Gen Z are still learning the ins and outs of office workwear, and the biggest style mistake they’re making is not investing in “office-friendly” shoes, according to a stylist.
Liz Teich, a stylist based in New York, told Business Insider that a popular shoe style young professionals are wearing alongside their workwear are white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers, but that they should look elsewhere if they want to impress.
“People need to really step up their shoe game,” she said in an interview, pointing out that footwear has become more casual since the pandemic and work from home became a norm. “Now they don’t know what kind of shoes to wear.”
Teich thinks you can’t go wrong with a classic pump but admitted it may not fit the vibe of every office. Instead, she suggested that Gen Z women should opt for loafers, booties, and fashion or retro-style sneakers.
These choices tend to look “a little bit more polished,” according to Teich.
Gen Z men can wear dress shoes, boots, or white court sneakers from brands like Veja, Common Projects, and Nisolo. Adidas Stan Smiths, Gazelles, and Sambas are other great options.
Even if you are wearing the right shoes, taking care of your shoes and cleaning them is arguably even more essential — something younger generations tend to overlook.
If your shoes are dirty, that is “a reflection of who you are at the office, so if you don’t take care of your shoes, people will notice.”
Teich advises taking dress shoes to the cobbler for a repair or polish and investing in a magic eraser or shoe cleaner for sneakers. You can also revive old sneakers by swapping out the laces or bleaching them.
Gen Z workers have been getting flak for showing up to the office in inappropriate workwear. One senior employee at a New York firm complained to BI’s work advice column that a junior worker showed up in a crop top and that they were “weirded” out by it.
Teich and a corporate stylist, Maree Ellard, previously offered some work style tips for Gen Z, including staying covered “from nips to knees,” investing in good quality clothes over fast fashion, and keeping flashy designer logos to a minimum.
