters or basic tops, and definitely fewer blazers," she added.
A breakdown of her outfit:
- Blazer: Asos — $35
- Top: Uniqlo — $20
- Pants: Zara — $50
"I would characterize my style at work as comfy modest-chic, but I will fully admit that as of late, I have embraced the trousers and dad shoe trend into my weekly outfit rotation solely because of how comfortable and practical it is," Chiang said.
"When I want to get more dressed up, I'll go for a blazer, full-length tank top or blouse, with some flowy pants and heels or booties," she added.
Office location: Houston, Texas
Job: Human resources for an oil and gas company
A breakdown of her outfit:
- Top: Target tank top
- Outer layer: H&M vest
- Skirt: Reformation Sera two-piece set — $298
- Shoes: Steve Madden Fantsie boots — retail price $169
"As young women in corporate, we often don't allow ourselves to express femininity or fun in order to be taken seriously," Avila said.
"I spend far too many hours at work to use all of that precious time worrying if wearing the color pink will negate my intelligence — it won't," she added.
Office Location: Houston, Texas
Job: Project engineer
A breakdown of his outfit:
- Top: Texas Southern University crewneck sweatshirt — $65
- Pants: Express dress pants — $60
"I like shopping at Zara, J. Crew, and H&M to find clothes that are both professional and make me feel confident at work," Timms said.
Editor's note: La requested to keep her age private due to privacy concerns.
Office location: Auckland, New Zealand
Job: Conversion & CX Specialist at KARL Mission, a digital-marketing company
Office dress code: "We like to follow a smart-casual dress code, but we also encourage the importance of comfort and expressing personality in the office," La told Insider.
A breakdown of her outfit:
- Turtleneck top — Thrift shop
- Sweater — Cider
- Skirt — Janest
- Coat — Zara from a thrift shop
- Shoes — Doc Martens
"When it comes to my work outfits, my personal preference depends on the day-to-day tasks," La said. "I love experimenting with neutral/soft-toned A-line pieces whether it is for a clean, simple, and professional look or an androgynous-layered style."
Office location: New York City
Job: Strategist at an e-commerce company.
Company dress code: "My office is generally business casual but you'll see people in jeans and in suits walking around the same floor," To told Insider.
A breakdown of her outfit:
- Sweater: A thrifted Hanes — $6
- Button down: Uniqlo — $30
- Shorts: Rothco — $30
- Shoes: Doc Martens — $100
"I want to feel comfortable and true to myself," To said. "That means not wearing your typical business casual outfit. I like integrating interesting textures and an oversized fit."