Reinventing the Office Uniform 

Brands at this season’s MAGIC New York event share their POV on what buyers should consider for the 'Corp Casual' trend.

 
We often think about work-life balance in terms of our relationship to our jobs. However, for Gen Z, it’s also about how it impacts what we wear. “As new generations enter the workforce, there’s a renewed interest in corporate classics and tailoring, as well as styles that update the status quo,” says MMGNET’s Fall/Winter 2025/2026 Contemporary Women's Buyer’s Guide. With that has emerged ‘Corp Casual,’ a casual spin on typical office wear that’s “equal parts individual and professional.”  
 
‘Corp Casual’ is a result of more relaxed environments, a propensity for personal style, and the prevalence of nostalgia, particularly with fashion. “[This trend] is being driven by a generation that loves looking back at the more polished workwear of the past,” and thinking of ways to update them, shares Sally Hernandez, a Senior Account Executive at women’s clothing label Maggy London. Creating a unique blend of 'workwear' and 'streetwear,’ “styles are being worn to everything from brunch to night’s out, reflecting Gen Z’s love for non-fitted clothing,” she adds. 
 
Here, new interpretations of classic items are plentiful. From non-traditional tailoring to sleek accessories that brighten up basics, brands at this season's MAGIC New York share what they consider to be defining features of 2025’s version of the office uniform. 

TONES AND TEXTURES 

For ready-to-wear, “neutral colors” dominate, says FRNCH’s Chloe L., “while vibrant accents elevate the look.” Metal and geometric accessories (like a buckled shopper or a pair of dome earrings) can add a polished slant to a relaxed blazer, pleated skirt, or varsity sweater, while more serious full looks, like a suit set, can be broken up with playful touches, including knee socks, varsity striped scarves, and new school frames. Reliable, tonal shades help place the focus on the materials and allow pieces to better “transition seamlessly between casual and evening,” Savir notes.