“The growth of brands like Everlane and Uniqlo led to a more minimalist trend in office wear, with professionals choosing clean lines in muted monochromatic color palettes for a more versatile and timeless work wardrobe.”

Not surprisingly, the lockdown saw a clear trend towards comfortable, casual clothing. A report by Forbes saw a 143% increase in pajama sales during the first few months of lockdown, while bra sales fell by 13%. Funnily enough, while top sales increased, trouser sales also fell; the so-called ‘Zoom shirt’ was a slightly more formal top that remote workers could quickly button up before camera meetings to project a more respectful, professional image. Many of us are guilty of this; a 2020 LinkedIn survey found that 42% of workers owned a ‘Zoom shirt’.

While restrictions on work and travel are gradually being eased in the second half of 2021, our working habits have not quite returned to the ‘old normal’. For many of us, hybrid working is here to stay; a 2023 survey by the Office of National Statistics found that 44% of workers now work hybrid, splitting their time between the office and working from home.

The love of comfort we developed while working from home is also following us back into the office. Lowe calls this the “relaxation of office wear,” with oversized styles and softer silhouettes replacing more structured, formal clothing.

“Professionals are still looking for elements of casual wear that offer a smart look without sacrificing comfort,” she says of current trends. “This has been very evident in the now widely recognized acceptance of sneakers with all types of attire, from formal suits to dresses.”

“Smart casual is the norm in many workplaces; a combination of traditional business attire and casual clothing. The emphasis is on comfort, which includes soft fabrics, stretchy materials and more relaxed cuts such as tailored sweatpants, knit dresses and comfortable footwear.

“A more minimalist approach to office wear is also becoming more popular: In response to the trend towards greater environmental awareness, consumers are opting for high-quality, timeless pieces that are versatile and durable.”

Not surprisingly, it is younger office workers employed in more creative industries who are pushing the boundaries of casualizing office wear. A survey by Juv Consulting found that 82% of Generation Z believe fashion is important for them to assert and establish their identity and individuality.

“There are certain industries that have always had more formal dress codes, such as banking and finance, the legal industry, the public sector and large corporations. These industries have traditionally had more formal dress codes due to the nature of their work, the need to convey professionalism or the expectations of clients and stakeholders,” says Lowe. “Technology and creative industries have always had more freedom with dress codes. Younger workers may want to work in companies where they can dress more casually as they place a high value on individuality and self-expression. Casual dress allows them to express their personal style and identity, which can be limited by traditional business attire.”

Will we ever see smart shirts and pencil skirts à la Rachel Zane in the office again if Covid acts as a catalyst for the changes already underway? Social media has been full of laments for more traditional workwear, and TikTok has popularized the “office siren” look – pencil skirts, blazers and smart shirts galore.

Lowe believes our dress codes have become as hybrid as our work habits: “As many industries relax dress codes – reflecting a broader cultural shift towards more value for performance and creativity over formal appearance – more casual workwear is likely to remain the norm for the foreseeable future.

“A hybrid clothing model enables the coexistence of flexibility, comfort and professionalism and meets the diverse requirements of modern working environments.”

However, that doesn’t mean we’re now a generation of sloppily dressed people. According to McKinsey’s State of Fashion report, luxury fashion is far exceeding expectations and has seen a 36% increase in economic profits in the past. In the report, McKinsey claims that formal wear “now takes on a new meaning” as shoppers begin to rethink their dressing habits, both in and out of the office.

“Today, consumers are thinking differently about how they dress for work and other formal occasions such as weddings and special events,” explains Lowe. “This reinvention suggests that office wear will remain more casual for the foreseeable future, but special occasion wear will become more extreme, with consumers choosing more eye-catching outfits that give them the opportunity to really dress up and stand out.”