How to Navigate Dress Codes at Work: A Personal Stylist’s Guide

Because figuring out if “business casual” includes sneakers shouldn’t feel like solving a fashion riddle.

Let’s face it—getting dressed for work has gotten weird. In some offices, dress codes have totally disappeared, leaving people to wonder if joggers are okay . . . or if they’re one drawstring away from a performance review. On the other side of the spectrum, some workplaces are still hanging on to the traditional suit-and-tie expectations.

So, how do you find your way through this maze of “wear whatever! We have no dress code,” but “wait, not that”? Whether you're working hybrid, in-person, or somewhere in between, we’re here to help you decode the (sometimes unspoken) rules, define your own workplace style brand, and show up feeling confident, comfortable, and completely you.

Step 1: Know What You’re Actually Working With

Let’s start by decoding the language of dress codes—because what HR says and what people wear can be two very different things.

Here’s a cheat sheet for common workplace dress codes:

🕴️ Business Formal
Think tailored suits, structured dresses, heels or leather shoes, minimal accessories. Boardroom vibes. (The “power suit” still lives here!)

👔 Business Casual
Polished, but less rigid. Slacks, blouses, midi dresses, cardigans, loafers, flats, boots. Jeans traditionally do not live in business casual. Think: attending a professional conference, not a courtroom trial.

🧥 Smart Casual
A happy medium—structured, upleveled denim; blazers with tees; midi-skirts with a button-down chambray, nicer sneakers (not your running shoes). The goal: a nod to casual, yet still sharp and respectful, for many environments.

👖 Casual
Jeans or fun pants, sneakers, and a nice top. The keyword is presentable. This does not mean your lounge or athleisure wear. Leave your pajamas and leggings at home; this is still a work environment!

🧘 No Dress Code / ‘Dress for Your Day’
Translation: “Use your best judgment.” This is a newer territory that many companies have adopted. In reality, this often creates more confusion than clarity, which brings us to . . .

Step 2: If There’s No Dress Code, You’re the One Making the Statement

When there's no clear directive, you get to be the creative director of your wardrobe. Sounds fun, right? (Until you’re panic-scrolling Pinterest or asking ChatGPT what to wear before a big client meeting.)

Here’s your style strategy:

👀 Observe What’s Working

Look around. Who’s crushing it at work—not just performance-wise, but presence-wise? Who gets taken seriously in meetings, leads with confidence, and seems to look the part without overdoing it?

Now, observe what they’re wearing. Don’t copy, but clock the clues.

Ask:

• Are they always slightly more polished than average?

• Do they dress differently when meeting with clients vs. internal teams?

• Are there unspoken “uniforms” in your department?

🙋 Ask for Intel

If you're comfortable, tap a trusted coworker or HR and ask:

• Is there a specific internal style culture I should be aware of?

• What do people wear when they present to senior leadership?

• Are jeans okay every day or just on Fridays?

Sometimes people think there’s no dress code, but in reality, there are invisible expectations. Better to ask than guess.

Step 3: Define What You Want to Say With Your Personal Style

Here’s the not-so-secret sauce: Style is communication, especially at work.

When you get dressed for your job—whether you’re leading a team, pitching ideas, or tuning in on Zoom—you’re sending a message about who you are and how you want to be seen.

Try asking yourself:

• What do I want my style to say about me?

• Do I want to feel powerful, creative, competent, relatable—or all of the above?

• If my clothes could speak, would they say, “Let’s close this deal,” or “Oops, forgot there was a meeting”?

Then, audit your wardrobe with these questions in mind. Build looks that align with how you want to show up—not just physically, but emotionally, too. Basically, how can your clothing support your professional goals and the messages you want to communicate about yourself?

Step 4: Build a Work “Coredrobe” You Can Rely On

Just like you wouldn’t run a marathon in stilettos (unless that’s your schtick), you shouldn’t build a work wardrobe that makes life more complicated.

