Amazon announced last week it would require employees to return to the office or lose their jobs. They have until January 2025 to ease out of the remote or hybrid work schedules they’ve grown used to since 2023 when employees were required to be in the office just three days a week.
Full time in office will be a big change for many employees at Amazon (AMZN) and other companies. There’s commuting and childcare to consider. And of course: clothing. The bottom line is that the days of head-to-toe athleisure are done.
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Only 22% of respondents to a recent YouGov poll report wearing “business professional” clothing to work, while 47% say they wear business casual to work.
So what is business casual? Actually, it’s not one thing. “Business casual is a tidying up of casual, and it includes a sizable range,” says David Sloan, Chief Merchandising Officer at Huckberry, the men’s clothing brand.
“Business casual is just a bit more polished, and might include an unstructured blazer or a chore coat versus a traditional blazer” paired with chinos or five-pocket trousers, he says.
How to build a business casual wardrobe
If you’re a man, there’s a good chance you already have many business casual items in your closet. But if you’re looking to build a new work-appropriate wardrobe, here’s what Sloan recommends for men:
- An unstructured blazer
- A jersey polo shirt
- A structured casual shirt
- An oxford shirt
- One pair of chino trousers
- One pair of five-pocket cotton pants
- One part of dark denim jeans, in straight or classic fit
- One cotton/cashmere lightweight sweater
- A pair of leather loafers
- A pair of (not athletic) sneakers
Many women likely have many of the business casual basics in their closet already. Over on the style blog My Chic Obsession, Cassie Bird writes, “Business casual isn’t a one-size-fits-all deal; the standards can vary quite a bit between different industries.”
“Think of it as a fun opportunity to sprinkle some personality into your work attire, ” she adds. “Depending on the type of office you work in and your industry, business casual can range from emphasizing the business side of things to the more casual side.”
Rather than listing individual items, Bird and the My Chic Obsession team share advice like, “avoid showing too much skin,” and “stick with timeless colors and patterns,” and “slim-fit tapered trousers or bootcut trousers are the way to go when it comes to business casual pants.” On her blog, you’ll also find several recipes for a business casual outfits that anyone heading back to office will appreciate.
More on Returning to the Office:
- Starbucks CEO has tough words for employees on return to office
- Remote work is declining — Recruitment expert reveals root causes
- Bank of America’s return-to-work policy just got more foul
These lists of recommended work clothes don’t mean you have to put all the athleisure and slip-on shoes you acquired during the COVID period into a donate pile. “Many people got in the habit of wearing an acceptable shirt and the worst pants because they were on Zoom all day,” says Huckberry’s Sloan. “But then they’d leave the house in those pants that just … show too much. People need to have a level of respect for their fellow man,” he laughs.
In his message to Amazon employees last week, CEO Andy Jassy said in statement, “We’ve observed that it’s easier for our teammates to learn, model, practice, and strengthen our culture; collaborating, brainstorming, and inventing are simpler and more effective; teaching and learning from one another are more seamless; and, teams tend to be better connected to one another.”
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What return to office means for clothing retailers
While Jassy didn’t address wardrobe issues in his memo, Huckberry’s Sloan says the way people dress in the office reflects when someone feels great and like a winner. “Whether you’re wearing a hoodie and jeans, just make sure your clothes fit well, are clean, and have structure and quality. People notice more than you think,” adds Sloan.
Clothing retailers are celebrating the return to office. “Our customers say they want to look more put together,” says Sloan. “Return to office has shifted our business and sales of our unstructured blazers and five-pocket pants are unstoppable.”
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