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I feel like we've had a lot of discussions lately about how it feels like fashion is all over the place at this moment in time. What's trendy? What's out? What's classic vs. what's dated? So let's discuss.
Some of our previous discussions on trends can be helpful here because you can see what era some of the trends originated in. We've talked about 2019 fashion trends we hate (no one liked ruffles, and Elizabeth called the Doc Marten trend!), trends you won’t wear to work (2016 edition), trends and the conservative office (2015 edition), and trends you’re totally sick of (2013 edition).
Trends I Would Not Wear to Work in 2024
For my $.02, trends from yesteryear that I'm going to avoid wearing include:
- ruffles everywhere
- sharkbite hems
- trumpet or bell sleeves (if you must, bubble sleeves are more in right now)
- trumpet skirts
- high-low skirts (although I'm not sure those were ever appropriate for the office…)
- clear plastic/lucite details on shoes
Newer trends that I'd wait a bit before seeing whether they fly at my office:
- headbands
- lug soles (loafers, boots, combat boots, etc)
- anything with a grandma aesthetic — heavily embroidered sweaters, oversize sweaters — they may be acceptable when balanced with a structured piece, but know your office
- oversized white button-fronts
- sweater vests (although I'd guess that these will be acceptable as long as you're wearing them as a layer)
- white sneakers with dresses (see below — they might be acceptable at a business casual office, but I'd presume they're not until you see others wearing the look)
- skirts and dresses with trains/trails
Newer trends that probably aren't acceptable for work (unless anything flies at your office):
- nap dresses or smocked details
- prairie dresses
- joggers/leggings everywhere
- bike pants with boots (cute… but weekend)
- cardigan sets with crop tops (ditto — cute, but weekend)
- slip dresses
- midi-skirts that have a sheer layer on top of a miniskirt
Items I'd Skip Unless I Really Liked Them
This list could be handy if you're interested in buying clothes secondhand… you can still buy them and wear them, but don't consider them basics — they have to really be something you love.
- peplums
- architectural heels
- colorblocked dresses (especially with an exposed zipper) — many will say that these have been out for at least five years, but I'm still seeing new ones come out. I wouldn't recommend buying the new ones, but if you already own colorblocked dresses you love, I think they're still wearable.
- tunic sweaters — I'm still going to wear them, but it's because I like them.
- ankle pants — I still think you can wear the older ones you like, but I'd hold off on buying new until you see what's popular at your office. Consider wearing them with loafers or mid-calf boots to make them more current; avoid the ballet flats + ankle pants look.
- round toe flats — Curious to hear your thoughts, but I feel like it's either pointy flat or loafer at this point.
- exposed zippers — We're still seeing these! No one, at any point, ever liked them for work, but manufacturers have yet to get the message (or maybe it's cheaper to make dresses this way). You do you, but I wouldn't buy a dress with an exposed zipper unless I really like the rest of the dress.
{related: how to cultivate style (aka style vs. trend vs. frump)}
Items You Should Never Wear to Work (But Know Your Office)
I'd be curious for your thoughts on this list, as my own advice to women is largely unchanged over the 15 years of this blog — it's not that you can't wear these items, but if you're new to an office, wait to wear these items until you see mid-levels wearing them. (The theory here is that a junior employee should follow mid-levels, because the bosses can wear what they want.)
What Not to Wear to Conservative Offices in General
I'd define a conservative office as one where people wouldn't look out of place wearing a suit.
- anything that makes noise (bracelets, pants, shoes, whatever)
- shoes (especially heels) you cannot walk a few blocks in
- pants with five-pocket styles cut like denim — including corduroy, velvet, etc.
- leggings as pants
- long dresses and skirts (maxi for sure, maybe even midi)
- anything denim (including denim jackets or blazers)
- over-the-knee boots (I'd LOVE your thoughts on that one, readers — I still think it's a know your office situation.)
- anything that wasn't commonly worn five years ago
- anything requiring a special bra or exposing unusual skin (including slash-neck sweaters, crop tops, and even those half-sweaters meant to be worn over a camisole so there are flashes of skin)
- “anchorwoman style,” like camisoles with blazers (or at least go into it knowing you probably can't remove your blazer if you get hot)
- sheer/lace/chiffon details
- sleeveless arms and bare legs — but I expect this one will vary greatly by region and office culture (but! see the conversation in the comments re pantyhose. Maybe the answer finally is “presume bare legs are ok unless your office makes a big deal about how bare legs are not acceptable.”)
