Jeans can work at the office, but you need to wear them the right way, an expert says

• Wearing denim to the workplace has been a no-brainer for many, especially after the pandemic.
• Still, picking the wrong work jeans can come with unintended consequences.
• Denim choices can affect workplace perception and influence career advancement.

Office dress codes — at least, many of them — have embraced denim. Still, for some reason, wearing jeans to work still makes people nervous. Can you really wear denim and look professional?

For Jane Herman, a Los Angeles-based denim whisperer and founder of the denim brand The Only Jane, the answer is yes, but only if you nail the difference between dressing too casually and dressing with intention. If you sport something a bit too casual and distressed, it can read sloppy; if it's on trend, it might make you feel out of place.

And in this economically anxious time, perception is one of the biggest currencies employees have to feel confident in their roles. Research by Jose Cortina, a professor of management and entrepreneurship at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Business, shows that when employees manage their clothing at work, they are perceived more positively by others. What you wear can also affect how people view your competence and professionalism.

Herman said picking your go-to work pair first requires understanding the nuances of your company culture. In her workplace, she noted, "I am wearing a very beat-up vintage jeans and cozy socks 'cause it's raining and I can do that."

"If you work in a more corporate business, where there's maybe a dress code and an expectation, and it's not a place where style is, you know, the job, then you have to ask if it's appropriate at all," Herman, who was brought up selling jeans in her father Ron Herman's stores, said.

And it's hard because there's no one sure-fire look right now. While most of us can agree that the skinny jean is out right now, there are tons of styles to choose from, and employees should consider not only their fit but also their wash — will you go white, black, dark, or light — and their rise, such as high-waisted or mid-rise. We can all agree that low-rise is better saved for the weekend, right?

"There are big trends like barrel jeans, but even with all the momentum behind the barrel, it's not the only jean that everybody's wearing," Herman said. In fact, there are so many options making this conundrum tricky: from the boyfriend jean and the wide-leg jean to the cigarette jean and the mom jean.

Whatever style, wash, or rise you choose, Herman said, put personal taste first.

"The most important thing you can look for and try to nail when you're buying a pair of jeans is the way that they make you feel," Herman advised. "You want emotional, intangible things like feeling confident, and secure, and at peace with yourself."

The wrong pair of denim could undermine you

In a workplace where perception matters, denim isn't the risk here; it's misreading your company's culture. Small details can become big red flags that'll have you reading lazy.

"I'm stating the obvious, but anything with holes, that's too distressed, light-washed, has a frayed hem, too low rise, too embellished, that has distracting stitching or some kind of, you know, flashy bit on it, just eliminate," Herman said.

And if you're looking for a cheat code to picking the right style, figure out what style of pants you typically gravitate toward. Herman said there's likely "a corresponding jean version."

"Some pants have pleats, some have slant pockets. Translate what you like about a pant to a jean and see if you can find the cut in your Google search," she detailed. "From there, it's a matter of taste and maybe what you think is cool."

Still, even the right pair of jeans can misfire if it's not styled correctly. Those extra details can really determine if denim passes the polished test.

"What you wear with your jeans is going to have a huge impact on whether your jean works or doesn't in the office."

Think about the details: Do you have to tuck in your shirt? Is the waist high enough? Does your belt look right? Belts, Herman added, can create a more polished look immediately — just coordinate them with your shoes and bag for a tied-together look.

"If you're looking for something that's elevated for the workplace, a good place to start is with a designer that isn't a denim brand, like Kallmeyer, which makes a very trouser-y jean that is really polished," Herman suggested. "Khaite is a great place to go for a very polished, grownup jean and Nili Lotan makes beautiful, beautiful jeans."

Despite the guardrails, Herman doesn't believe in turning denim into a strict dress code. For her, the shift toward workplace jeans reflects something broader about how professional identity is evolving.

"I really like a world in which everybody can wear the jeans that they want to wear…And, the very rigid rules around them? I don't know, I don't like rigidity, although I do like rigid jeans," she quipped.

If you're still overwhelmed by the thought, Herman said there's very little room for failure with a high-rise straight leg jean.