What Really is a Trend?

Sophie Sundock
Aug 28, 2025
9 min read

Trends. Skinny jeans were all the rage in their time; not anymore. Wearing loud abstract colors and patterns and jazzercise was the coolest thing; not so much anymore. Society has moved on, but why? Weren't these all "trends" during that time of life? Shouldn't a trend last forever after it becomes popular? Why don't they? What really is a trend?

I was recently in a discussion about trends, which provoked this line of thinking. In this instance, we were discussing work attire, specifically for the small-town bank of Berlin, Maryland. Mr. Thompson, the father of the adventurous boyfriend Miles, has been working at a bank in this quaint town for almost 40 years, starting at the bottom and moving all the way to the top as the CEO. He mentioned that clothing and business attire have evolved so much that, on a recent Zoom call, only 6 of the 50 people on the call were very well presented in typical business attire. The rest were in unbuttoned polos, including one man petting his cat throughout the call. While business styles do evolve with societal and fashion trends, and is dependent on your work environment, what are the new and best looks for professionalism in the American workplace?

What are Trends?

This idea of trends keeps nagging at me. I wanted to do some research about what other sources have to say about trends, what they really are, and how they affect society, in the short and long term. This source at Envato mentions that:

"Trends that experience widespread adoption can be attributed to the following driving elements: the right place, the right time, the right moment, and with the right people (Envato)."

They continue using the example of Art Deco, stating that during that post-war period of the roaring twenties, the luxury and secretive speakeasy life was alluring and spoke to the "societal atmosphere" during that time. The idea of things "going out of style" for years and years only to come back as the latest trend speaks to this point exactly. Everything comes around and goes around when it's the right time and place. The cyclical nature of trends can be seen not only in fashion and design but also in music, architecture, and even social behaviors. For instance, the resurgence of vintage fashion in recent years highlights a collective nostalgia for simpler times, reflecting a desire to reconnect with the past during the rapid pace of modern life.

Moreover, technology plays a significant role in how trends occur and resurface. With social media, styles that may have faded into the past can quickly regain popularity with a quick and easy scroll, search, or share.

As we continue to navigate through changing societal norms, it becomes increasingly clear that the past will always hold a significant place in shaping our today, and that what happens in the present can deeply affect the future.

Trends in the Office

When you think of business clothes, what comes to mind? For me, it’s a nice pair of slacks, a crisp button-down (go check out Buck Mason’s new Big Oxford button-downs — perfect example haha 👀), snazzy leather loafers, maybe even a freshly steamed blazer jacket. For women, honestly, it could be the same outfit or a spunky dress that still fits into the “classy but professional” category (And this look can easily go right into evening or social events “as is” with a quick change of jewelry or shoes).

But business fashion hasn’t always looked like this — in fact, it’s shifted drastically over time. Once upon a time - think 1980s - a tailored suit with tie for men, a suit (usually skirt, sometimes pants) or dress (with panty hose!) was the women’s daily uniform. That was the standard of professionalism - for interviews, presentations, and a day at the office. Today, office attire has relaxed so much that unbuttoned polos, khakis, comfortable dresses, and the occasional sport coat are as formal as it gets (and maybe less formal if working remotely).

This isn’t a sudden shift, though — it’s been centuries in the making actually. Here's a brief timeline:

17th century: A mandate from King Charles II of England gave rise to the three-piece suit as a symbol of sobriety and professionalism.

Mid-19th century: Brooks Brothers introduced the first ready-to-wear suits, making professional dress more accessible.

1960s: The Peacock Revolution brought in color, flair, and personal style, loosening the strict uniformity of the office.

1980s: The power suit era. Men in bold pinstripes, women with padded shoulders — dress became a way to project authority.

1990s: Casual Fridays and IBM’s (International Business Machine's Cooperation) 1995 dress code change marked a huge turning point, opening the door for jeans, polos, and sneakers.

2000s onward: Silicon Valley ushered in the “anti-suit” era, where hoodies and sneakers replaced ties and wingtips, reshaping global office dress culture.

Now, post-COVID, we’re seeing that evolution reach its most casual point yet. Comfort is supreme, and while the suit isn’t dead, it’s no longer the office default — it’s a choice, and sometimes even a bold statement (When Wore it Best). Many men and women don’t even own a suit any more!

By following a trend, we create a social identity that helps align us with the "group" we want to belong to. In a work environment, anything helps, right? Trends are our brain’s way of balancing the need to belong with the thrill of novelty. We adopt them because they feel safe and rewarding— and because our social brains convince us that what everyone else is doing must be worth it.

Tailored by Tom James

While talking with Mr. Thompson, he mentioned a company he often turned to for his custom-tailored suits: Tom James. This company has built its reputation on making the process of getting bespoke clothing both convenient and enjoyable. A stylist comes directly to your home or office to guide you through every detail—whether that’s selecting a unique lining for a suit jacket or choosing the thread color around the buttonholes. Whatever look you want to achieve, Tom James helps you express it through perfectly tailored clothing. With locations across the U.S. and in the ever-dapper U.K., the company is working to revive the golden age of custom tailoring, where clothes are designed to make you feel confident and at your best in the workplace.

What I love most about this approach is the ease of it all. In a society that’s increasingly leaning toward casual and convenient lifestyles, Tom James blends both worlds: you don’t even have to leave your home, and yet you walk away with clothing that elevates your being. Tailoring hasn’t always been this accessible, but this company seems to be setting its own trend—bringing high style directly to the modern professional.