Enter a Coredrobe (n.): A curated core wardrobe that serves as the foundation of your personal style—intentionally built around your body, lifestyle, goals, and BU Style personality. Your coredrobe is the reliable center of your closet: the go-to pieces that mix, match, layer, and elevate with ease. It’s not about having more clothes—it’s about having the right ones that work harder for you. These are the items you can throw on and know they’ll fit, feel good, and help you show up with confidence—whether you're heading into a client meeting, hopping on Zoom, or running school pickup in style.

It’s the wardrobe you return to again and again, because it feels like you. Your coredrobe for work should contain mix-and-match pieces that fit your body, your industry, your role, and your goals. Note that this is not the traditional capsule wardrobe of 30-something neutral pieces everyone should own.’ Nope, you know we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all solution.

✅ Coredrobe staples for work could look like:

• A pair of trousers that make you feel like a boss (even if your boss wears jeans)

• A great blazer that makes everything look intentional and always pulls a look together

• A shoe you can stand in all day while standing out in them

• A beautiful patterned top or blouse that pairs with everything and has your signature colors

• Your favorite “meeting dress” or jumpsuit that’s your one-and-done hero

• A great statement necklace that brings out your creative side

I have recently been using a rating system with clients, and we are striving for pieces and outfits that are “8s, 9s, and 10s.” with a goal to slowly phase out the 7s and below. This takes time to build, but when you get intentional and start to understand what you love about particular pieces and outfit combinations, then you start to get closer and closer to this as you fill in the gaps. Even if it’s “just a white T-shirt”—it’s the ideal white T-shirt for YOU specifically. As you start to build your coredrobe and style it for various professional settings, you’re never scrambling, and you more often than not will look and feel ready to conquer your workday.

>>Read more about coredrobes here.

Step 5: Learn How to Dress for Each Day

Even in offices with clear dress codes, no two days are exactly alike. Client visits, executive meetings, industry events, off-sites, casual Fridays—they all have different vibes. So here are some tips to help you dress for your varied days, because it feels like there are no ‘normal’ workdays anymore, right?

🎯 Match the moment
If you have a big presentation, level up. Wear a look you would rate a 10/10. You want to feel confident and powerful. If it’s a team brainstorm or remote check-in, you can dial things back—but not off—to signal to yourself and others that you are relaxed yet ready for flow.

🧳 Traveling for work?
Always check the local norms (Chicago business casual and San Francisco business casual are not the same) and the weather. Plan outfits that layer well and still reflect your unique style, but that also connect with the settings you'll be in.

📸 On-camera?
Solid colors and a bit of light around the face (think earrings or a bright lip) help you pop on Zoom. Remember, just because you are working from home doesn’t mean you should show up looking like you just rolled out of bed. A little effort goes a long way for an on-camera work meeting.

>>Watch more of my tips I shared with WikiHow on dressing for on-camera meetings

>>Download our Dress for Your Day checklist to help you dress for your setting, the forecast, and your mood.

Step 6: Dress Codes Are Loosening—But That Doesn’t Mean Style Standards Should

Here’s the truth: a majority of people don’t have to dress in business formal for work anymore. The bigger risk? Dressing too casually—and not realizing how it’s impacting how you’re perceived.

You can still be you. You can still be comfortable. But if your goal is to grow, lead, or make moves at work, elevating your wardrobe is a low-lift way to raise the bar.

And no, this isn’t about looking “perfect.” It’s about aligning your outer expression with your inner excellence.

The BU Way: Dress the Part—But Make It Yours

At the end of the day, dress codes may be written (or not), but your personal brand is always speaking. You don’t have to wear heels if that’s not your thing. You don’t have to be in head-to-toe neutrals to be professional. You DO have to be intentional. You have to understand the settings and people you are around and understand what your wardrobe is saying about you when you walk into a room.

Think of your wardrobe as a strategy, not a stressor. It’s a cover letter telling people who you are and why they should trust you to do the job.

When you get it right, your clothes aren’t just fabric—they’re fuel. And that, my friend, is the best dress code of all.

Want a Little Help Figuring Out Your Work Style?

🎒 Book a Q the Stylist or Q the Makeup Artist session for 1:1 support
🧠 Join the BU Style Circle to take our BU Style Six assessment, get shopping and styling tips, and participate in our live stylist sessions