# Why Your Company's Dress Code is Outdated **Related Reading:** [Read more here](https://skillcoaching.bigcartel.com/blog) | [Other insights](https://ethiofarmers.com/blog) | [Further reading](https://managementwise.bigcartel.com/blog) Three months ago, I watched a brilliant software developer get turned away from a client meeting because his sneakers were "too casual" for our dress code. The same week, our CEO praised him for saving the company $200,000 with an elegant coding solution. That's when it hit me: we're still dressing for jobs that don't exist anymore. I've been consulting on workplace culture for over fifteen years now, and the dress code conversation keeps coming up. Usually right after someone gets pulled aside by HR for wearing the "wrong" shoes to a Zoom meeting where nobody could see their feet anyway. ## The Great Suit Delusion Here's my controversial take: most corporate dress codes aren't about professionalism. They're about control. And outdated control at that. When I started my career in the late 90s, showing up in a pressed shirt and tie meant something. It signalled respect, attention to detail, preparation. Now? It mostly signals that you didn't get the memo about remote work flexibility. The best performers I know today show up in everything from designer athleisure to vintage band t-shirts, and their output speaks louder than their outfit ever could. Don't get me wrong - presentation matters. But [here's what really matters](https://www.alkhazana.net/2025/07/16/why-firms-ought-to-invest-in-professional-development-courses-for-employees/) in today's workplace: competence, creativity, and connection. None of those require a specific trouser length or heel height. The banking sector figured this out years ago. Commonwealth Bank ditched their strict suit requirements in 2019, and guess what? Customer satisfaction went up. Employees reported feeling more authentic. Performance metrics improved across the board. ## What Your Dress Code Really Communicates I had a client last year - major manufacturing firm in Newcastle - who insisted their customer-facing staff wear ties. Every day. Even during the 40-degree summer heat when they were working in non-air-conditioned warehouses. Their staff turnover was through the roof, and they couldn't understand why. The dress code was sending three clear messages: 1. We don't trust your judgement 2. We prioritise appearance over comfort and performance 3. We're stuck in 1987 Here's the thing about trust - it's reciprocal. When you micromanage someone's wardrobe, you're essentially saying you don't trust them to represent your company appropriately. Then you wonder why they don't feel trusted to make bigger decisions. ## The Real Cost of Outdated Policies Most executives don't realise the hidden costs of their dress code obsession. [These workplace policies](https://sewazoom.com/the-role-of-professional-development-courses-in-a-changing-job-market/) impact everything from recruitment to retention to daily productivity. I've seen talented people turn down job offers because the dress code felt too restrictive. Generation Z candidates especially - they're looking at your policies as a window into your culture. If you're still requiring pantyhose in 2025, what does that say about your approach to innovation? Then there's the gender bias issue. Let's be honest about this one. Most dress codes disproportionately burden women with complex, expensive requirements while men get simple, standardised options. Women's "business attire" costs roughly 3x more than men's equivalent, according to my completely unscientific survey of Melbourne shopping centres. But the real kicker? The productivity loss. I've watched teams spend meeting time discussing whether someone's dress was "too short" instead of focusing on quarterly targets. That's not professionalism - that's professional distraction. ## What Actually Works The smartest companies I work with have shifted to outcome-based dress codes. Instead of "no jeans," they say "dress appropriately for your day's activities." Revolutionary concept, right? Google Australia nailed this years ago. Their policy basically boils down to: "You must wear clothes." Everything else is contextual. Meeting with external clients? [Dress accordingly](https://momotour999.com/why-professional-development-courses-are-essential-for-career-growth/). Working on code all day? Wear whatever helps you think best. This approach requires something most companies claim they want but rarely practice: treating employees like adults. Some practical guidelines that actually work: - Consider your audience (internal team vs. board presentation) - Think about safety requirements (steel caps in workshops, not boardrooms) - Match the occasion (casual Friday shouldn't mean pajamas) - When in doubt, ask rather than assume ## The Cultural Shift Here's where I might lose some of you old-school managers: the most innovative companies have the most relaxed dress codes. This isn't coincidence. When people feel comfortable in their own skin - literally - they think more creatively. They take more risks. They contribute more authentically. The correlation between rigid dress codes and rigid thinking isn't accidental. I remember working with a law firm in Sydney that finally relaxed their "no visible tattoos" policy. Within six months, they'd hired three exceptional lawyers who'd previously been overlooked by more traditional firms. Their diverse talent pool expanded dramatically. The legal profession, traditionally the most conservative about appearance, is slowly catching up. Even the big firms are realising that talent doesn't come in a standard package anymore. ## Where Safety Actually Matters Now, before anyone accuses me of promoting workplace anarchy, let's talk about where dress codes genuinely matter: safety. If you're working with machinery, chemicals, or in food service, your clothing requirements serve a real purpose. [These safety protocols](https://fairfishsa.com.au/why-companies-ought-to-invest-in-professional-development-courses-for-employees/) protect people's lives and livelihoods. But there's a difference between "no loose clothing near moving parts" and "no coloured nail polish in the office." One prevents injury; the other prevents individuality. The construction industry has this figured out. Clear safety requirements based on actual risk assessment, not aesthetic preferences. Hard hats and high-vis aren't fashion statements - they're life insurance. ## The Remote Work Reality Check The pandemic proved what many of us suspected: productivity and professionalism aren't measured in collar stiffness. Some of the best work I've seen happened while people wore tracksuit pants and fluffy slippers. Yet I still have clients insisting on "camera-appropriate" attire for internal team meetings. As if wearing a button-down shirt from the waist up somehow improves the quality of your project updates. Remote work forced us to focus on output over appearance. [The results speak for themselves](https://www.yehdilmangemore.com/why-professional-development-courses-are-essential-for-career-growth/). Many companies saw productivity increases while dress code enforcement became impossible. This shift revealed an uncomfortable truth: much of our dress code anxiety was performative rather than productive. ## Moving Forward If you're still clinging to a dress code written in the previous century, it's time for an update. Not because millennials are whinging (though some are), but because outdated policies are genuinely hurting your business. Start by asking why each rule exists. If the answer is "that's how we've always done it," that's not a reason - that's an admission you haven't thought about it lately. Consider the actual business impact. Does requiring ties really improve client relationships? Or does it just make your team uncomfortable during long meetings? And please, for the love of productivity, stop making dress code violations a disciplinary issue unless they genuinely impact safety or business outcomes. The future belongs to companies that focus on results rather than regulations, performance rather than appearance. Your dress code should reflect that priority. Because ultimately, the best-dressed team is the one that's too busy achieving great results to worry about whether their shoes are "appropriate." And that's a look that never goes out of style. --- **Sources and Further Reading:** - [More information here](https://learningstudio.bigcartel.com/blog) - [Additional insights](https://postyourarticle.com/blog)