Career Advice

Dress for the job you want—but what does that mean?

How should you dress for work these days?

March 10, 2026 4 minute read

Many are wondering what working in an office means in terms of dressing professionally. Does the old adage, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have” still apply? How should you dress for an interview? Are we returning to the old rules of professional dress codes? Or have expectations changed? What does “dressing for success” mean these days?

Key takeaways

How you dress at work still has an impact
Dress codes are more relaxed than in years past
Take cues for work attire from both coworkers and supervisors
Dress to impress for an interview—be sure you know what that means

There are a few general styles of work attire. Hiring managers may refer to these terms to describe their dress codes. These standards may still apply, although more companies are opting for less formal attire overall.

Business professional

Business professional is the most formal style of dressing for work. Expectations include suits and ties, tailored dresses, polished, close-toed shoes, and dark or neutral colors. Women have a little more leeway in terms of color and accessories, but the overall vibe is serious.

Business casual

This style is a little more relaxed than business professional. It’s become increasingly popular since the pandemic. With business casual, you’ll still see elements of business professional attire. Those items are often paired with clothing that’s more comfortable. This attire is suitable for all but the most formal meetings and occasions.

For events or when meeting with clients, business casual dress is typically preferred. Suits and ties are not required but are acceptable. Clean, pressed, and well-fitting tops—such as collared shirts, button-down shirts, blouses, or sweaters—are typical of business casual attire.

Smart casual

This offers a little more leeway for the fashion-conscious. Brighter colors and accessories can find a home here, but you still want to look put together.

However, smart casual attire must remain neat and appropriate. Avoid torn, frayed, or ripped fabrics—even if intentionally distressed. Make sure your clothing is not wrinkled, misshapen, oversized, stained, or adorned with branding or logos that are not client-friendly or that may be considered inappropriate (e.g., alcohol- or casino-themed).

Casual

You can wear T-shirts and jeans in a casual office environment. Even if everyone around you is wearing this style, play around with how you present yourself. Dressing even a little more formally can make people take you more seriously.

Every industry—and every company within those industries—has its own dress code expectations. Industries like finance and law tend to have more formal expectations. Some companies stay firmly in their lane, but others span categories and change depending on the circumstance. It’s important to be aware of the dress codes and expectations. Remember, though, societal norms are constantly in flux. Once upon a time, business attire was always formal, before tech gurus started showing up to work in hoodies and sneakers.

In general, there are certain pieces of attire that are never a good idea in an office environment:

Baseball caps or hats
Sleeveless shirts or tank tops, including off-the-shoulder, strapless, or spaghetti-strap styles (though professional camisoles under sweaters and jackets are acceptable)
Graphic shirts and T-shirts
Cropped shirts
Hooded sweatshirts
Low cut, deep V-neck shirts
Sports jerseys

Dressing for the job you want: the interview

You want to put your best foot forward during an interview. Dressing appropriately is a big part of that. In most cases, that means dressing a little bit more formally than you would if you had the job. Lori W., Fidelity talent acquisition manager, says, “I think the days of the suit and tie are probably gone, but I don’t think it’s ever a mistake to wear a tie,” for an interview.

If you’re going to be working in a casual office, wear nice pants and a collared shirt to the interview. If you’re applying to a company with a strict professional dress code, wear your best business attire.

Also, don’t assume that you know the dress code.

Look at the company’s online presence. Check their website and social media postings to see what actual employees are wearing.
Review your interviewers’ LinkedIn profiles.
Ask the person setting up the interview. It’s a legitimate question and they won’t think less of you for asking it.

Dressing for the job you want: the promotion

Many people believe that if you dress above your pay grade, you’ll help people see you in a more advanced role. Instead of wearing clothes that fit your current role, the idea is to wear clothing that’s more aligned with the role you’d like to be in. There is a kernel of wisdom in this kind of thinking.

When you dress “above” your role, you signal to the higher-ups that you’re ready for new challenges. Sometimes simply being dressed more professionally can mean the difference between being asked to take a client meeting or not.

The caveat to this is overdressing.

Online matters: dressing for remote work

Working remotely offers a lot of perks for employees. One of these is the ability to wear more comfortable clothing at home. After all, if you’re not striding past your coworkers daily, you don’t need high heels or spit-shined shoes. This is true whether you currently have a job or are interviewing remotely. Be careful that you don’t take that sense of freedom too far.

Dress for confidence—and for yourself

At the end of the day, there’s something to be said for dressing for yourself. You want to feel comfortable and confident in the clothes you wear. Yes, pay attention to the expectations of your industry and your role. Sometimes that’s what you need to do to get your foot in the door.

Once you’ve built some credibility, though, you’ll have a little more leeway to dress in a way that feels right for you. When you show up for yourself, as much as for other people’s expectations, you project a kind of confidence that’s hard to quantify. Who knows where that will lead?