20 Things You Should Never Wear to Work

Fashion is all about self-expression. The fine print to this has to do with staying true to your personal style while still maintaining a pulse on what is — and isn’t — situationally appropriate. When it comes to the workplace, regardless of how casual the atmosphere, there are some general style rules that every professional should keep in mind. So take notes — and be prepared to scale back on those fashion statements at your daily grind as we run down the 20 things you should never wear to work.

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Crop tops

A bare midriff has no business in the workplace. There’s just no work environment where an exposed belly button is going to get you anywhere other than the HR office for a lesson in workplace-appropriate attire.

The right job may be all the motivation you need to get going on the right work-wardrobe.

Smiling woman sits on a couch wearing black leggings

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Leggings

Comfy, cute and a staple in most wardrobes, leggings are the easiest go-to when you don’t know what to wear for an easy off-duty look. “Off-duty” being the operative term here, as leggings just won’t fly as part of a professional ensemble. Opt for sleek trousers, or, in the case of a super casual workplace scenario, slim-fit dark-wash denim.

RELATED: 4 athleisure styling tips to nail the look.

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Sheer clothing

If your undergarments are visible beneath your outfit, you can bet this is one look that’s not going to fly at work. No one expects you to hide those killer curves all day, but dressing for success is all about letting your work be the thing that shines through, not that sparkly bra.

Celebrities may be loving the sheer outfit trend, but remember, there’s a time and a place for everything.

Woman wearing a short dress works over a cabinet in an office

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Sky-high hemlines

Whoever said, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it” wasn’t implying you strut those bare legs around the office. Save the leggy skirts and mini dresses for when you clock out.

SEE ALSO: 20 cute dresses under $100 in Canada.

Woman struggles to zip up the back of her fitted dress

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Second-skin pieces

Not only are you compromising your level of comfort, but skin-tight clothing may signal a lack of situational awareness and professionalism to colleagues and clients. It’s possible to flatter your shape without opting for clothing that clings to every curve for dear life.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: The most uncomfortable-looking outfits spotted on stars.

Smiling woman holds up clothing with print design

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Distracting prints

It can be challenging enough to draw focus toward your work without the added visual distraction of a dizzying print. Stick to flattering colours in solids or larger, neat prints to ensure your wardrobe doesn’t end up talking over you.

For some sweet inspo, see these top plus-size trendsetters to watch out for.

Woman in a short dress puts on high-heeled shoes

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Sky-high heels

Spare the loud click-clacking through the office, and avoid taking an embarrassing spill by rocking heels you can actually walk in at the office. A kitten to mid-heel will still flatter any outfit, without sacrificing your comfort, or sense of balance.

RELATED: 10 high heel hacks every woman should know.

Back of woman’s t-shirt which reads, “CHOOSE LOVE”

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Clothing with slogans or graphics

Save your political views, favourite sports teams, mottos to live by and funky graphics for your downtime and keep it strictly business in the workplace. YOLO may be your jam, but that shouldn’t be the message emblazoned across your shirt as you walk into that 9AM meeting.

Woman sits on a stool wearing a blue sweater and distressed denim

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Distressed denim

It should come as no surprise that torn, fringed, ill-fitting and just generally distressed denim is a no-no in the office. Not only is it too casual for any professional environment, it tends to reflect a lack of effort, which can negatively impact the perception of you in the workplace.

Fan of grungy-denim in your downtime? This is how to get 90’s grunge right.

Woman sitting outdoors wears a trenchcoat, black pants and sneaker shoes

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Sneakers

Trendy or not, sneakers are rarely an acceptable form of footwear at work. Save your kicks for out-of-office hours, and instead look to sleek loafers or cute close-toe flats for no-heel option from 9-5.

SEE ALSO: 5 dad sneakers that you'll actually look cute in.

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Distracting jewellery

From oversized hoop earrings to flashy diamond rings, anything that might be considered a “statement accessory” should probably be ruled out of your workplace wardrobe. Not only is it distracting to hear someone coming before you see them, thanks to those clanging stacked bangles, it also comes across as juvenile and potentially a little tacky.

Check out the most expensive jewellery ever worn to the Oscar’s.

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Sweats

For obvious reasons — don’t roll out of bed and into the office. Just don’t do it. Put on some real clothes and save your sweats for home time.

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Neon

Stand out at work for the right reasons, not because you’re dressed like a highlighter.

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Cold-shoulder tops

Unless you’re looking to get the cold-shoulder from your colleagues and higher-ups, save this shoulder-baring trend for your off-duty wardrobe.

RELATED: Fashion trends you should probably skip this season.

Woman wears workout clothing while walking outdoors

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Workout clothes

This one’s simple — before you wear workout clothes to work, ask yourself this question: “Do I work at a gym?” If the answer is no, get changed and get real about adulting. That muscle tee and those yoga pants just aren’t going to cut it as work-wear.

Put that workout gear to a purpose and check out these great fitness classes in Toronto.

Woman looks down at a coffee stain on her t-shirt

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Stained clothing

Workplace or not, clean clothes are a sign of attention to detail and just general “grownup” effort. Do your laundry, wear clean, wrinkle-free clothing, repeat.

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Sequins and sparkles

Save the flashy pieces for your next girl’s night — the office is no place to make a sparkly statement.

Speaking of making a statement in some sequin, who does it better than Beyonce? Check out her style evolution.

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Distracting nails

From extra long nails to bizarre shapes, colours and designs, your hands can make an impression. Make sure it’s the right one with neat, reasonably-coloured nails that aren’t long enough to frighten anyone about to shake your hand.

Of course, if your office has a vibe where trendy manicures are cool — don't feel the need to shy away either.

RELATED: Inspiration for your next manicure.

Woman wears a short-sleeved shirt and sunglasses

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Sunglasses

This one goes for any indoor space where you aren’t exposed to direct natural light. If you’re indoors and they aren’t prescription, take them off before your coworkers think you’re hiding a hangover.

You’ll be shocked to discover how much these celebrity accessories cost.

Woman tries on a hat in front of a mirror

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Hats

Just like any formal setting, hats are a no-no in the office. Aside from being too casual an accessory to rock at work, it’s also generally considered disrespectful to keep your hat on when dealing with fellow co-workers, clients and higher-ups.

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