- (see the below list also)
What Not to Wear to a Business Casual Office
Again, these aren't definite nos, just “presume it's a no until you've worked there a while.” Proposed safe outfit until you know your office: Pants without back pockets (Pixie pants from Old Navy would be great here but lots of higher-end options also — note that they now have styles other than ankle pants) and a blouse, sweater, or cardigan & tee.
- I'd still go with much of the above list until you've worked at your office a bit
- ripped denim (including “raw” hems), anything other than dark rinse denim
- anything with a mid-thigh slit
- sneakers, sandals, commuting shoes (rainboots, Sorel, Sperry, etc.) — keep a pair of simple flats or heels at the office. I'd include the “white sneakers with everything” trend — just wait a while and see if it will fly at your office.
- graphic tees and sports paraphernalia
- hoodies (even if they're cashmere) — but know your office
- I don't think this is a trend right now, but I'll add it anyway: shorts with tights
- (summertime: shorts and any shoe that exposes your toes)
{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}
Iffy Trends That are PROBABLY OK (but I Wouldn't Wear the First Week)
As always: know your office.
- Jumpsuits — I still think these can be very hit or miss for work, but they've been around for long enough and have been popular in workwear stores for long enough…
- Knee-high boots — I hope we are way past the days when, if you wore knee-high boots (not even OTK!), you'd have to deal with jokes from coworkers about pirates (or dominatrixes). But it wasn't that long ago that knee-high boots were suspect — so know your office.
- Split hems — I'm not a huge fan of the trend but I don't think there's anything inherently inappropriate for the office about the look. (See, e.g., The Row or Ted Baker.)
- Bodysuits — we've even done a roundup of the best bodysuits for work outfits! There are a lot of great ones out there now.
Readers, over to you — what will you not be wearing to work in 2024? What trends scream “2017” (or earlier) — what trends seem inappropriate now?
Stock photo via Stencil.
Anon
Outside of finance/BigLaw, do people really care about bare legs anymore? It seems like dresses/skirts with bare legs are normal.
Mrs. Jones
+1
Anon
I didn’t wear hose/stockings in biglaw unless it was for warmth. It’s funny to me that she invites reader comments on whether OTK boots are okay but thinks bare legs/sleeveless is questionable.
Anonymous
Bare legs are fine in my corner of finance and have been for years (I was a long-time hose holdout, too).
Kat G
I don’t disagree that bare legs are commonly accepted especially in big cities — but ‘d still be wary about them if you’re working in the South or with any boss (or appearing before a judge) over age 70.
Anon
I am in the South. No one in my office wears nylons.
Anon
Kat, bless your heart, I 100% promise you the ladies in the south in PARTICULAR are not wearing hose because it is approximately 1 million degrees for six months out of the year here. (I’m the anon at 2:32 PM and worked in the south for my entire biglaw career.)
Kat G
I think it varies by office culture though – I’ve even heard of places in the South that still require pantyhose *at all times*. Under pants. I don’t remember if it was a reader email or a reporter calling me for comment but I definitely had an outraged reaction.
Anon
How would someone at a law firm even know if you’re wearing hose under pants? This is madness!
I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but I am a woman attorney in the South, and I wear mostly dresses and skirts. My workplaces have not been formal, but they are on the fancier end of business casual. I do wear hose to court or tights if that’s weather appropriate. I don’t go to court much, though. I’ve never worn hose to a deposition, mediation, or to work on a normal day and only wear tights for warmth, not due to any dress code. I don’t know anyone who wears them to work unless they’re going to court.
Kat G
So wait — for a BigLaw interview in the south someone could wear a skirt without hose? Court appearance before an older judge? Or are people just wearing pants? Genuinely curious.
Anonymous
I work with older judges in the South and they don’t even wear hose themselves.
Cynthia Mitchell
Lots of women in the South do wear skirts without hose, even to court, but I think it depends somewhat on how pale your legs are. I won’t because mine are so pale they might blind the judge. As for the weather – it is ungodly hot outside and uncomfortably cold inside during the summer with overpowering air conditioning.
Anonnymouse
I’m not in law (but live in the south) and this is all I can think about when this comes up! Pantyhose is a nightmare here most of the year.
