Does anyone still dress for the job they want, or even dress up a little for the office?

[NotOneMoreLunge]

The idea for discussion is prompted by my current job hunt.

I have always loved clothes and style (follow fashion to keep in the loop, but value my own style over trends). I have mostly WFH since COViD, on camera daily, so ended up with two work wardrobes - small, more formal for office events, and different for WFH, sort of personal uniform that makes me feel great. People at my work were mixed, some loved to dress up, some wore corporate kit, but everyone looked smart.

Job hunting now, and it’s a very different look than before 202. One office in Birmingham, everyone looked they slept in their clothes, MD wore pull up trousers and scuffed shoes. Not that there is anything wrong with them, but I thought I would just look pretentious in this environment, as interview clothes were my usual office wear. I wore black Autograph trousers, blue and black Jigsaw blazer, white silk cami, LKB kitten heel pumps, Bayswater classic by for laptop, black belt. Very simple, not fashion, but just put together with a bit of care.

I hear in cities there is a slow return to dressing up but I am not seeing it in the Midlands…

Dress up for work? No.
Dress better than those who work for me? Yes.
Better than one boss, worse than the other.

But then I have no idea what I'll be upto.
By 10am today, id pretty much done my 10,000 steps, including tracking down a delivery driver, and shifting pallets about.
Other days, I might be sat at my desk all day. But i definitely wear clothes I wouldn't mind destroying, and am prepared to run, lift and shovel in.

But equally, I also have a low interest in clothes.

@DandelionClockSeeds Avreed, factoring physical activity is another challenge, unless you are desk.only worker. Took me two years to decide what makes me feel good to WFH.

Absolutely dress up for work. It just feels good to look polished for work.

i immensely dislike overly casual work wear.

Senior people dress for the office and we are business/business casual.

Never hurts to look smart.

I do. Work in the City (investment management) and the senior men and women in PM all dress in suits / suit equivalents - unless they are the IT or quant guys, who are more casual.

On a day when I have no external meetings, I may wear jeans with a blouse, smart shoes and a blazer. But otherwise it is trouser suits with pointed flats, midi pencil skirts / blouses / blazer and flat slingbacks, dramatic coats and collars etc. Silk, cashmere, leather and good jewellery and watch. I love my work wardrobe (and clothes generally).

It depends where you work. I work part time in a housing association and my boss and colleague dress quite casually. I’m more on the smart side. If I get another full time job in a different industry I’ll probably be smarter. My friend who works for an investment company always wears smart clothes, Karen Millen dresses, jigsaw suits. Geox shoes.

@Bananadramatic That sounds amazing! I would be grateful for the pointed flats links!

Yeah there's definitely been a downturn in people dressing up (well?).

I work for a bank and anytime I'm in the office the best you can hope to see is a man in chinos and a shirt, a woman might wear a dress, but probably not with heels. It's all really casual

Unfortunately I have to wear NHS uniform all the time so when I have an unexpected admin or training day I like to dress up.

I wear scrubs for work now but when I was office based before I always wore a dress or nice trousers and a shirt. I think it’s important.

My partner however is at the top of his company, a highly respected academic and worldwide expert in his field. He often looks like he’s just rolled out of bed when he goes to the office! He does scrub up well when required though.

I am a director of children's social services and tend to wear jeans and a hoody unless I have to attend something "posh"

I don't care for looking out together I care to be comfortable so I can do my job well

I always dress up for work, hair and make up done etc. I have colleagues who wear jeans and trainers though. I think it’s nice to make the effort and be smart. I do think it’s an age thing? I’m 41 and have always been used to dressing smartly at work. Those younger than me tend to be more casual.

We have a mix in the office- obviously if you’re meeting external suppliers or customers you dress up more on those days.
Otherwise it’s a mix of tailored trousers/shirts or similar. Sometimes pull on trousers I’m afraid OP, but not joggers.
Smarter jeans and clean, neat, trainers, ballet flats or ankle boots are the norm. Not ripped denim, or proper sportswear.
Some wear blazers but unstructured ones, and usually only with jeans, never a full suit. Similar for men, and no ties.
Heels seem to have vanished, except for a handful of very petite women in our team.

If it helps, I think most people dress up for interview. If it’s in person you can use this to get a feel for dress code, then assess how to adjust your outfits for starting work there.

I think it is right to dress appropriately for the organisation you work in.
I wouldn’t expect someone who is a potter to dress the same as someone who works in insurance.

I sometimes feel like teachers and school children are the only ones still wearing blazers! (I'm a teacher, and would be very happy to relax uniforms and staff dress codes. I HATE wearing a jacket).

I wear uniform (NHS) but on non-clinical days I like to look good. I had brown trousers, terracotta knitted top and leopard Mary janes on today for our team meeting.
Some people rock up leisure wear or co-ords

I enjoy dressing for work as it's a mindset change - I'm dressed for being at work, not being at home. If I'm presenting or leading meetings, I'll always take it up another level but I'm always in "business casual" as that's what feels right to me.

For what it's worth, I have noticed a small shift back to smarter dressing in my office this year. There are fewer of us in jeans and trainers, although the shift hasn't gone as far as ties or high heels.

I go for interesting. At 54 I like to stand out in meetings and my clothes always invite comment. Always smart but not traditional office wear. I went to a meeting yesterday in a flowery jacquard bomber and jeans.

I like to dress smart for work. Not necessarily a full suit or heels but usually will put on shirt and smart trousers, maybe a blazer. Or a nice skirt/dress. I feel much more ready for the world that way. I’m in a senior position and want to be seen as such.

@NotOneMoreLunge two of my pairs came from a random shop in Rome that I simply cannot find again (and the name of the makers long ago wore away). I am sad as they are my favourites and I wish I could purchase a few more pairs.

I have others from LK Bennett (from the early 2000s) and Gianvito Rossi (more recent) that work well :)

I’ve always worked charity sector. I remember possible 18 ish years ago my then manager asking me if I had a pair of jeans and could I possible wear them tomorrow. We worked in lots of deprived communities and the feeling was casual clothes put people at ease. I just carried it into my next job and now I work for myself…

Sometimes I’m suited and booted, sometimes I’m in my gym gear. Mostly I’m smart casual. Depends on what my day looks like. Always have hair done, make up on. Always.

I never understand this “making an effort” shtick tbh. It takes no more or less effort to put a pair of tailored trousers on than jeans. Yet people in tailored trousers consider themselves somehow morally superior. I don’t know. I dress for myself and my day - working for myself helps I guess.

Today was an office day. I wore a pinafore, a t shirt and sneakers.

I still put on something smart for work, usually an a dress, and enjoy wearing my comfy clothes when WFH - glad I only do 2 days in the office :) Am in the midlands

Nope but I also have a massive baby bump that causes me pain. When they give me a reason to dress to impress then I'll care.

I do. I wfh 4 days a week plus live on a farm with dogs. I am thrilled to have a change from leggings jeans and a hoody - yoi know practical clothes you don't mind horse snot or cattle crap getting on them🙈 I love clothes too 🤣 so when I do go to the office or even going to the supermarket ( yes that's how sad my life is ) so I try to make the effort when I go to actual office. I have had the odd comment am I heading out after work - I despair how casual my office is. my work outfit combination of cropped trousers blouses blazers or midi dresses. with fancy runners loafers or flat shoes - too old for heels now 🤣
have a look at vinted or second hand resellers I have picked up a fab pair of flat silver malone souliers and a velvet flat pair of jimmy choo jeweled bow flats for less than 70e