Gen Z redefines office fashion with personal style, from bold colors to denim

Alexa Miller, 23, and her mother, Roni, 54, of Woodbury, both work in offices — but their wardrobes reflect a distinct difference of opinion when it comes to answering the ever-evolving question, "What makes for appropriate business attire?" 

Alexa, a sales rep for an AI software company, might turn up in a rugby shirt, jeans and green Adidas Sambas one day, and a faux fur-trimmed jacket over printed pants the next. Her closet picks for work test the limits of corporate casual. "I would never go to work in sweatpants," she says, "but I’m exploring different styles of being mature." 

Mom, who is a finance adviser, though far from old-fashioned, says, "I do dress up for work and only wear jeans on dress down Friday. I'm not conservative, but I dress for my age." To her, that translates to more turtlenecks and neutral colors, whereas Alexa "wears a lot more color." 

These opposing fashion perspectives don’t surprise Shawn Grain Carter, an associate professor of fashion business management at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. "Gen Z wants to curate their own style as if they’re their own personal brand," she says. "They prioritize individuality in terms of their own aesthetic. It’s a different chic. Where sneakers might be verboten to an older generation who used to take them off before work, Gen Z doesn’t take them off at all. They want looks that work for a social occasions, career and date night.”

While Alexa seeks style at fast-fashion retailers such as Urban Outfitters, Garage, H&M and Abercrombie, Roni finds go-tos at Mixology, Clothes Horse and Bloomingdale’s. They sometimes overlap at Penny Lane Boutique in Huntington, where owner Gabrielle Sunshine says mom "mostly comes for a more going-out look and a Saturday night top. She’s more conservative and a bit old school. Alexa has more of a laid-back attitude.”

At Detour Boutiques in Sayville, co-owner Dolores Arico says many of her customers "do not want separate work wardrobes,” suggesting pieces that have versatility. Her clients are going for cardigans and if they’re buying a blazer, "it should look cool over your athleisure. Younger women are not following rules like ‘No white after Labor Day.’ We’re watching a shift to bringing more personality into the office and standing out to show who you are.”

Of course, some women still need to dress a particular way for work. One of Detour's customers, Kirsten Reilly, 30, of Sayville, an attorney with the government, shops the store for what she calls "normal person clothes” — sweaters, fun dresses or sweatsuits — and bold printed blouses such as paisley and leopard, that she occasionally mixes in with a suit. But she staunchly rejects the two-piecer’s somber reputation.

"We all recognize the seriousness of the job, but to make [style] my own, I wear a lot of color,” she says. Her suits (she has some 20) reflect this and come in a variety of textures and brilliant hues, including bright blue and vivid pink. "It’s how I choose to stand out.” For the rare casual day, Reilly imbues some playfulness into her office wear with graphic sweaters and flowy pants.

The powers at retailer Ann Taylor will be pleased to know that Reilly calls the merchant out as "one of the only great options for the female who needs matching suits. Every time they release a new color, I’m buying it.”

Says Heather Gruccio, the company’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, "Those younger customers ... are price conscious but also fashion aware. We’ve seen women reaching for high-quality staples,” and she adds, "We’ve seen her vote for fashion newness.” Gruccio notes that while customers continue to purchase suiting, they are now opting to mix these pieces with everything from more relaxed separates and even denim.

The denim thing at work is not happening for fledgling lawyer Alexis DeSantis, 25, of Bellmore, who just a few weeks ago was admitted to the New York State Bar.

"I try to push the boundaries a little bit, but when you go to court you have to be respectful, especially in front of a judge,” says DeSantis, who has removed her nose ring and covers her tattoos with a blazer in court. "It’s difficult being 25 and having to switch over to a whole new wardrobe. But I try to add my own personal flair.”

To that end DeSantis’ nod to youth and fashion is a full-on party of earrings on her ears and by replacing the prerequisite heels with chunky loafers and frilly socks. She says, "I’m happy to add little touches of myself.”