The beauty and fashion world ruled to a great extent by influential bloggers, supermodels’ voices recognized off the runways, and the green movement becoming the mainstream – times have changed for the stylish! Among all of these brewing revolutions, one trend seems to be on quite a powerful rise.
Millennials are slowly but surely taking over the job market, and they are doing so with flair. They have a unique approach to dressing for interviews and the office, and their perception of the workplace greatly differs from what we’ve been used to. Let’s see how Millennials are redefining “dress code” and how you can style up for your next job interview with their help!
1. Casual as the new corporate
The merge of formal and casual allows for plenty of self-expression and experimenting with your authentic look, all the while following some basic rules. Most modern offices no longer require you to go full Harvey Specter or Jessica Pearson in your day-to-day outfits, but if you’re looking to impress someone in an interview, elevated casual is the way to go.
You can mix and match your classy jeans or dress pants with a blazer. A cotton blouse goes well with slim-fit jeans, especially a black pair, and if you own dark-washed jeans that mirror the elegance of your dress pants, you can match them with a plaid shirt, to maximize comfort, and minimize the lumberjack effect.
2. All hail company culture
Sure, Millennials are rebels and they prefer a more relaxed approach, but they’re exceptionally respectful when it comes to following the guidelines of a company. They aren’t lazy to read up on the position they are applying for as well as the company itself. Using this knowledge, they will gladly attend the meeting dressed according to the set rules.
Even though you might need to dress formally and wear your best dress pants or a knee-length skirt combined with a dangerously serious shirt and a pair of closed-toe pumps or your flats, whatever makes you feel more comfortable. When you wear what’s prescribed by company culture, you dress to impress!
3. Sophisticated minimalism
In the eyes of fashionable Millennials, less can really be more. And due to a growing range of choices by sprouting designer labels and those that have been established in the industry for decades, they now have greater expectations and higher standards for every piece they purchase.
As a result, they have mastered the art of using sophisticated simplicity in textures, lines and forms epitomized in brands such as Oskar The Label that can be worn to your regular job interview, and then easily paired with your boho jewelry for a night on the town. The minimalistic approach is reflected not only in the look and feel of the garments, but also in their multifunctionality, which allows an endless number of combinations for effortless elegance and casual business meetings alike.
4. Think personal
However, don’t be fooled into thinking that Millennials are all about uniform dressing. On the contrary, they use every opportunity to give their look a personal touch, whether that’s with an accent color, a curious accessory piece or footwear to break the monotony of an otherwise softly-hued outfit.
From using brooches, mismatched earrings, subtle makeup with hues that lend a more imaginative feel to your appearance, to adding details to handbags, timeless fedoras and scarves, Millennials know how to make their look pop even in the most mundane of circumstances, corporate interviews included.
5. The whole package matters
Frankly, your entire Millennial-inspired outfit won’t cut it unless you wrap up with a clean, well-groomed appearance. That means neat nails and eyebrows, your pearly whites and your fresh breath at the ready, and your well-tamed mane to perfectly reflect your persona as well as your trendy look.
Moreover, when you get to the interview on time, or fashionably early (ten minutes seems fair), and you bring your printed portfolio for your interviewers, you send a powerful message. Millennials value the effort in every sense, and they don’t stop at the perfect outfit, as their entire demeanor needs to be in balance with their beliefs.
To wrap up
Millennials have a strong appreciation for independence, in life as in business and their personal style preferences. When they are in relationships, professional or romantic, they maintain their identity and freedom as their greatest strengths, and those who bask in the single life, they don’t allow for social norms to define them and they use style to further enhance and explore their self-expression.
When you see them in an interview, they will likely be the best-dressed person in the room, with a memorable stamp of individuality that will keep you inspired to find your own trademark look.