Anon
I was reamed out by a Midwest Big Law partner for not wearing hose to a hearing when I was an associate. It was normal in California where I was from to go without, but the Midwest and DC partners on the team (who were all under the age of 60) were absolutely horrified. This was 8 years ago now I guess, but I’d be surprised if things have changed that much.
DeepSouth
I was in a meeting yesterday with three DAs. All were wearing skirt/dress suits and bare legs.
Anon
Scarves
g
Good or bad?! I have giant tits so i have a few long light ones in winter
Anon
I have had to counsel so many women not to wear leggings to work. It’s in the dress code. I’m usually sent by someone else to tell them – and often it means taking a half day of PTO to go home and change. Just don’t do it. Read the dress code and take it seriously.
Go for it
Thank you thank you thank you.
No one needs to see all that!
Cat
A lot of this do or don’t list seems outdated to me. The world has gotten a lot more casual in the 10+ years I’ve been a reader.
my suggestion:
1. Look at your office dress code
2. Failing an official dress code, look at what people one “level up” in your office are wearing. Think midlevels, not partners. Midlevels are senior enough to know what’s acceptable but not so senior that they can say “eff it I’m wearing what I want, I’ve proven myself so DGAF.”
If your office is still “you can come in if you want but we’re WFH still” then unless you’re coming in for a specific important meeting, you can go one level down from Normal 2019 Attire, but stop before you’re wearing leggings as pants.
AIMS
I think it’s also different post-pandemic. I work somewhere fairly conservatives and I’ve been wearing white sneakers, midi and long skirts/dresses to work for months. I’d wear an oversize sweater, white shirt, etc. (within limits as to how oversize). I still wouldn’t wear over the knee boots but that’s probably more because I think they are “out” at this point and I generally don’t want to wear anything that is overtly s*xy seeming to work (also why I never wore exposed zippers). The same old rules may still apply for court, etc., but I think at least for now, with offices not being quite back to normal, a lot of these rules just don’t apply.
Anon
My office is still come in if you want but mostly WFH, and the attire has not changed from 2019 on people who are coming in. We’re not more casual than we were before.
Anon
Ha, I love color blocked dresses so much and the ones I have do mostly have exposed zippers. I can’t get enough second hand Narciso Rodriguez. They are exceptionally flattering for me.
I don’t think lug soles are a trend to be hesitant about at all but I agree white sneakers aren’t a work-appropriate trend. You could try to pair them with work clothes, but I think that looks weird and still doesn’t make gym shoes workwear.
I hate bell sleeves and ruffles with a fiery passion and have since they first appeared and I can’t wait for that trend to die a swift death.
Anonymous Gen X'er
I love peplum & they’re very flattering on me whereas longer jackets don’t look good on me at all! I also have really messed up feet and wear orthotics so my days of super cool work shoes are over. I try not to be too grandma, but since I’m trying to avoid foot surgery and pain, shoe fashion is less of a priority for me.
S
I’ll jump in on the OTK boot–I have a great pair and I used to wear them all the time when I was going into the office! Both my business casual office and on the Hill as well. Caveat: literally nothing looks sexy on me–even if I try, it’ll just be cute (think every single Halloween costume). I’d always pair them with a knee length dress, so its never super obvious that they were OTK.
Also on hose: I never, ever wear pantyhose. If I’m cold, I’ll throw on a pair of tights. As a woman of color, its impossible to match my skin tone, and also…who wears hose these days???
Open-toed shoes? What?
Why aren’t open-toed shoes in the summer ok for business casual? Not flip flops or strappy evening-type sandals, but there are many other types (slides, etc.) that seem ok for business casual.
Anon
There are also so many open toed shoes that seem good for nothing else really!
Anonnymouse
Also, It’s hella not where I live most of the time, so sandals are pretty much fine most places.
Cat
that was an example of how I think this advice is really dated. Peep-toe shoes are pretty widely accepted. I might not wear shoes that have both an open toe AND heel before getting the lay of the land…
3 dog mom
A few years back there was a rule of thumb about shoes that said they were okay if more shoe than foot, but if more foot than shoe, then no. That one still makes sense to me. Strappy at work is a no go for me. Ditto slides, but that’s more because I don’t want to be kicking off my shoes when I walk…
Not a toe haver
Fact: Toes are unprofessional. People who have toes are incapable of doing acceptable work. Once you make partner in your law firm they cut off your toes, Cinderella’s stepsister style, as a show of loyalty.
