Young people are wrong, office uniforms don't have to be boring

Telegraph

07-04-2025

If you were going to dip a tentative toe into the fraught world of TikTok, you might come across a new trend taking hold. So that you don't have to, an explanation: young people, mostly members of Gen Z, are taking to the social media platform to share the workwear they don on rotation, with the majority turning to muted grey and black outfits.
'I have no time for decision fatigue and the destruction it causes,' says TikTok user Isobelle Panton (aka @corporateagonyaunt), explaining why she frequently wears the same blazer, jeans and coat to her job as a commercial lead in Manchester.
@corporateagonyaunt Replying to @Ellen Stack | Nutritionist outfit repeating is cool and good for our Mother Nature. I have no time for decision fatigue and the destruction it causes #uniform #deinfluencing #corporateoutfits ♬ Peekaboo x Paper Planes by Altégo - ALTÉGO
The idea is being referred to as a ' Steve Jobs uniform', inspired by the Apple co-founder and former CEO who famously made a black mock roll-neck his corporate – and personal – signature. Jobs most often paired the piece, designed by the late Issey Miyake, with Levi's 501 jeans and New Balance trainers, reportedly so that he didn't have to devote time or brain power to the issue of what to wear each day.
There appear to be other factors at play in the 'Jobs-ification' of workwear, however. Fortune recently reported that six in 10 employers have fired Gen Z employees recently within months of hiring them, with issues including young people wearing inappropriate clothing to the office. A bland corporate moodboard might therefore be a subconscious effort to blend in, especially in an uncertain economic climate.
But it also feels, ironically, like a resignation. While it's chic to have an office style and savvy to invest in workwear staples, the mood among younger generations feels defeatist. What happened to the old maxim about dressing for the job you want, not the one you have? And where's the recognition of the considerable power, not to mention joy, of a great – and varied – work wardrobe?
It can uplift and inspire us, serving as a valuable reminder of how far behind us the legging-clad days of lockdown really are. But young people seem to be missing the memo. 'I'm in my forties and definitely feel that the younger cohort don't make the effort my age group does,' says Isabel Spearman, former fashion columnist for The Telegraph. 'We're lucky to have clothes as part of our armour and should use them to our advantage. It's more professional to look the part, and personally as a mum it gives me great pleasure to leave the house for work looking my best.'
Making an effort for work has the potential to boost career success too. 'Clothing functions as a powerful tool of social signalling. In the workplace, a cohesive and curated look can suggest competence, commitment and confidence,' says fashion psychologist Dr Carolyn Mair. 'It becomes a form of self-expression, subtly communicating that the wearer takes their role – and themselves – seriously.'
Of course, certain adopted uniforms can achieve this. Jobs' look became synonymous not only with Apple but with Silicon Valley success itself, memorably emulated by former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes during her ill-fated ascent to power. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is rarely seen out of his signature dark grey T-shirt (reportedly specially made by Brunello Cucinelli for upwards of $300 a pop) and dark-wash jeans.
Barack Obama famously wore grey or blue suits during his presidency, telling Vanity Fair: 'I don't want to make decisions about what I'm eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.' And during Justine Picardie's tenure as editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar UK, she often extolled the virtues of a workwear rotation – hers often featuring a Breton striped top, black trousers and a black Chanel jacket.
But the resigned mood proliferating on social media feels a world away from such sartorial assurance or time-saving ambition – it feels more like giving up. It's interesting that the same generation who invented the 'office siren' (a risqué social media trend that deals in skintight pencil skirts and immoderately buttoned shirts) are swinging to the other end of the spectrum. Surely there's a happy medium that feels appropriate yet uplifting.
Striking the balance, and sparking some joy in the process, needn't necessitate a whole new workwear wardrobe. 'Small changes can help to jazz things up,' says stylist Anna Berkeley. 'Adding a modern shoe – like a fringed loafer, large studded details or anything in orange, red or oxblood – can help enormously.' Spearman also relies on the transformative effect of accessories, investing in them more frequently than clothes. 'Shoes and even tights can immediately update your outfit, even if you're wearing the same old dress you've had for years,' she says.
Younger generations worrying about rocking the sartorial boat at work would do well to heed this advice. 'Adding personal touches like jewellery, watches, or a standout belt can inject personality without stepping outside professional norms,' says Mair.
Joy awaits those willing to resist the call of the office uniform with a few easy twists. If you're retired or work from home five days a week, more power to you. If not, it's time to make the office into your own personal catwalk, even if just for the day.
Three ways to freshen up your office uniform
Add a statement shoe
The uplifting power of a pair of bright red Mary Janes is not to be underestimated. Prints and metallics work equally well and while you could opt for heels, it's worth taking advantage of the season's best flats.
Brighten up your base
Layering in a pop of colour will add a new lease of life to your suits and separates. Green is always a winner, but it's also worth considering on-trend butter yellow or stripes.
Try a tie
No longer reserved for men, ties are now a fixture in womenswear – just ask Melania Trump and Nicole Kidman, both of whom have recently tried the tailoring trend. If you're reluctant to fully embrace this 'borrowed from the boys' look, try a skinny silk scarf or ribbon instead.