Examining the History of Business Fashion

By Noah Park

One of the most prevalent issues that has been exacerbated by the recent pandemic is America’s work crisis. With the cost of living on the rise and inflation hiking the prices of day to day necessities, many working class Americans are forced to allocate countless time to a profession that they don’t enjoy. In the last few decades, these harsh working conditions have fostered a certain culture that glorifies the struggle of making ends meet and working exorbitant hours. This normalization of having our careers take over every facet of our lives has had a unique influence in determining popular fashion fads in contemporary society. Through the proliferation of this attitude and the spread of “business-core” as a concrete aesthetic, the fashion industry has reclaimed what it means to be immersed in your work. 

Drawn from Vogue’s annual editorial on Tokyo fashion week, the model here does a great job at making the contrast between the formality of her blazer and the informality of her straight legged jeans as apparent as possible. She thought to pair a traditionally regimented coat with a silhouette that’s very commonly known to be casual. Through this combination, the model creates a contrast that’s eye-catching and implicitly highlights her willingness to explore beyond the norms of contemporary fashion. 

By Kira/Tokyofashion.com (Vogue) 

As it’s portrayed in social media, the perception of the “business-core” style has been characterized by reimagining everyday fashion through creating an image that starkly contrasts the informality of streetwear with the regimented feel of professional attire. Now this duality is really only one facet of business fashion. It represents the quintessential working class citizen in a sense that it is professional and exaggeratedly white-collar. And although this specific substyle of business fashion is very regimented, it represented the face of the fashion industry until the late 1940s. During this time, men would pair a straight point collar button down with their favorite pair of linen slacks. This combination was infamous for creating a preppy-type image that reflected a sense of affluence and success. The early history of style affirmed the notion that fashion can not only be used as an outlet for creativity, but also as a signal of financial wellbeing and class prestige. This concept of business core fashion with a professional slant has since moved away from being a style grounded in regimen and responsibility, to a popular aesthetic adopted by well-known brands like STUSSY, Prada, and CMMAWEAR. While the origins of the professional attire style are not as prevalent today, big brands are reimagining what it means to indulge in business-core. For instance, the business aesthetic as it pertains to everyday fashion, is most frequently represented by some kind of rendition of a button down, tie, outer layer, form fitting trousers, and dressed-up footwear. This specific aesthetic reflects the normalization of work culture in the states. It allows us to observe instances of how the dissemination of professionalism and career centered mentalities are leaving residual influence in different spheres of our lives. Although it isn’t a perfect contrast, the origins of this style are grounded in the desire to exude a sense of sophistication. While these two points in the history of “business-core” are drastically different, they represent the fact that professionalism is ever-changing, and that fashion itself is cyclical in a sense that we often revive old fads. 

Photos by Julie Ta

While we often reference the idea of business fashion with a professional slant in mind, that isn’t to say that ties and button downs are the only way to create this aesthetic. Though not the same style, work-wear has grown to be just as popular in a sense that it reflects a different kind of business. While business attire through the professional lens exaggerates the image of the white collar worker, work-wear reminds us of businesses that require a more rugged skillset. The consistent demand of brands like Dickies, Carhartt, Lees, and Ben Davis highlight an important attitude within the fashion community; one that starkly contrasts with the purpose of professional business fashion. Through wearing pieces that prioritize practicality and durability, an individual can create the image that they are in-step with modern fashion, but in a way that speaks to the laity. This family of business fashion certainly reclaims what it means to be “stylish” in a way that pays homage to the blue collar American. Looks that satisfy the workwear aesthetic are often characterized by straight-legged denim or slacks, a blank tee, and a jacket made to last. One of the unique characteristics about this style is that, while its professional counterpart has changed noticeably over time, the silhouette that represents this look hasn’t strayed far from its origins. Even during the late 40s and early 50s, American men would turn towards this style of clothing to take pride in their labor and indulge in the early start of work-wear as an aesthetic. While these pieces may not always be the most extravagant or eye-catching, they subconsciously remind us that style isn’t class restrictive and that the business/work-wear can be as diverse as the working class that it emulates. 

Photos by Julie Ta

As the nation’s working class continues to change and diversify, I’m certain that we’ll be able to also track the evolution of the business aesthetic that represents it. Whether that be through professional attire or the blue collar uniform, career inspired fashion reflects an important part of America’s work culture. The perception that we live to work and work to live has seeped into every facet of our lives. And no matter your view on this notion, it is undeniable that the fashion industry has taken a bleak reality and reclaimed it as style that can be enjoyed rather than dreaded.

Styling by Brianna Hewitt (IG @briannarose.h) and Charisse Chow