In this article I share how to decode the new “Dress for Your Day” dress code and show off the right image and message you’re going for.

Here’s a snippet:

“Dress for your day.” You may have heard this phrase used in your HR department lately. Companies are adopting this trending dress code to help their employees feel more comfortable at work.

In theory, it sounds great: Instead of a blanket policy for everyone to follow, you now have the flexibility to wear an outfit that’s most appropriate for the activities you have scheduled that day. (For example, meeting with an important client? Dress up. Working from home on virtual calls? Feel free to be casual. In the office with your co-workers all day? A look in between will do.)

But are you really more comfortable if you don’t know what’s appropriate to wear when?

Without clear guidelines on how to dress for work, deciding what to wear becomes a stressful way to start your day — not to mention the anxiety that ensues when you choose incorrectly. Imagine walking into a “business casual” meeting only to realize you’ve wrongly interpreted this ambiguous term as just plain “casual.” Now you’re left feeling self-conscious and uncomfortable all day.