Gen Z is nothing like any of the generations ahead of them. They speak a different language, hold different priorities and dress differently. It’s a generation whose work ethic was shaped in the pandemic and so too, their approach to corporate culture.
Gen Z workwear gives corporate conservatism the middle finger without sucker punching the value of serious. It’s a wardrobe step-up from the crass frills and shoulder pads of the eighties and the anywhere but nowhere look of the nineties.
Gen Z workwear in 2026 is softer, looser and far more personal. It comes from a world where self-expression has been normalised, encouraged and flicked through on social media.
Fashion expert Tanya Nel of Raggle Taggle Gypsy said the gear change is simple.
“Gen Z have grown up in an environment where self-expression is easier and far more encouraged than it ever was for previous generations,” she said. “The world they’ve known has been a very liberating one.”
Self expression is encouraged
It’s almost like a sense of permission, but not permissiveness. Nel said Gen Zs don’t see clothing as something that must obey hierarchy.
“They’re used to fewer rules and that filters into how they dress. They don’t have the same traditional notions of hierarchy or respect for elders because they’ve grown up seeing themselves on the same level as everyone else. That creates a mindset where they feel they should be allowed to wear whatever they want, wherever they want.”
Real-time trends also play a massive part.
“A decade or so ago we had to wait for a magazine to line up trends once a week,” Nel said. “Gen Z now have trends updated in real time on their phones. So naturally, they express themselves more boldly.”
But offices still operate on shared expectations.
“No matter how expressive fashion becomes, there will always need to be a line in business. You cannot wear anything you like. The workplace needs rules that create a respectable environment for everyone and that includes not showing too much of your body.”
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Ashwin Daniels from The Fix said Gen Z’s softer and more romantic, natural silhouettes are not random trend swings. They are a reaction to the stiffness many associate with corporate life.
“Gen Z are crafting their own identity through aesthetic and style,” he said. “Bringing soft and fluid styles into the workplace is almost a way of rebellion against the hardness that a corporate environment dictates.”
Rebellion against corporate hardness
Daniels said this plays out in sheer blouses paired with tailoring, dresses layered over jeans and combinations that would have been unthinkable in old-school boardrooms.
“A draped dress over jeans or the classic T-shirt or blazer fit can easily become the new boardroom wardrobe,” he said. “It is all about making basics feel personal.”
Structured blazers are increasingly replacing traditional tops, often worn over plunging but narrow necklines that create shape without tipping into provocation. Daniels said this is less about shock value and more about the return of power dressing.
“It is a play on the 80s power suit with boxy cuts, sharp shoulders and nipped waists,” he said. “There is a slight edge in how skin is shown, but it is not exposure. It is intention.”
Wide-leg trousers are wardrobe staples now. Daniels said it comes down to lifestyle as much as aesthetics.
“Normcore and functional dressing have become key to how Gen Z customers live,” he said. “They go from day to night in one outfit. A white button-up works for the day. Open it after hours, slip on a vest underneath and the whole look changes.”
Neutrals and pastels
Warm neutrals, pastel tones and deeper shades like burgundy are becoming anchors for Gen Z workwear.
“Colour has always been linked to mood,” Daniels said. “Burgundy is the new red for the Gen Z shopper. It adds sophistication and a sense of luxury.”
Denim is also finding its way back into offices. Clean indigo, raw finishes and barrel-shaped cuts have made denim feel more intentional.
“Indigo or raw denim elevates a casual look,” Daniels said. “Barrel or balloon shapes refresh the silhouette and cinched denim jackets give a sleeker look for work.”
Minimalism is also taking a turn. It is no longer just plain basics. Daniels said brands are upgrading fabrics and construction.
“When trends go simple, you invest in better fabrics,” he said. “Heavy jerseys hold their shape and elevate something as simple as a white tee.”
“As working spaces have become modular, so has the fashion,” he said. “Joggers with a sharper blazer and slip-on mules can look office-appropriate without compromising your personal style. Utilitarian fashion is cleaner now and easy to dress up or down,” Daniels added.
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