The unwritten rules about what to wear at work — an Odette researcher is studying who they actually serve
Odette School of Business professor Dr. Yanhong Li is leading a SSHRC funded study examining how workplace dress norms and office design shape self expression and feelings of belonging. (VICTOR ROMAO/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
What do you wear to work?
Is what you wear truly your choice?
Or is it a reflection of how your workplace signals you are expected to look?
What employees wear is often assumed to be a personal decision, but in reality, those choices are often shaped by workplace norms, informal cues and broader power structures.
Clothing can affect how professionalism is judged, how credibility and organizational fit are assigned and how comfortable someone feels simply existing at work.