Fortune | FORTUNE 07月24日 23:30
Around 94% of Gen Z workers need help in dressing for the office—and they’re experiencing outfit anxiety three times more than their boomer coworkers
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近期一项调查显示,近八成职场人士对如何着装感到困惑,其中Z世代尤为突出,高达94%的年轻人寻求着装建议。疫情后工作模式的转变,以及多代际员工共存,导致职场穿搭规范模糊,引发普遍焦虑。专家建议,年轻人应借鉴上级和同事的穿搭风格,在表达个性的同时注意职业得体,避免过度暴露。同时,建立“工作制服”也是缓解穿搭压力的有效方式。企业也应提供更清晰的着装指南,帮助员工平衡自我表达与职场专业性。

📈 **普遍的职场穿搭困境**: 数据显示,高达78%的职场人士在工作着装方面寻求指导,表明职场穿搭已成为普遍性难题。尤其年轻一代,Z世代(94%)和千禧一代(84%)比X世代(70%)和婴儿潮一代(61%)更需要这方面的建议,这反映了代际差异和新工作环境带来的挑战。

👩‍💼 **Z世代的穿搭焦虑与应对**: Z世代作为职场新人,对工作场所的着装规范最感困惑,甚至有因此被解雇的经历,加剧了其焦虑。 stylist Diana Tsui建议,年轻人应通过观察和模仿上级或年长同事的穿搭来“感知”职场着装氛围,而非生搬硬套,从而找到适合自己的风格。

💡 **表达个性与职业得体的平衡**: 在表达个人风格方面,Tsui提出“有节制地表达自己”,例如通过调整服装比例或搭配有特色的配饰来增添亮点,尤其是在较为保守的职场环境中。同时,她强调避免穿着过于暴露的服装,因为这类着装在多数职场场合仍不被鼓励,容易引发不适或负面评价。

👔 **后疫情时代职场穿搭新趋势**: 疫情改变了人们对工作着装的看法,舒适和休闲风格日益流行。专家认为,西装革履的时代已成过去,运动鞋成为新宠,而领带和高跟鞋则逐渐式微。这种转变要求企业提供更灵活的政策和清晰的指导,帮助员工适应新的工作环境。

👕 **“工作制服”的兴起**: 为了简化日常着装选择并减少不确定性,越来越多的年轻人开始采纳“工作制服”的穿搭模式。这种做法能帮助他们更好地掌控职业形象,减轻每天挑选合适服装的压力,同时也反映了他们对职业生涯的掌控感和规划性。

About 78% of workers are seeking guidance on what to wear at work, according to recent data from workplace solutions company IWG. But the youngest cohort of employees needs the most help, with 94% of Gen Z looking for advice on their work outfits, compared to 84% of millennials, 70% of Gen Xers, and 61% of baby boomers. Much of Gen Z’s confusion may chalk up to simply being the newest in the office, with many having started their careers from their couch.

“It’s understandable that the generation with the least working experience will have the most questions about what to wear and what is appropriate in the workplace,” Diana Tsui, a stylist and creative consultant partnering with IWG, tells Fortune. “There has been a fundamental shift in the way in which employees of all generations approach their workwear attire.”

But with over half of employees in each generation looking for workplace fashion tips, the changing rules have left many unsure of what’s appropriate. The lack of clarity is so bad it’s stressing people out—staffers said they experience anxiety about what to wear to the office seven times a month. 

Gen Z and millennials are nearly three times as likely as baby boomers to worry about dressing properly, so they’re turning to their superiors for guidance. About 30% of Gen Z seek guidance from their manager, compared to 14% of Gen X and 10% of boomers. Instead of outright asking their boss what to wear, they could take Tsui’s advice of taking silent cues by copying their looks.

How Gen Z should dress for the office: take inspiration from higher-ups and show restraint

Gen Z has been popularizing new fashion trends at the workplace, like the “office siren” look: dressing 1990s-corporate while “pushing the boundaries of what’s considered acceptable,” the report notes. It’s a twist on power-dressing, but certain elements—like plunging necklines and short skirts—could land them in a meeting with HR. Data shows that already, many Gen Zers have been fired for dressing inappropriately, only adding to their anxiety.

Luckily, there are a few surefire ways that Gen Z can avoid the early-morning anxiety of having to pick out an appropriate outfit for the office. 

“Workwear is never going back to its suit-and-tie days, although that can be fun to dabble in,” Tsui advises. “Take a cue from your industry and see how their prevailing dress codes enmesh with your own sensibilities.”

Tsui has three major tips for young staffers to stay in line with company dress codes and avoid getting sacked for their outfit: 

    Take inspiration from your superiors: Take a look around the office or check how older coworkers are showing up in Zoom calls. She notes that young workers don’t have to copy their higher-ups, but rather get a vibe-check on the dressing environment.  Express yourself, with restraint: If it’s a more conservative environment, playing with proportions can be a fun way to spice up drab corporate attire. A chunky shoe or eccentric pair of earrings can go a long way in adding flair to an outfit.Don’t show too much skin: Wearing clothes that are too small and show too much skin is “usually still frowned upon,” so try to avoid anything too revealing.

Why nobody knows how to dress for work anymore

Gen Z isn’t the only generation of workers torn on what’s acceptable to wear to the office anymore. Experts Fortune has spoken with all contend that the COVID-19 pandemic was a major turning-point for workplace attire. Now, employees are back in the office, and they don’t know how to give up their stretchy pants. Tsui says it’s on employers to navigate the new world of work attire, and share clear policies with their staffers to avoid any unnecessary stress. 

“This shift away from traditional norms toward more flexible policies highlights the need for modern guidance,” she explains. “As companies adapt to hybrid models and multi-generational teams, employees are increasingly seeking clarity on how to balance self-expression with professionalism in evolving work environments.”

With four generations in the office—Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers—it’s natural that there’s going to be huge divides in terms of style. 

But HR experts agree that a few shifts are here to stay for everyone: sneakers are in, ties and heels are largely out, and you still probably shouldn’t wear shorts. 

Sometimes, casual and comfortable styles can blur the lines of what’s proper for the office—but Tsui says if styled properly, employees can make it work. 

Young staffers can also better curb their outfit stress by adopting a “work uniform.” Gen Z and millennials already lead the way in having a standard style, with 59% having a uniform, compared to 53% of baby boomers, the IWG report notes. It’s a trend among younger generations that gives them a sense of control over their careers—and takes away the concern of picking out a new outfit everyday that may or may not be appropriate for the job.

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职场穿搭 Z世代 工作着装 职业规范 时尚趋势
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