Cozy comfy workplace attire (in person at office)

[Anonymous]

Just started new role at new company. Everyone is in person at least 4 days a week. My colleague today wore black athletic yoga pants/leggings, flats and an oversized baggy casual top. Colleague in question is late 40s. I dressed in pencil skirt, low heels, and tucked in button-down long sleeved white shirt (open at neck in v with feminine style collar). Colleague made a joke to me that I must have not gotten memo that the attire in the office is cozy comfy. I only dress down at home and on weekends. I am always comfortable in business attire at work. I also notice a lot more senior people are more dressed up. The interaction with colleague was a little weird. To me, if she wanted to dress in athleisure, to each their own.

I do think we are getting a little too cozy comfy in the workplace. It feels a little sloppy.
Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Definitely sloppy. Continue with your proper looks.

[Anonymous]

I mean, I wear jeans, a sweater and sneakers to my law firm each time I go in. The only people more dressed up than me are litigators appearing in court (whether in person or via Zoom), and our one managing partner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, I wear jeans, a sweater and sneakers to my law firm each time I go in. The only people more dressed up than me are litigators appearing in court (whether in person or via Zoom), and our one managing partner.

OP here. I think jeans are fine. Yoga leggings in workplace are on different level imo.

[Anonymous]

I’m with you, OP. There are so many comfortable yet professional options on the market now that no one needs to wear actual yoga pants to the office. I have many dresses made of yoga pant material from conservative brands like Ann Taylor. It’s easy.

[Anonymous]

She should not have said anything. But beyond that, you are overthinking this. You outfit was fine. Hers is, apparently, also fine. Maybe being casual hurts her prospects and maybe not: doesn't affect you.

I am not a yoga pants person but I lean more casual (and I'm always cold) so I would be happier about RTO if my workplace allowed jeans. They don't, so I wear knit slacks and a big cardigan. I own zero skirts.

[Anonymous]

Too casual for a law office, IMO. Especially if others are more professionally dressed.that being said, you keep doing you and let your coworkers go about their business (without criticism).

[Anonymous]

I happen to agree with you on the attire, but I can also read your superiority complex coming through, and I'm sure your coworkers can sense it too. You're not going to get far at a new place if your peers all think that you think you're better than them. Dress how you want, but stop judging.

[Anonymous]

And, you may be over dressed for your office (you've only given us a sample of two, and they are two extremes).

What does everyone else wear? It could be that colleague is under dressed and you are over dressed. Or, one of you is wrong, or both of you are wrong

[Anonymous]

It’s tough - I think you need to find a way to fit in a little better, but still be you.

[Anonymous]

Wear what you're comfortable wearing! I would never go to work in yoga pants/leggings and I used to work in an ultra-casual tech setting. Now I'm a therapist and many of the other therapists dress pretty casually, especially those who see mostly kids. I dress up a lot more because I'm newer to the field and want to convey more professionalism, I see adults, and I just prefer to dress that way. My standard workwear is tailored dark jeans with a silk blouse or cashmere sweater and low heels or boots. You could try something like that as a compromise? But I still say wear what you feel your best in.

[Anonymous]

Here is the thing. You are mad you are being judged and instead of being confident you want to put down leggings girl and pretend she is wrong.

You wear what you want to wear, she wears what she wants to wear and stop being judgmental and self-conscious.

There are many ways to dress professionally and be comfortable. If you are not comfortable with that, do your thing and stop worrying about others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I happen to agree with you on the attire, but I can also read your superiority complex coming through, and I'm sure your coworkers can sense it too. You're not going to get far at a new place if your peers all think that you think you're better than them. Dress how you want, but stop judging.

If I read it correctly, sounds like the coworker took the first jab? Not sure why that makes the OP "judgmental"...

[Anonymous]

OP - wear what you like but stop bveing such a judgmental snitch.

Also, you may find you don't fit in with the culture at that workplace if you're always a lot more dressed up than others. Or maybe not! But it can be best to try to look as if you belong in a place instead of like you're angling for a different job.

[Anonymous]

is this a fashion question? or are we just being judgmental about what other people choose to wear?