Some Toronto-based influencers have been posting “work fit checks” on Tik Tok to show how they’re dressing for work, sparking debate about what’s appropriate for the office.
These influencers have different approaches to sharing their outfits, from a compilation of everything they wore that week to sharing inspiration on personal style.
Meanwhile, 23-year-old marketing consultant Isabel Lim has a unique method to ensure she doesn’t face embarrassment for dressing too casually at work: inquiring over 30,000 of her TikTok followers about their thoughts on different outfits she hopes to wear.
“When I first entered the corporate world, my wardrobe was much more polished and professional, largely influenced by what I saw in the media and film. I would often wear heels, blazers, and trousers on a daily basis,” Lim told Now Toronto.
However, Lim says her style has shifted from business formal to business casual as she’s gotten more comfortable in her role.
“That being said, because my work attire has relaxed over time, I sometimes struggle with establishing the boundary between casual and too casual,” Lim said.
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GUIDELINES ON DRESSING FOR THE OFFICE
Canadian human resources (HR) staffing firm Robert Half found 25 per cent of working professionals don’t have a clear understanding of what business casual means anymore.
“As expectations have changed, especially in the last five years since the start of the pandemic and the evolution of remote and hybrid work, it can be extremely confusing to know what is or isn’t appropriate – especially for younger workers who may have begun their careers working from home and haven’t had much office experience before,” Robert Half Director of Permanent Placement Services Tara Parry told Now Toronto on Monday.
Parry recommends workers refer to the company’s employee handbook to clearly understand dress code guidelines, observe what other colleagues are wearing, and ask questions for further clarification from managers or the HR department.
“If you’re questioning whether an article of clothing is too casual, it’s best to dress more formal. You can always dress an outfit down – loosen or take off a tie, take off a jacket, roll up your sleeves – but you can’t always dress an outfit back up,” Parry said.
Parry believes people should be able to comfortably express their personal style at work without being distracting or offensive. She suggests avoiding clothes like crop tops, graphic tees, shorts, and sweatpants.
Lim hasn’t had an issue with adhering to her workplace’s definition of business casual because she feels her personal style has leaned towards being more dressy.
“When I shop, I focus on versatile pieces that work well both at the office and outside of it. That said, my style has subtly adapted to the workplace environment; for instance, I tend to avoid cropped or overly revealing clothing,” Lim said.
At the same time, Lim has noticed friends in both her own industry and other workplaces with different perspectives.
“A friend who works in marketing can wear sweatpants and UGGs to the office, which definitely wouldn’t fly in my workplace. On the other hand, a friend in finance is required to wear a suit every day,” she said.
Dress code is determined by a variety of factors, such as whether the role involves appearing in the media or only meeting with employees internally, a brand tradition of formal wear, and which kind of work is being done, according to Parry.
“Someone working for a fashion company will likely have more leeway to dress according to the trends and cutting-edge styles in line with their business, while someone working in a bank would be less likely to warrant that in their daily wear,” Parry said.
Parry emphasizes the most important factor is to remember dress code evolves with time and cultural shifts, especially as the younger generations are beginning to advance in the workforce.
“When introducing a policy to employees, managers should consider sending out a memo and discussing it during staff meetings. The information should also be included in the employee handbook and highlighted during new worker orientations. Organizations should also consult their legal counsel to avoid any discrimination issues,” she said.
