How would you describe your style?
Clothing vocabulary is a huge topic in English, and sometimes the words we use can feel gendered.
In today’s episode, Lindsay and Aubrey share gender-neutral vocabulary you can use when talking about clothing at work.
Is “blouse” only for women?
Aubrey asks Lindsay what her work style is.
Lindsay shares that she is very casual because she works from home.
If she’s attending a conference, she dresses up a little bit – still comfortable, but neat and tidy.
Aubrey says she is often in casual attire too, but if the event or situation needs it, she can wear professional attire.
Today’s episode is inspired by a student question during a recent Q&A session.
A student had several questions about gendered vocabulary for shirts.
They wanted to know:
- Would we ever say “blouse” for a men’s shirt?
- Is “button-up” ever used to describe a women’s shirt?
- Should we avoid gendered clothing terms in case coworkers are transgender or cisgender?
- What gender-neutral words can we use instead?
Work attire vocabulary
Aubrey and Lindsay share that talking about work attire can create connections and can be a great conversation starter.
For you to be able to discuss this, you need to know about gender related attire in the workplace.
#1: Blouse
A blouse usually refers to a shirt that is traditionally marketed or styled as women’s clothing.
Blouses are often made from softer or more delicate fabrics and may have details or styles that distinguish them from a standard shirt.
You generally wouldn’t use “blouse” to describe a typical men’s shirt.
Examples:
- I’m looking for a nice blouse I can wear to work.
- Her blouse looks very professional.
For a more traditionally masculine formal style, you might hear “men’s dress shirt.”
A dress shirt typically has a collar and buttons and is worn in more formal or professional settings.
#2: Button-up
A button-up shirt is a shirt that has buttons running up the front.
You’ll commonly hear this term used for work shirts, and it can describe shirts worn by both men and women.
Examples:
- You should wear a button-up shirt to the interview.
- Those pants would look better with a button-up.
Another common term you’ll hear is “button-down.”
In everyday conversation, people often use “button-down” and “button-up” in similar ways when talking about shirts, although technically a button-down has buttons that fasten the collar to the shirt.
Should you avoid gendered clothing terms?
Lindsay and Aubrey mention that you don’t necessarily need to avoid gender clothing terms.
Words like “blouse” and “men’s dress shirt” aren’t inherently offensive.
You’ll still see gendered clothing terms used in stores, shopping departments, and online categories.
However, context and your audience matter.
In a workplace, you may not know how someone identifies or how they describe their clothing. You also may simply have no reason to mention gender at all.
If gender isn’t relevant to what you’re saying, choosing a neutral term can make communication simpler and more inclusive.
There are several useful words you can use when you don’t need to specify gender.
Here some that Lindsay and Aubrey recommend you can use:
#1: Button-down
A button-down is a shirt with buttons down the front and, technically, buttons that secure the collar.
Depending on the fabric and style, it can be casual or formal.
Examples:
- Everyone presenting at the conference was asked to wear a button-down shirt.
- I packed two button-downs for our business trip next week.
#2: Shirt or top
Shirt and top are useful umbrella terms when the exact style of clothing isn’t important.
“Shirt” is a little more specific, while “top” is broader and can include blouses, sweaters, knit tops, and other clothing worn on the upper body.
Both can be useful gender-neutral options.
Examples:
- The company dress code requires employees to wear professional shirts.
- That’s a nice top. It’s perfect for client meetings.
#3: Dress shirt
A dress shirt is a more formal shirt, usually with a collar and buttons.
You don’t have to say “men’s dress shirt” or “women’s dress shirt.” Without the gender label, “dress shirt” can be used more generally.
Dress shirts are appropriate for situations like interviews, important presentations, client meetings, or formal events.
Examples:
- I always wear a dress shirt when meeting new clients.
- You’ll need a proper dress shirt to go with that suit.
#4: Collared shirt
A collared shirt is simply a shirt with a collar.
This term describes one feature of the clothing rather than its overall style.
A dress shirt is usually a collared shirt, but not every collared shirt is a dress shirt.
Examples:
- The dress code says employees should wear a collared shirt.
- At the office, most people wear collared shirts instead of T-shirts.
#5: Polo shirt
A polo shirt is usually a short-sleeved shirt with a collar and a few buttons at the neck.
Think of the type of shirt people often wear when golfing.
A polo is more casual than a dress shirt or formal button-up, but it’s common in business-casual environments.
Examples:
- I usually go for a polo shirt on casual Fridays.
- Our company-branded attire includes a polo shirt.
Roleplay
Here’s a quick roleplay between Lindsay and Aubrey showing how you might use this vocabulary naturally.
In this scenario, they’re work friends going on a business trip together and discussing what clothes they should bring.
Aubrey: Hey! I’m excited for the upcoming trip. Have you started packing yet?
Lindsay: No, but I think I know what I’m bringing.
Aubrey: What are you thinking in terms of dress shirts?
Lindsay: I’ll probably go with a few button-downs paired with dress pants for our meetings.
Aubrey: Good idea. I’m packing a couple of collared shirts and a lightweight sweater.
Lindsay: A sweater is a good idea, especially if it gets cold at night. Are you bringing more casual tops for after-work dinners and drinks?
Aubrey: Probably just a nice blouse or two.
Lindsay: Nice. Oh, but don’t forget to bring your company polo shirt. We’re supposed to wear it for the initial meet-and-greet event.
Aubrey: Right! Thanks for reminding me. I would have forgotten that.
Lindsay: No worries. I’ll see you tomorrow on the flight.
Aubrey: Sounds good! See you then.
Takeaway
When talking about clothing at work, you don’t always need to decide whether something is “men’s” or “women’s” clothing.
Instead, focus on the features that actually matter to the conversation.
Is it a dress shirt because the event is formal? A collared shirt because that’s what the dress code requires? Or simply a shirt or top because the exact style doesn’t matter?
This is a useful communication strategy beyond clothing vocabulary too. When a personal detail isn’t relevant, you can often communicate more clearly by describing what you actually need to know rather than making assumptions about the person.
Check out BE 617: Stick With Us for Business English Success for more practical Business English vocabulary.
What do you usually wear to work?
Share it in the comments below!
