Workplace fashion has undergone quite an evolution throughout the past 100 years, starting with dressy looks and succumbing to subtle casualness by the time the 1950s hit. Women began to rock pants and pantsuits at work in the 1970s, and men started the "business casual" trend in the '90s.
Keep scrolling to see the complete evolution of workplace fashion throughout the past century.
Throughout the early 20th century, offices were very formal: women wore traditional gowns and men wore full suits.
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Americans not only dressed up for work in the 1900s they covered up, too.
"Women and girls never wore trousers and women kept their legs hidden with long dresses or skirts," according to the BBC. "Men and boys often kept their coats, jackets and ties on, even in hot weather."
As the 1920s emerged, women sported shorter haircuts and more boyish dress silhouettes.
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The "boyish" dress silhouette rose in popularity throughout the '20s, as women abandoned the tight, feminine dresses of the past. Straight skirts were in, and " tailored suits for the working woman also featured the straight, curveless cut."
Mens suits became slightly less formal, and women began to sport mens collars.
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Much like women, men's attire loosened up in the '20s, leaning toward a more relaxed and flashier look.
The 1930s saw an even more relaxed look, but suits remained the standard.
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The look of a long torso was in for men in the '30s, so suits were adjusted accordingly, with widened shoulders and tapering sleeves . Men's trousers were still creased, as seen in the portrait of Chicago journalists above.
Womens work outfits throughout the decade began to add more feminine touches, like bows and necklaces.
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Women's dress silhouettes got a little softer in the 1930s, and many long dresses of the time featured feminine embellishments , like bows and ties at the front.
By the time the 1940s emerged, women embraced squared shoulders and more adventurous patterns.
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The idea of " utility fashion " permeated women's work clothing in the 1940s, as many women went to work during World War II. Squared, padded shoulders and varied colors and patterns began to emerge.
And a double-breasted suit was key for men in the 40s, along with the popular bowler hat.
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Loose-fitting trousers were also the move for men in the 1940s, and in stark contrast to the low-rise fit of the '30s were often buckled high on the torso. They were part of the " de mob " suit look, which also consisted of a shirt, tie, and double-breasted jacket.
In the 1950s, many working women paired simple, sleek sweaters with pearls.
Sloping shoulders on simple, classic sweaters were a popular look for women of the '50s. They also loved their narrow pencil skirts for work , and, as shown above, "separates" (that is blouses and skirts or blouses and pants) were all the rage. Adieu, dresses of the '30s and '40s.
Mens suits returned to single-breast buttons.
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The 1960s was known for its minimalist, colorful aesthetic, and that was reflected in womens fashion ...
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"Mod" fashion was all the rage in the '60s, and working women favored its minimalist, colorful aesthetic. They often paired their chic dresses with white pumps , and their hair was straight and sleek, cut into a bob .
... as well as mens. Many opted for slender black ties paired with black suits.
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Clean lines and skinny ties dominated men's professional fashion in the '60s (think early Beatles). Suits boasted slimmer-fitting pants and sleek silhouettes.
The pantsuit trend shook the womens workforce in the 1970s, and bolder colors began to emerge.
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According to VICE 's history of the pantsuit, by the '70s, "many young women were adopting pants either as an explicit symbol representing their fight for equality, or simply as a means for more comfort." Many women who climbed the corporate ladder opted for the bold, revolutionary trend.
Mens lapels were widened, and their ties grew in width.
The wide lapels seen on suits in the '30s and '40s began to reemerge in the 1970s to an almost "comically" large width , according to GQ. Ties were wider, and colorful leisure suits burst onto the scene.
Pantsuits turned into menswear-inspired outfits for women in the 80s. Broad shoulders and large blazers were in.
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Power suits and padded shoulders were the trend of working women of the '80s, as exemplified by Melanie Griffith in 1988's "Working Girl," which led to an exaggerated, menswear-inspired aesthetic.
Men rocked more "relaxed" and broad suits.
"Richard Geres game-changing Armani suit in 'American Gigolo'is legendary for its looser fit and effortless swagger," according to GQ's history of the suit . It paved the way for many men's trends of the decade, like the power suit, which featured suspenders, pinstripes, and padded shoulders.
Blazers would still be in by the time the 90s rolled around, and chunky, bold jewelry rose in popularity.
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Men got increasingly "business casual" throughout the 90s, too, opting for turtlenecks and khakis.
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According to The Atlantic, " business casual " dress started to emerge in the '80s and flourish in the '90s: "Business casual consists of khaki pants, sensible shoes, and button-down collared shirts ... By the time it was mainstream, in the 1990s, it flummoxed HR managers and employees alike."
The 2000s saw the return of minimalism, with men and women sporting blazers and muted colors.
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These days, bold colors are back in. And you can choose to dress up for the office ...
... or dress down.
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