{"id":416479,"date":"2026-07-29T12:40:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T12:40:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/416479\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T12:40:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T12:40:15","slug":"what-are-sacramentos-young-professionals-really-wearing-to-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/416479\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Sacramento’s Young Professionals Really Wearing to Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

This story is part of our July 2026 Young Professionals issue. To read the print version, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n


\n
\n <\/p>\n

\n One of the pleasures of exploring a city is getting a sense of
\n how its residents dress for work. From the crisp black suits of
\n Tokyo to the just-so scarves of Paris and the judiciously edgy
\n getups of Berlin creatives, every place has its own distinct
\n professional uniform, reworked through countless individual
\n interpretations.\n<\/p>\n

\n So what is Sacramento\u2019s workplace sense of style? How does its
\n rising generation of young professionals dress for the office
\n after coming of age during the work-from-home era? Is the barrier
\n between street style and business style dissolving? These are
\n some of the questions photographer Katy Karns and I sought to
\n answer as we prowled downtown Sacramento in pursuit of the city\u2019s
\n most interesting outfits.\n<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n An eye-catching manicure adds an edge to an otherwise traditional
\n brown wrap dress.\n<\/p>\n

We found thoughtful dressers at The Urban
\n Hive, a downtown co-working space; at Metro EDGE\u2019s annual Emerge
\n Summit; and simply strolling the sidewalk on their way to coffee,
\n the office or morning events. Finding would-be street snap
\n subjects took a brisk pace and a reassuring tone of voice;
\n generally, most people don\u2019t want to be chased down the street in
\n downtown Sacramento. But plenty of women and men were
\n enthusiastic about sharing the thought that went into the
\n clothing they chose \u2014 and in some cases made \u2014 to represent
\n themselves.\n<\/p>\n

\n Through all the diverse personal styles and workplace-specific
\n cultures, we noticed a few trends. Though the state capital is no
\n longer as much of the jacket-required city it was in the 20th
\n century \u2014 an era still represented by holdout clothiers like De
\n Row & Sharma and Navin\u2019s Custom Tailors \u2014 the blazer remains
\n popular with both men and women well into the summer months.
\n These relatively casual jackets are a great way to transition
\n from the Delta breeze-cooled mornings to the bright afternoon
\n sun.\n<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n The colors of this suit, tie and pocket square combo coordinate
\n with the matching California Council for Affordable Housing pin.\n<\/p>\n

Young professionals in creative fields
\n tended to have more leeway with their work attire, often dressing
\n for a day spent in a cafe or a co-working space instead of in a
\n traditional office. Among this crowd, we noticed more attention
\n to trendy silhouettes and summery touches like sandals and
\n sundresses. Creatives were also more likely to incorporate
\n vintage and handmade items and were always excited to share their
\n provenance.\n<\/p>\n

\n Sacramento\u2019s strong bicycle culture also manifested in some of
\n the workwear we spotted. Bike commuters need clothing that is
\n comfortable enough for cycling \u2014 and close-fitting enough not to
\n get caught in any gears or spokes \u2014 but presentable enough to not
\n have to change in an office restroom stall. For men, that often
\n meant flexible pants that can be rolled at the cuff or bound in a
\n reflector band; women cyclists might wear knee-length, roomy
\n skirts with accessible pockets.\n<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Making clothes by hand allows for personalized touches like these
\n big pockets right within arm\u2019s reach.\n<\/p>\n

Of course, the typical carbound
\n Sacramento work day doesn\u2019t offer as many outfit-showcasing
\n opportunities as somewhere like Paris, New York or Berlin \u2014
\n places where professionals are on display all day long from the
\n metro to happy hour or aperitivo \u2014 so not everyone feels the need
\n to show off. But those who do create a Sacramento style that is
\n all its own.\n<\/p>\n

\n Want to be part of the city\u2019s evolving fashion sense? Tomorrow
\n morning, try putting on that (work appropriate) item at the back
\n of your closet that you\u2019ve been shy about wearing in the office.
\n Whether it\u2019s a priceless vintage piece, a trendy accessory or
\n just a color you haven\u2019t tried out before, you most likely can
\n pull it off better than you think \u2014 and you\u2019ll make Sacramento a
\n little more interesting because of it. To see more street snaps
\n from this ongoing series, follow us on Instagram @comstocksmag<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Jennifer Dumlao Vaughn and\u00a0Nellie Fitzgerald<\/p>\n