COIVD

The pandemic changed so many aspects of our lives, and clothing is no exception. Many sources have noted that COVID accelerated the shift toward more comfortable attire in the workplace. While offices were already moving in that direction, quarantine sped up the process. People stopped dressing up for Zoom calls—why bother, when only your shoulders and face were visible on screen? Returning to in-person work made the adjustment even harder; no one wanted to go back to stiff business attire. Many discovered that they actually enjoyed work a little more when they could feel comfortable and have more choice in what they wore (Covid and Office Fashion).

But not every industry embraced this change the same way. During COVID, some bankers and executives, for example, began to forgo ties, opting instead for just a blazer with slacks. However, Mr. Thompson noticed this shift and made it a point for his company to maintain proper business attire. Many employees still enjoyed that standard, and, importantly, so did clients. This raises a big question: what do customers expect when they enter a professional office? Would it feel unsettling to see a banker handling your money while dressed in jeans and a “nice t-shirt” from, say, Buck Mason? For me, the answer is yes. If someone is responsible for my finances, I want them to look as sharp and professional as they claim to be.

Which leads to a bigger question: in certain settings, is professional dress simply a façade to reassure clients, or is it just another way of following broader cultural trends?

Trends for Women in the Office- Is It different?

This idea of women's fashion changing in the workplace also came into conversation. Mrs. Thompson, an interior designer who often passes her local bank, chimed in with an interesting point: Has women’s office fashion really evolved, or has it actually become more simplified than it once was?

Taking a step back, you could argue—as with most trends—that much depends on the region, company culture, age group, and even the industry itself. But in the broadest sense, what does office fashion for women look like today? From what I’ve observed, and with a little help from my trusty friend Pinterest, women’s style in the workplace has followed the larger societal shift toward simplification. Looking at photos of iconic outfits from the 90s, I noticed how much dimension, texture, and layering women incorporated into their work wardrobes—elements that often feel missing today.

Modern office wear seems to lean toward ease and efficiency. A fun dress with comfortable kitten heels is often the go-to, and while this choice makes perfect sense for busy lifestyles, it also highlights how women’s office fashion has fallen in line with broader trends: streamlined, versatile, and easy. In many ways, the “trend” of simplicity itself has shaped what women wear to work.

Of course, this isn’t a bad thing—trends exist to reflect the times. Just as 90s fashion embraced power suits and structured silhouettes to signal authority, today’s trends lean into flexibility and individuality, with women prioritizing comfort while still aiming for polished looks.

To illustrate this, I wanted to include a few images I found that show how much has shifted. One example comes from The Devil Wears Prada—a very different work setting, yes, but her wardrobe captures a level of dimension and intentionality that feels rare in today’s office fashion.

These days, it's probably much easier to just opt for a fun dress and kitten heels for comfort and call it a day which makes my case that women have succumbed to the more casual office fashion trends. This isn't necessarily a bad thing! But it is a change all the same.

I wanted to include some images that I found to show the difference of what once was with fashion trends. These are all from Pinterest, one including the Devil Wears Prada (!) which is arguably a very different work setting, but the idea of her clothing is what we are missing today from women's work attire.

Dressing for the Client

I briefly wanted to add that while many people that go to an office pick what they want to wear, there is another piece of the puzzle- how much people think about who they’re dressing for. A lot of professionals still change their outfit depending on the client they're working with—more buttoned-up for a finance meeting, more creative for a design pitch. Lately, it almost feels like a trend in itself: showing that you can “mirror” your client’s through your clothes. It’s less about following strict office rules and more about reading the room and matching the vibe.

This insanely fashionable basketball coach certainly dressed the part. Dressing for the client isn’t just about the office. This coach on the sidelines is the perfect example — his look is clean, confident, and intentional. It’s a reminder that how you show up matters in any setting. And I want to add that this style definitely needs to circle back around sooner rather than later.

What's the Future Look Like

While the future is never fully certain, one thing we can count on is that clothes will always keep evolving alongside us. Office fashion, once more rigid, has become a reflection of broader cultural shifts—adapting as quickly as the world around it. What started as strict dress codes has slowly become something more fluid, with comfort and individuality becoming the key thing.

Younger generations, especially Gen Z, are pushing that evolution even faster. They’re rewriting the script by bringing thrifted clothes, new again vintage trends, and bold personal choices into workplaces that once demanded conformity. Sneakers, piercings, tattoos, and colorful hair are reshaping a new norm. In many ways, the office is no longer dictating how people dress; people are dictating what the office looks like.

And just like fashion at large, office style moves in cycles. We might see sharp tailoring and minimalism come back around in a few years, just as we’ve seen oversized silhouettes and retro influences return today (thank you 90s baggy suit era). The difference now is that the boundaries are looser: professionalism doesn’t mean getting rid of individuality, and trends that once lived on the street or online are now showing up behind the desk.

Looking ahead, it feels safe to say that the future of office wear is one of balance—between function and fashion, tradition and trend, personal expression and shared identity. The office of tomorrow will be dressed not just for the job, but for the people who bring it to life.

At the end of the day, office fashion is just keeping pace with the world outside — shifting, loosening up, and taking cues from whatever’s trending. What used to be a stiff uniform is now a reflection of individuality, comfort, and changing with the times. Who knows, maybe one day hoodies and sneakers will be the new power suit. Until then, the “office look” will keep evolving — just like the people wearing it.

From,

Sophie