This story is part of our July 2026 Young Professionals issue. To read the print version, click here.
One of the pleasures of exploring a city is getting a sense of
how its residents dress for work. From the crisp black suits of
Tokyo to the just-so scarves of Paris and the judiciously edgy
getups of Berlin creatives, every place has its own distinct
professional uniform, reworked through countless individual
interpretations.
So what is Sacramento’s workplace sense of style? How does its
rising generation of young professionals dress for the office
after coming of age during the work-from-home era? Is the barrier
between street style and business style dissolving? These are
some of the questions photographer Katy Karns and I sought to
answer as we prowled downtown Sacramento in pursuit of the city’s
most interesting outfits.
An eye-catching manicure adds an edge to an otherwise traditional
brown wrap dress.
We found thoughtful dressers at The Urban
Hive, a downtown co-working space; at Metro EDGE’s annual Emerge
Summit; and simply strolling the sidewalk on their way to coffee,
the office or morning events. Finding would-be street snap
subjects took a brisk pace and a reassuring tone of voice;
generally, most people don’t want to be chased down the street in
downtown Sacramento. But plenty of women and men were
enthusiastic about sharing the thought that went into the
clothing they chose — and in some cases made — to represent
themselves.
Through all the diverse personal styles and workplace-specific
cultures, we noticed a few trends. Though the state capital is no
longer as much of the jacket-required city it was in the 20th
century — an era still represented by holdout clothiers like De
Row & Sharma and Navin’s Custom Tailors — the blazer remains
popular with both men and women well into the summer months.
These relatively casual jackets are a great way to transition
from the Delta breeze-cooled mornings to the bright afternoon
sun.
The colors of this suit, tie and pocket square combo coordinate
with the matching California Council for Affordable Housing pin.
Young professionals in creative fields
tended to have more leeway with their work attire, often dressing
for a day spent in a cafe or a co-working space instead of in a
traditional office. Among this crowd, we noticed more attention
to trendy silhouettes and summery touches like sandals and
sundresses. Creatives were also more likely to incorporate
vintage and handmade items and were always excited to share their
provenance.
Sacramento’s strong bicycle culture also manifested in some of
the workwear we spotted. Bike commuters need clothing that is
comfortable enough for cycling — and close-fitting enough not to
get caught in any gears or spokes — but presentable enough to not
have to change in an office restroom stall. For men, that often
meant flexible pants that can be rolled at the cuff or bound in a
reflector band; women cyclists might wear knee-length, roomy
skirts with accessible pockets.
Making clothes by hand allows for personalized touches like these
big pockets right within arm’s reach.
Of course, the typical carbound
Sacramento work day doesn’t offer as many outfit-showcasing
opportunities as somewhere like Paris, New York or Berlin —
places where professionals are on display all day long from the
metro to happy hour or aperitivo — so not everyone feels the need
to show off. But those who do create a Sacramento style that is
all its own.
Want to be part of the city’s evolving fashion sense? Tomorrow
morning, try putting on that (work appropriate) item at the back
of your closet that you’ve been shy about wearing in the office.
Whether it’s a priceless vintage piece, a trendy accessory or
just a color you haven’t tried out before, you most likely can
pull it off better than you think — and you’ll make Sacramento a
little more interesting because of it. To see more street snaps
from this ongoing series, follow us on Instagram @comstocksmag.
Jennifer Dumlao Vaughn and Nellie Fitzgerald
Creative director (Vaughn) and executive project manager
(Fitzgerald), UC Davis
Vaughn and Fitzerald are two of the most prominent leaders
in UC Davis’ award-winning communications team, but you might not
guess their rank from their casual style at The Urban Hive. Both
of their outfits are mostly thrifted; Fitzgerald got her top and
skirt from Crossroads Trading in San Fransisco’s Castro district
— “the best Crossroads, for sure,” she said — and Vaughn said
everything but her accessories came from thrift and consignment
stores. She’s especially proud of her purse, a consignment find
by a Los Angeles-based maker.
Chris Baker
Project manager, Community Healthworks
Men may have less flexibility than women when it comes to
adapting the professional dress code for summer — knee-length
skirts are surely breezier than pants. But Baker’s outfit, with a
knit camp shirt and stroll-ready sneakers, shows some ways men
can bring summer into the office without resorting to shorts.
Allison Carpio
Brand strategist and web designer, independent
This eye-catching denim set is made by the Colombian brand
Sixxta, and Carpio rented it from the subscription service Nuuly.
“I love using Nuuly because I can get these bold statement pieces
without having to commit to them,” she said.
Jake Cooley
Owner, Sacramento Bodywork
Cooley is a sports massage therapist and drummer with the band
Apple Z. Neither job usually requires a suit, but Cooley looks
comfortable and effortless in a loose-fitting jacket over
tailored pants and a knit shirt. The combination reveals how much
high quality fabric and leather can elevate an otherwise simple
outfit.
Molly Wanless-Smith
Outreach and events lead, Better Business Bureau of Northern
California
Wanless-Smith described the summery outfit she wore to work at
The Urban Hive as made up of “mostly old things” from thrift
stores. “I don’t like spending a bunch of money on things that
don’t appreciate,” she said.
Simran Kaur
Management fellow, Sutter Health
Kaur softens the tone of the bold red suit she wore to the Emerge
Summit with casual, summery accents, including a white T-shirt
and open-toed sandals. These match with her signature triangle
scarf, which adds a touch of whimsy.
Paul Shafer
Public policy manager, California Council for Affordable Housing
There’s a growing tide of young men who are interested in the
classic art of putting on a suit, and Shafer is one of them. His
knowledge of the color wheel is on display in his pairing of a
blue suit and coordinated orange tie and pocket square, not to
mention his matching belt and shoes.
Avory Grays
Project communications lead, Child Action
The eternally flattering wrap dress is showing no signs of going
out of style, as Grays demonstrated with her Emerge Summit
outfit. She pairs voluminous hair with an equally capacious
leather bag for a look that’s both balanced and practical.
Rebecca Huval
Registered associate clinical social worker, Sacramento County
Office of Education
Huval sewed her own dress, which features a colorful print of a
bustling crowd of people and large pockets right in reach of her
hands. She plans to launch her own fashion brand soon as a side
hustle alongside her work as an elementary school therapist.
Emiliano Rosas
District representative for state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon
Rosas, one of our 2024 Young Professionals, is known for his
colorful office attire, such as this checked, double-breasted
jacket that brought a whiff of sea breeze to the Emerge Summit.
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