“It’s understandable that the generation with the least working experience will have the most questions about what to wear and what is appropriate in the workplace,” Diana Tsui, a stylist and creative consultant partnering with IWG, tells Fortune. “There has been a fundamental shift in the way in which employees of all generations approach their workwear attire.”
Gen Z and millennials are nearly three times as likely as baby boomers to worry about dressing properly, so they’re turning to their superiors for guidance. About 30% of Gen Z seek guidance from their manager, compared to 14% of Gen X and 10% of boomers. Instead of outright asking their boss what to wear, they could take Tsui’s advice of taking silent cues by copying their looks.
Luckily, there are a few surefire ways that Gen Z can avoid the early-morning anxiety of having to pick out an appropriate outfit for the office.
“Workwear is never going back to its suit-and-tie days, although that can be fun to dabble in,” Tsui advises. “Take a cue from your industry and see how their prevailing dress codes enmesh with your own sensibilities.”
Tsui has three major tips for young staffers to stay in line with company dress codes and avoid getting sacked for their outfit:
“This shift away from traditional norms toward more flexible policies highlights the need for modern guidance,” she explains. “As companies adapt to hybrid models and multi-generational teams, employees are increasingly seeking clarity on how to balance self-expression with professionalism in evolving work environments.”
With four generations in the office—Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers—it’s natural that there’s going to be huge divides in terms of style.
Sometimes, casual and comfortable styles can blur the lines of what’s proper for the office—but Tsui says if styled properly, employees can make it work.
