Walk into an average office today and you’ll notice it immediately: the classic suit is still there, but it’s no longer alone. Sneakers, jeans, and even hoodies have become part of the scene. The question is no longer what the dress code is, but whether it still exists at all. Office attire has fundamentally changed in recent years and that has less to do with fashion than with the way we work.
Comfort as the new standard
Where suits and ties were once the norm, that standard has clearly shifted. According to reporting by NOS, formal office wear has become less dominant since the pandemic. Even in traditionally formal sectors like finance, more casual outfits are increasingly common on the work floor. This shift didn’t happen overnight. During and after the COVID-19 crisis, working from home remained the norm or at least a fixed part of the workweek, for many people, according to data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). And with that shift came a change in the day-to-day reality of work: fewer in-person meetings, more digital calls, and a work environment where comfort suddenly became much more important.
After years of working from home in comfortable clothing, it’s not easy or logical, for people to go back to wearing a full suit every day. It quickly feels excessive, or simply out of sync with how work is structured today.
The impact of hybrid working
The rise of hybrid working has accelerated this development even further. Clothing now has to serve multiple purposes at once. Your outfit needs to work on a video call, be comfortable enough for a day at home, and still look appropriate when you’re in the office. This creates a subtle but clear shift: the line between formal and informal is fading. Instead of fixed rules, a kind of middle ground has emerged, where people balance professionalism with practicality. Think of a blazer paired with sneakers, or tailored trousers combined with a more casual top.
According to Harvard Business Review, this is not a temporary trend but part of a broader shift in workplace culture. Clothing is becoming less of a symbol of hierarchy and more an extension of personal preference and work context. In other words, what you wear still says something but it says something different than it used to.
New rules without a manual
What’s interesting is that the dress code hasn’t disappeared it has simply become less defined. Where clear rules once applied, expectations are now often implicit. What is considered appropriate varies by organization, by team, and sometimes even by the day.
This flexibility has its advantages. It makes workplaces feel more accessible and less formal, and it aligns better with how younger generations view work. At the same time, it can also create uncertainty. Without clear guidelines, everyone has to interpret what is appropriate for themselves.
In practice, this leads to a kind of unwritten etiquette. Casual is fine, but not sloppy. Comfort matters, but appearance still counts especially in external meetings. And perhaps the most important rule of all: context is everything.
The suit as a conscious choice
Does this mean the suit has completely lost its role? Not at all but its meaning has changed.
Where formal attire was once the default, it has now become a deliberate choice. The suit is increasingly worn in situations where you want to project a bit more authority or professionalism, such as client meetings or important presentations. It hasn’t disappeared it has simply become more strategic.
That’s what makes the current situation interesting: there is more freedom, but also more responsibility to find the right balance.
What does this say about the future of work?
Changing office attire is really a symptom of something bigger. Work has become less hierarchical, more flexible, and more personal. And that shift is reflected in what people wear. The era of a single, uniform dress code seems to be over. Instead, we’re seeing a more dynamic landscape where culture, context, and personal preference together determine what’s appropriate. Or, put more simply: sneakers are perfectly fine these days.
But it’s still a good idea to keep a jacket hanging in your closet, just in case.
