COVID Casual: Refashioning Professional Work Attire in the Age of Remote Work

Abstract

The COVID- 19 crisis has transformed the world of work. Two years into the pandemic and more Australians are working from home than ever before, with 40 per cent of the workforce working remotely due to the pandemic (Productivity Commission 2021). This reflects not only government social distancing regulations, employer requirements and international trends, but also increased desires from Australians to either have access to or to use flexible working arrangements (ABS2021; Baird & Dinale 2020; Baird et al. 2020; Nahum 2020). A key but under- researched advantage of remote working has been the relaxing in many professions dress codes, with ?COVID casual?becoming the norm for many workers. This report highlights the role of appearance, dress codes and aesthetics in the contemporary workplace and the refashioning of professional attire in the age of remote work.