The Ultimate Guide for Business Professional Attire in 2024

If you’ve been in the working world for a while, you might feel confident about dressing to impress at the office. If you’re a college graduate about to start your first full-time job or if you’re returning to the workforce, maybe you have received advice on what to wear from experienced professionals in your life. But does that advice still hold up in today’s work environment?

If you didn’t get the memo, the days of a strict suit-and-tie policy are over. The global COVID-19 pandemic marked a significant shift toward flexible and more inclusive work models, redefining what it means to dress professionally.^1,2 Today’s professionals may navigate between video calls at home, meetings at the office, and social time. According to the IWG Evolution of Work Fashion study, which surveyed 1,000 U.S.-based hybrid employees, 79% reported changing how they dressed to fit these flexible work environments.³ An increasingly diverse workforce wants versatile options—think sustainable fashion, bold colors, and gender-neutral workwear—that reflect their individuality and personal style.^1,2 But dressing for work at a tech startup on the West Coast could look very different from dressing to go into a Big 4 accounting firm. Understanding how to dress for different environments is crucial for shaping your personal brand and ensuring career success.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how office dress codes have changed over the years, define what constitutes business professional attire, and discuss how you can start elevating your professional image in 2024 and beyond.

Casual dress dates to the 1960s, when the city of Honolulu allowed its workers to wear Aloha shirts.⁴ By the 1990s, “Casual Fridays” had become a nationwide trend, giving employees a break from traditional business attire.⁴ The 2000s saw another significant shift as the fashion industry introduced adaptive clothing lines for people with disabilities, pushing workplace dress codes toward greater inclusivity.³ These changes didn’t happen overnight or on a whim. Instead, they reflect an evolution in workplace values, prioritizing innovation, flexibility, and inclusivity over rigid dress codes.^1,2

In the post-pandemic workplace, businesses that have welcomed employees back to the office view casual dress as one way to bring the comfort of home into the workplace, boost morale, and retain their talent.¹ Yet, in more traditional business environments, conservative dress—think blue suits, pale blue shirts, and no ties—is the gold standard for meeting with investors. At firms such as EY, Deloitte, and KPMG, employees are often advised to dress like their clients to promote inclusivity.⁵ Millennials and Gen Z, the younger generations in the office, value work-life balance and prefer working in a more informal environment.² The influx of a younger workforce, along with the rise of the tech industry and remote work, means more companies must strike a balance with their dress codes, somewhere between Silicon Valley casual and Wall Street formal.^1,2

Business professional attire is characterized by its formality, attention to detail, and adherence to traditional standards of professionalism. For employees, this typically includes a tailored suit or dress with a blazer and dress shoes. You can also opt for closed-toe heels or flats and understated jewelry.

It’s easy to confuse business professional with business casual attire. Business professional attire is formal and conservative, while business casual is a more relaxed version of professional dress. When deciding what to wear, consider the environment and your role and responsibilities. Business professional is the standard for high-stakes meetings, interviews, and other formal occasions. So, opt for a more formal and conservative look. The key is to present yourself as polished and confident, with respect for the professional environment.

When considering business professional attire, it’s important to recognize the diversity of options available:

• Traditional: Includes classic pieces like tailored suits, dress shirts, and ties and conservative dresses, skirts, or pantsuits. Gender-neutral options often incorporate structured blazers and neutral-colored slacks or skirts that align with a formal business dress code⁶
• Modern: Allows more flexibility and personal expression and includes slim-fit suits, patterned shirts, and even high-end sneakers. Other options are statement blouses, fashionable pants, or midi skirts. Gender-neutral options could include unisex blazers, oversized shirts, tapered trousers, and minimalist footwear^1,5  
• Seasonal: In winter, fabrics like wool, cashmere, and fleece keep you warm and in style. During summer, choose lighter materials like cotton and linen and add short-sleeved shirts, breathable blouses, and dresses to your wardrobe⁷
  

You shouldn’t have to guess what’s acceptable to wear to work. The industry you work in often determines whether you have a formal or casual dress code. When in doubt, review your employee handbook, or ask human resources or employees who have been there for longer than you have. It’s always best to know specifically how you are expected to dress. While your company may have a different set of policies, keep these guidelines in mind:⁸

• Industry: Technology companies tend to be less formal in dress, while financial and legal organizations tend to be more formal 
• Cultural norms of your geographic location: The East Coast tends to be more formal and conservative by nature, while the West Coast tends to skew informal
• Role and experience: About 69% of hybrid workers believe what you wear to work reflects the title and level of role within a hybrid work organization.² While you don’t need to dress more formally just because you hold more responsibility, new hires should focus on making a good impression. And, if your role involves client-facing meetings, you might want to dress more formally

It’s helpful to understand what you should and shouldn’t wear at each of the different levels of business formality.^9,10

• Business Formal (a.k.a. Traditional): An exceptionally formal and impressive manner of dress is typically required, such as dark suits, suits with skirts, dress shirts, silk ties, cufflinks, pocket squares, and dress shoes or closed-toe heels
• Business Professional: A more standard, formal style, previously common in many offices. Suits, ties, dress shoes or closed-toe heels may still be required, but the expectation is not as stringent as it is in a business formal environment
• Business Casual: This is a more relaxed version of the business professional dress code, but it usually does not include jeans. Polo shirts, collared shirts, sweaters, dress pants or khakis, conservative dresses, and nice shoes or heels are acceptable. Ties are not necessary
• Casual/Small Business Casual: You can get away with being much less formal in a casual work environment, but this isn’t an invitation to dress sloppily. Wear clothing in good shape that fits you well. For many people, the most significant difference from business casual is that blue jeans are acceptable, but they should be in good condition. Collarless shirts, casual button-downs, t-shirts, casual tops and skirts are also acceptable in a casual work environment, as long as they’re workplace-appropriate, as well as jeans or khakis, and even open-toed shoes¹¹

While the rigid suit-and-tie policies of the past have given way to more flexible and inclusive dress codes, understanding how to dress appropriately for your role and industry is still crucial. Whether you are starting your career at a traditional firm or embracing the casual culture of a tech company, your attire plays a role in shaping your personal brand and career success.

With an Online MBA from California State University, Monterey Bay, you won’t just be dressed for success, you will gain the skills to steer your career in the right direction. CSUMB offers the only program in the country with a focus on Responsible Business. Led by supportive faculty experts, the robust curriculum features in-depth study, group projects, and an exploration of global perspectives. Students learn how to view business administration through the lens of Profit, People, Planet, Ethics, and Equity.

Make today the day you start moving up. To discuss CSUMB’s admissions schedule, MBA career resources, and online student experience, schedule a call with an admissions outreach advisor.