My friend and I were recently discussing outfits for work and the differences between business casual, smart casual and formal dress code. The dress code at a workplace often depends on the culture and guidelines. For example, Google is known for its casual dress code where jeans and t-shirts are the norm. However, imagine pulling up to your first day at an investment bank at 9AM sharp, dressed in jeans while everyone around you is in suits and ties – definitely not ideal.
Inspired by the TikTok trend where people share hypothetical office outfits (office siren trend for reference), I started to wonder: What would I wear if there were no dress codes or guidelines at work?
Disclaimer: These outfits are what I would hypothetically wear if there were no dress code. I recognise that dress codes vary widely across different industries, and what might be considered acceptable or not acceptable can differ greatly. For example, these outfits might be acceptable in the fashion industry but would probably not fit the dress code at places where I’ve worked in the past (which is what I’m basing this off on)
Back to regular programming – Truthfully, I wouldn’t even wear these outfits to work even if dress codes didn’t exist because I prefer “basic” and more comfortable clothes/shoes. Shocker, I know. I need to be able to move freely during long workdays – imagine running to your third meeting of the day, dealing with the pain of 6-inch heels and having 30 emails to respond to. I’d honestly have to take a day off but I genuinely admire those who can wear anything other than sneakers & loafers to work. I’d also like to add what might be comfortable for me may be different to what you find comfy which is 100% fine! And even if I wouldn’t exactly wear these outfits if dress codes were scrapped, it’s fun to imagine 🙂
That being said, here are 3 outfits I would wear to work if there was no dress code and every day was a fashion show. Miranda Priestly, wherever you are in the multiverse, I hope you like at least one of these looks.
Look 1: Corporate Baddie That Means Business
It’s 8AM on a Monday, you hear the click clack of her heels before you even see her. Her skirt swishes as she walks by and you catch a whiff of the most amazing perfume you’ve ever smelt. Heads turn as she walks by, phone in one hand on the phone and bag in the other. You wonder where her laptop is – Could it possibly be in that elegant bag? Surely not. But if anyone could pull off using that as a work bag, it would be her. You’re almost convinced she doesn’t need a laptop at all; she seems like the type to get business done with just a snap of her fingers. She pauses at the elevator doors, waiting to ascend to the 12th floor – the Client Relationship Management floor you recall from your first day touring the office. The doors beep open, and she steps inside.
Look 2: Casual – Chic – Whatever – I don’t care
She’s in a meeting that kicked off at 2pm. Glancing at the clock on her computer, she sees it’s now 5:15PM, and the presenter is on slide 31 of 53. She has plans after work – big plans that involve getting home on time. The plans? Binge-watching Modern Family with a glass of wine and pizza from the deli down the street. It’s not her fault the show is hysterically funny, and it doesn’t matter that she can watch it anytime. Her weekend officially starts at 5:30PM on Friday, as outlined in her contract. She checks her watch again – 5:25pm. The presenter seems to have no sense of urgency. She notices her co-workers’ growing frustration as they realise the meeting will run over. Not on her watch! This is precious Modern Family time. At exactly 5:30pm, she unmutes her mic and lets the presenter know the meeting has exceeded the scheduled time. She’s not getting paid to work a minute past 5:30PM. Within 5 minutes, she’s out of the office, debating between capricciosa or meat lovers pizza. Modern Family, here she comes!
Look 3: Class Work is now in session!
She’s running late for the third day in a row, and the pins on her skirt have snagged her skin, leaving a small mark on her hip. Her shoes are already forming blisters. She can’t remember how she used to wake up so early in high school with ease. As she boards the bus, she waves at the driver and scrolls through her playlists, searching for one that matches her mood – tired and unsure if she can handle the job she landed right out of college. While rummaging for gum to soothe her grumbling, slightly embarrassing stomach, a notification pops up on her phone: a 1:1 meeting with her manager about her performance starting in 5 minutes. The problem? She’s 30 minutes away from the office.
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