Creative director (Vaughn) and executive project manager
\n (Fitzgerald), UC Davis<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n Vaughn and Fitzerald are\u00a0two of the most prominent leaders
\n in UC Davis\u2019 award-winning communications team, but you might not
\n guess their rank from their casual style at The Urban Hive. Both
\n of their outfits are mostly thrifted; Fitzgerald got her top and
\n skirt from Crossroads Trading in San Fransisco\u2019s Castro district
\n \u2014 \u201cthe best Crossroads, for sure,\u201d she said \u2014 and Vaughn said
\n everything but her accessories came from thrift and consignment
\n stores. She\u2019s especially proud of her purse, a consignment find
\n by a Los Angeles-based maker.\n<\/p>\n

Chris Baker<\/p>\n

Project manager,\u00a0Community Healthworks<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n Men may have less flexibility than women when it comes to
\n adapting the professional dress code for summer \u2014 knee-length
\n skirts are surely breezier than pants. But Baker\u2019s outfit, with a
\n knit camp shirt and stroll-ready sneakers, shows some ways men
\n can bring summer into the office without resorting to shorts.\n<\/p>\n

Allison Carpio<\/p>\n

Brand strategist and web designer, independent<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n This eye-catching denim set is made by the Colombian brand
\n Sixxta, and Carpio rented it from the subscription service Nuuly.
\n \u201cI love using Nuuly because I can get these bold statement pieces
\n without having to commit to them,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n

Jake Cooley<\/p>\n

Owner, Sacramento Bodywork<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n Cooley is a sports massage therapist and drummer with the band
\n Apple Z. Neither job usually requires a suit, but Cooley looks
\n comfortable and effortless in a loose-fitting jacket over
\n tailored pants and a knit shirt. The combination reveals how much
\n high quality fabric and leather can elevate an otherwise simple
\n outfit.\n<\/p>\n

Molly Wanless-Smith<\/p>\n

Outreach and events lead, Better Business Bureau of Northern
\n California<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n Wanless-Smith described the summery outfit she wore to work at
\n The Urban Hive as made up of \u201cmostly old things\u201d from thrift
\n stores. \u201cI don\u2019t like spending a bunch of money on things that
\n don\u2019t appreciate,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n

Simran Kaur<\/p>\n

Management fellow, Sutter Health<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n Kaur softens the tone of the bold red suit she wore to the Emerge
\n Summit with casual, summery accents, including a white T-shirt
\n and open-toed sandals. These match with her signature triangle
\n scarf, which adds a touch of whimsy.\n<\/p>\n

Paul Shafer<\/p>\n

Public policy manager, California Council for Affordable Housing<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n There\u2019s a growing tide of young men who are interested in the
\n classic art of putting on a suit, and Shafer is one of them. His
\n knowledge of the color wheel is on display in his pairing of a
\n blue suit and coordinated orange tie and pocket square, not to
\n mention his matching belt and shoes.\n<\/p>\n

Avory Grays<\/p>\n

Project communications lead, Child Action<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n The eternally flattering wrap dress is showing no signs of going
\n out of style, as Grays demonstrated with her Emerge Summit
\n outfit. She pairs voluminous hair with an equally capacious
\n leather bag for a look that\u2019s both balanced and practical.\n<\/p>\n

Rebecca Huval<\/p>\n

Registered associate clinical social worker, Sacramento County
\n Office of Education<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n Huval sewed her own dress, which features a colorful print of a
\n bustling crowd of people and large pockets right in reach of her
\n hands. She plans to launch her own fashion brand soon as a side
\n hustle alongside her work as an elementary school therapist.\n<\/p>\n

Emiliano Rosas<\/p>\n

District representative for state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon<\/p>\n

\n \"\"<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n Rosas, one of our 2024 Young Professionals, is known for his
\n colorful office attire, such as this checked, double-breasted
\n jacket that brought a whiff of sea breeze to the Emerge Summit.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u2013\n<\/p>\n

\n Stay up to date on business in the Capital Region:
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\n today.<\/a>\n<\/p>\n