In 2025, workplace dress codes are no longer just about what employees wear; they’re a reflection of company culture, values, and trust. A recent reddit post questioning why crop tops were allowed in one office while slippers were not has reignited the conversation around dress code double standards, sparking thousands of comments and plenty of debate online.
But beyond the headlines, the core question remains: how important are dress codes in a modern workplace, and are they still relevant at all?
Ben Wright, Global Head of Partnerships at Instant Offices, explores whether dress codes are necessary in 2025, and how business can strike the right balance between expression and professionalism.
Dress Code Policies Are Evolving and So Are Employee Expectations
There are still 2,900 monthly google searches for ‘office dress’ and another 1,600 for ‘business casual dress code’ demonstrating that, clearly, employees are still seeking clarity around what’s appropriate. But what they don’t want is outdated, arbitrary rules that don’t reflect the modern working environment.
The shift toward hybrid working and more relaxed office cultures has made strict dress codes feel less relevant. According to a study by Gallup, just 3% of workers surveyed wear business professional attire, with 31% wearing casual street clothes and 41% smart casual.
From Rules to Responsibility
In the past, dress codes were used to reinforce structure, signal hierarchy, and project professionalism. But as workplace norms evolve, so too does the question of what ‘professional’ really looks like. For modern businesses, that increasingly means empowering employees to show up as themselves, rather than fitting a narrowly defined mould.
What we wear is a form of self-expression and in today’s workplace, one that often champions inclusion, individuality, and wellbeing, rigid rules about clothing can feel out of place. Employees want to feel respected and trusted to make reasonable decisions about how they present themselves at work. When dress codes are overly prescriptive or show signs of bias, they risk undermining morale.
The New Dress Code: Trust and Context
So how important are dress codes in 2025? The answer depends on how they’re applied. For most organisations, the solution isn’t to scrap dress codes altogether, but to modernise them.
Done right, a modern dress code can enhance your brand, empower your people, and support a positive work culture. Done wrong, it can alienate talent and create unnecessary friction.
The most effective approach in 2025 is a “dress for your day” policy, which gives employees the flexibility to adapt their attire depending on meetings, tasks or client expectations. It’s about empowering teams to decide what’s appropriate, while still aligning with company values.
For creative industries and tech startups, this could mean trainers and jeans. For client-facing roles, smart-casual might still be the norm. The key is clarity without rigidity.
Ultimately, the best dress codes in 2025 are those that reflect the real needs of your workforce, not outdated ideas of professionalism.
