We have all been lectured at least once in our lifetimes that we should work on our inner selves instead of physical appearance. If you focus too much on how you look, you’re vain, and that’s a negative thing.
Well, we get that. But we also know that in reality, many people are still judged on their attractiveness and how they present themselves. In a professional world, wearing the right clothes can lead to success at work. Since what you wear matters, it’s time to reassess traditional office dress codes and find out which ones we’re saying hello and goodbye to this year.
As a job search engine, we analyzed over 27 million job postings across various industries in the US from March 2019 to March 2023. In this article, you can find the dress codes employers are embracing and ditching and which area in the US is keeping up with the big trend.
Ditch suits and ties
If you’re tired of adding muted-color dresses or white shirts to your shopping basket, you’re in luck. Most US workplaces are saying goodbye to the “smart dress” dress code.
Statistically, the proportion of job ads referring to a “smart” dress code dropped from 2.7% in 2020 to 0.2% in 2023. Meanwhile, we’ve noticed the demise of the “smart casual” dress code as well. Precisely, the proportion of job ads referring to a “smart casual” dress code nearly halved since the beginning of the pandemic, from 0.9% in 2020 to 0.5% in 2023.
And which industries are saying goodbye to business attire? Customer service tops the list of sectors advertising the most casual positions, with 86% of job ads now specifying casual attire. IT and Accounting & Finance come next, with 40% and 57% of job ads respectively indicating a “casual dress code”.
View this post on Instagram
It’s official: Dress down for success
Do you recall that at the beginning of the pandemic, there was that “relatable” hype bubble where many white-collar workers shared their new work-from-home look for Zoom meetings – business up top and sweatpants on the bottom? We’ve also witnessed the rise of activewear, as well as the night-wear as day-wear “slob-chic” pajama fashion.
As businesses reopen and many of us are returning to the office, these quarantine fashions don’t stand a chance since they’re hard to pull off anywhere outside of your home. They may be slowly dying out, but these trends have still played a massive part in shaping office dress codes into a more relaxed and casual form. Employers nowadays are empowering employees by allowing them to dress authentically and express themselves at work.
View this post on Instagram
Looking into our stats, casual style is absolutely ruling in the world of workwear, with the majority of job ads referring to either a “casual” dress code or “business casual” dress code.
Precisely, 56.8% of the job ads cited a “casual” dress code in 2023, up +0.7pp from 56.1% in 2020 and down -12.7pp from 2022, whereas 42.4% of job ads adhered to a “business casual” dress code, up +13pp from last year and +2.1pp from 40.3% in 2020.
This shift is apparently inspired by the newly introduced Missouri House rules requiring female legislators and staff members to wear a jacket such as a cardigan or blazer. Although representatives who introduced the new rules claimed they were created to maintain a formal and professional atmosphere, the dress code was ridiculed by many Americans. This shows a growing trend in favor of the belief that employees should not be policed for their fashion choices.
At this point, you’re probably wondering, what exactly are “casual” and “business casual” dress codes? Also known as “no formal dress code” or “non-dress code”, “casual” refers to clothing that is relaxed, comfortable and informal. In the hierarchy of workwear, a casual dress code is the least formal. So generally, your everyday wear like T-shirts, hoodies, jeans, and sneakers are acceptable. That said, overly tight or baggy cuts, loungewear and flip flops are usually not welcome.
As for business casual, while classic jeans are still a pass, T-shirts and sweatshirts aren’t. Consider polo shirts and shirts that don’t need ironing. The bottomline is, a business casual dress code is slightly more dressier than a casual dress code, but definitely not a suit.
When in doubt, check with your HR to understand what’s appropriate and what’s not. Remember, just because another colleague is wearing sweatpants, doesn’t mean it’s acceptable workwear.
View this post on Instagram
Where in the US has the chillest dress code?
Dallas takes the crown as the most casually dressed area in the US, with a staggering 84% of job ads specifying casual clothing as the most appropriate attire. Chicago-based employers also favor relaxed clothing, with 66% of job ads indicating casual or smart casual dress.
So, it looks like the days of stiff business attire may be numbered as US workplaces embrace casual dress codes. So go ahead and ditch the ties and uncomfortable shoes, and enjoy the freedom of expressing your personal style at work! After all, who says you can’t be stylish and professional at the same time? Happy dressing!
Ready to show off your personal style in your next job? Start your job search journey with Adzuna!
Read more: Toughest ever job interview questions with answers