Anonymous
This is helpful! I always wondered (in my 20s) why so many of the 40ish attorneys looked so frump/out of style. Now I’m 41 and I get it – I think I’ve now seen so many slight variations on workwear that I have a hard time even knowing what’s stylish or not. And I have less time to be out at cool places to see what others are wearing – don’t get much of that in the school pick up line.
Anom
That and bc in your 40’s with a job and kids to worry about, worrying about frump is the least of your worries. Which is also why women in their 40’s without kids are less likely to look frumpy? (Or maybe my friends without kids are just much more naturally stylish?)
Anon
Styles shift back every 25 years, so a 40-something woman is avoiding wearing the styles that were “in” when she was in high school and college. Younger people interpret that as being unfashionable.
Anon
I wonder if I should just not avoid it then? Or is that even worse?
Anonymous
+1000
Anon
Meh, I still like my Tieks. That being said, I’d like to find a pair of loafers that don’t skew preppy.
Anonnymouse
For me, the loafers with pointier or more tapered toes and sleeker finishes don’t look preppy. Anything the skews “driving moc” does.
Corinne
Do you have any recommendations for tapered loafers? The ones I’ve seen remind me of my school girl shoes.
Missy
The best pair I’ve ever had was Franco Sarto Grenoble in Black. Great heel. Great toe. Very classic. Sadly, I don’t think they make that style anymore. But you can find pics on internet to get an idea of the style.
Anonymous
Are round toe/ballet flats really that bad? I realize they’re not in style at the moment but I don’t think they’ve crossed over into unacceptable.
(I just bought a pair of black round toe Rothys knockoffs to keep under my desk this winter, and I plan on wearing them with dresses and pants regardless of any potential Zooey Deschanel vibes.)
Anon
No! They are fine. They are more comfortable because the toes aren’t crying at being shoved into a point. I will defend round toe flats as much as possible.
Anonymous
Your pointed toe shoes are too small if your toes are shoved into the point.
Nicki
lol, I don’t think there is anything controversial about the headband.
Anonymous
Have you seen the trendy headbands lately? They’re super padded and almost crown- or halo-like. I think a thinner headband is probably fine for work, especially if it’s actually keeping hair out of one’s face while working. I might just be traumatized from Gossip Girl style circa 2009.
Lobbyist
Have you seen the trendy headbands lately? They’re super padded and almost crown- or halo-like. I think a thinner headband is probably fine for work, especially if it’s actually keeping hair out of one’s face while working. I might just be traumatized from Gossip Girl style circa 2009.
Catherine
I am in the same position. I have a bum foot and my footwear choices are now very limited. Tennis shoes actually don’t work for me, but I wear clogs, etc that I can walk in without horrible pain whether they are “cute” or not. I do my best to buy clothes that work with the shoe styles I can wear and I keep my shoes in good condition. But I think functional shoes are key to appropriate work attire. If your shoes keep you from being able to walk to the other end of the building for a meeting, they aren’t work appropriate, regardless of style considerations.
Catherine
I am confused by the idea that a midi length dress is a no for work. Do you all really find that to be true? I work in a place that is somewhere in between business casual and business attire with a heavy dose of modest. Above the knee is pretty questionable so that leave only knee length skirts and dresses?
Anonymous
I think it depends on the cut/style of the dress. If it’s a flowy skirt that differs from a maxi just by length, that’s probably whats Kat is talking about. On the other hand, a professional skirt that just happens to be longer seems like it ought to be fine.
Anonymous
I need clarification with the “ankle pants” to avoid. I typically wear a Boden Richmond style pant to work every day with heels or loafers, and they hit at my ankle. I searched “pant” in the archives, and most of the recent pant recommendations are an ankle length pant. At 41, I need help to not look outdated or frumpy!!
Stephanie Eaton
At what point does an oversized sweater become a grandma sweater no-no? I’m a sucker for all sweaters, including matching a chunky sweater with a skirt or slim jeans/work pants.
Anonymus
What’s wrong with ankle pants? I’m petite and it’s basically one of the only pants it looks good on me with good tailoring. Good idea about the loafers though.
Anonymous
Are trumpet skirts really such a big no no? I have a couple and a dress that I like. Not this exact one but something this style: https://www.lovebonito.com/intl/shenya-trumpet-skirt.html
Would love your thoughts.