Stylish or unprofessional? Gen Z employees are dressing ‘sexy’ at work
- Replies 23
Once upon a time, showing even a little bit of skin could warrant a ‘daring’ lady to be completely shunned by society. But over the years, people have gradually welcomed different forms of self-expression, including fashion trends.
However, when it comes to a professional setting, what’s considered appropriate to wear may still vary from one person to another. Recently, younger generations are ditching traditional office wear and flaunting ‘sexy’ outfits in the office…
On TikTok, there are thousands of videos tagged as ‘#workoutfits’ that show Gen Z employees and young Millennials showing off raunchy office attire comprised of short skirts, sheer tops, and sweats.
While these outfit choices would have once merited a warning from HR for being ‘too casual’ or ‘provocative’ for work, the modern dilemma has left people divided.
Gen Zers workplace outfits. Source: @daniklaric, @ciciunderwear
Dani Klarić, who is a young interior decorator and creative director, proudly shared her workday outfit in a recent TikTok video and instantly went viral for all the wrong reasons.
The outfit in question featured a white miniskirt, an unbuttoned short-sleeve shirt that revealed a lacy yellow bra underneath, and a pair of sheer yellow thigh-high socks.
‘If I had a corporate job, this is how I would dress for work. Who’s going to stop me?’ she captioned her post, which has amassed over 200,000 likes and 2 million views.
While Dani received massive backlash for being ‘out of touch’, many came to her defence and argued that dress codes are ‘outdated’.
‘I understand dress codes, but I think they have become outdated.’ Keely Bouroncle, a 31-year-old with a corporate job said.
Source: @daniklaric
Keely shared that she likes showing off her figure with form-fitting clothing in bright colours, adding that it shouldn’t matter what she wears so long as she’s getting her work done.
‘How a person chooses to dress is a statement of themselves. I want to look good so that I feel good.’ she continued.
Those working in Human Resources have also noticed the bold shift in workplace fashion.
‘I have noticed a few issues among younger people.’ said David Bradshaw, President of an outsourcing HR firm.
He detailed that the younger team members dress ‘too casually’.
Cindy O’Peka, with O’Peka Human Resources and Consulting in California, has long been in favour of more relaxed dress codes in the office, but she also thinks that the new generation seems more clueless than conscious about their choice of work outfits.
She revealed that some outfits worn by younger employees are much more ‘appropriate for clubbing’ than in a professional setting.
Source: @prettycritical
‘I think they might actually feel like they are dressing up because that’s also what they wear when they go out.’ the 41-year-old said.
Meanwhile, popular clothing brands have been quickly adapting to the trend. An LA-based clothing brand, Reformation, previously caused a stir online after advertising their ‘work edit’ clothing range, featuring models in ‘office-ready’ strappy dresses, cropped blazers, and short shorts.
The marketing was slammed by thousands online, with one TikTok user commenting that the outfits were ‘not a good idea’.
Dressing ‘casually’ for work is apparently trendy. Source: @amyfuchsiashaw
Suzanne Smallshaw, the Senior Director of Fashion and Styling at Rent the Runway – a company that rents designer apparel and accessories – shared that as workers return to the office, they’ve noticed the number of rentals of traditional ‘business formal’ attire drop to almost half of what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘They’re saying goodbye to the basic black suit or sheath. Instead, they are opting for more printed, bold options as they return to the office.’ Smallshaw said.
But the experts said some companies aren’t fighting the cropped blazers and midriffs, and they’re just letting employees wear ‘pretty much what they want’ as a ‘perk’.
‘Expression is very important in some industries – especially the creative industries.’ Bradshaw continued.
‘People want to bring not just their work to the table, but their personality and their style and their creativity.’
What are your thoughts about risqué workplace outfits? Should dress codes be a thing of the past? Let us know in the comments below!
However, when it comes to a professional setting, what’s considered appropriate to wear may still vary from one person to another. Recently, younger generations are ditching traditional office wear and flaunting ‘sexy’ outfits in the office…
On TikTok, there are thousands of videos tagged as ‘#workoutfits’ that show Gen Z employees and young Millennials showing off raunchy office attire comprised of short skirts, sheer tops, and sweats.
While these outfit choices would have once merited a warning from HR for being ‘too casual’ or ‘provocative’ for work, the modern dilemma has left people divided.
Gen Zers workplace outfits. Source: @daniklaric, @ciciunderwear
Dani Klarić, who is a young interior decorator and creative director, proudly shared her workday outfit in a recent TikTok video and instantly went viral for all the wrong reasons.
The outfit in question featured a white miniskirt, an unbuttoned short-sleeve shirt that revealed a lacy yellow bra underneath, and a pair of sheer yellow thigh-high socks.
‘If I had a corporate job, this is how I would dress for work. Who’s going to stop me?’ she captioned her post, which has amassed over 200,000 likes and 2 million views.
While Dani received massive backlash for being ‘out of touch’, many came to her defence and argued that dress codes are ‘outdated’.
‘I understand dress codes, but I think they have become outdated.’ Keely Bouroncle, a 31-year-old with a corporate job said.
Source: @daniklaric
Keely shared that she likes showing off her figure with form-fitting clothing in bright colours, adding that it shouldn’t matter what she wears so long as she’s getting her work done.
‘How a person chooses to dress is a statement of themselves. I want to look good so that I feel good.’ she continued.
Those working in Human Resources have also noticed the bold shift in workplace fashion.
‘I have noticed a few issues among younger people.’ said David Bradshaw, President of an outsourcing HR firm.
He detailed that the younger team members dress ‘too casually’.
Cindy O’Peka, with O’Peka Human Resources and Consulting in California, has long been in favour of more relaxed dress codes in the office, but she also thinks that the new generation seems more clueless than conscious about their choice of work outfits.
She revealed that some outfits worn by younger employees are much more ‘appropriate for clubbing’ than in a professional setting.
Source: @prettycritical
‘I think they might actually feel like they are dressing up because that’s also what they wear when they go out.’ the 41-year-old said.
Meanwhile, popular clothing brands have been quickly adapting to the trend. An LA-based clothing brand, Reformation, previously caused a stir online after advertising their ‘work edit’ clothing range, featuring models in ‘office-ready’ strappy dresses, cropped blazers, and short shorts.
The marketing was slammed by thousands online, with one TikTok user commenting that the outfits were ‘not a good idea’.
Dressing ‘casually’ for work is apparently trendy. Source: @amyfuchsiashaw
Suzanne Smallshaw, the Senior Director of Fashion and Styling at Rent the Runway – a company that rents designer apparel and accessories – shared that as workers return to the office, they’ve noticed the number of rentals of traditional ‘business formal’ attire drop to almost half of what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘They’re saying goodbye to the basic black suit or sheath. Instead, they are opting for more printed, bold options as they return to the office.’ Smallshaw said.
But the experts said some companies aren’t fighting the cropped blazers and midriffs, and they’re just letting employees wear ‘pretty much what they want’ as a ‘perk’.
‘Expression is very important in some industries – especially the creative industries.’ Bradshaw continued.
‘People want to bring not just their work to the table, but their personality and their style and their creativity.’
What are your thoughts about risqué workplace outfits? Should dress codes be a thing of the past? Let us know in the comments below!
.png){kind=icon}
