‘Comfort first’ trend hits officewear fashion scene

TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 20: Tiffany Godoy is seen wearing jacket by Roggykei, vest by Piece d'Anarchive, pyjamas by Walmart, bag by Givenchy and shoes by H&M during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week TOKYO 2015 A/W at Shibuya Hikarie on March 20, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alfie Goodrich/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — Office dress codes that mandate for a suit, jacket, tie, or heels are harder to find and enforce these days. Younger workers who are never really off the job have demanded and are getting more comfortable clothing that works for the office, a night out or even a workout. (Getty Images) Take a look at how comfort has taken over the fashion scene, inspiring the rise of “athleisure” and reshaping the office dress code. (Getty Images/Alfie Goodrich)

Getty Images/Alfie Goodrich

In this Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014 photo, City Streets athleisure wear is displayed in the Juniors department at a J.C. Penney store, in New York. Sales of jeans in the U.S. fell 6 percent to $16 billion during the year that ended in June, according to research firm NPD Group, while sales of yoga pants and other active wear climbed 7 percent to $33.6 billion. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

According to The Wall Street Journal, people who are never disconnected from work are melding their professional and personal lives — and recent clothing trends are a reflection of that. “Athleisure” seemed like a passing fad when it was introduced a few years ago. This fashion trend of workout clothes as daywear led to the rise of athletic apparel brands that featured comfortable and accessible clothing. (AP Photo)

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A model wears a creation by British designer Stella McCartney for Adidas during the presentation of their Spring/Summer 2009 collection of sportswear at London Fashion Week in London, Tuesday Sept. 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

“People in their 20s and 30s are particularly adamant about comfortable clothing,” The Wall Street Journal reports. (AP Photo)

AP Photo

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 28: lululemon athletica opens its first European store in Covent Garden on March 28, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for Lululemon Athletica)

Lululemon, a yoga-inspired apparel company, produces different types of activewear and lifestyle apparel. It soon became a favorite among yogis and women making quick trips to the supermarket. (Getty Images)

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BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 03: Models walk the runway at the Topman fashion show during the Bread & Butter by Zalando at arena Berlin on September 3, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images for Bread & Butter by Zalando)

It wasn’t uncommon to see people wearing actual sportswear, such as track suits or sweatpants, while going about their day. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images for Bread & Butter by Zalando) (Getty Images for Bread & Butter by Zalando/Alexander Koerner)

Getty Images for Bread & Butter by Zalando/Alexander Koerner

Recently, the fashion industry took inspiration from this ‘comfort first’ attitude toward clothing. Designers in recent seasons have featured looks reminiscent of athleticwear. (AP Photo)

AP Photo

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 08: A model walks the runway during the Bouchra Jarrar show as part of Paris Fashion Week - Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2014-2015 at Lycee Henri IV on July 8, 2014 in Paris, France. (Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images)

Track pants with flair qualifies as haute couture. (Getty Images)

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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - AUGUST 25: A model showcases designs by Huffer on the runway during 2016 New Zealand Fashion Week on August 25, 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Michael Ng/Getty Images)

Here, a model showcases designs by Huffer on the runway during 2016 New Zealand Fashion Week, a look more often found on the track field in the past. (Getty Images)

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Rapper Snoop Dogg makes a visit to the University of California football team practice Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2004 in Los Angeles as coach Pete Carroll, left, looks on. Snoop donned football gloves, a red USC sweat suit and ran drills with the team. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Case in point: the gray-on-gray look has definitely been done before. (AP Photo)

AP Photo

MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 20: A model walks the runway during the Dirk Bikkembergs as a part of Milan Menswear Fashion Week Fall Winter 2015/2016 on January 20, 2015 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

Luxury fashion houses are telling their creative directors to go “more casual,” as people don track jackets instead of suit jackets. (Getty Images)

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PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 01: A model walks the runway during the Rick Owens show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2016 on October 1, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images)

In the past, there were particular styles for certain activities. Dressing up meant dressing up, and dressing down meant carrying an extra set of clothing around. (Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images)

Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: lululemon athletica hosts an out of the ordinary yoga class at the Serpentine Pavilion, as a celebration of summer on August 20, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images for lululemon athletica)

Who would have thought to wear workout clothes to work in the 1980s or even ’90s? (Getty Images)

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: A pedestrian looks at a window display at a Lululemon retail store on September 12, 2014 in San Francisco, California. Athletic clothing retailer Lululemon Athletica Inc. reported better than expected second quarter profits with net income of $48.7 million, or 33 cents per share compared to $56.5 million, or 39 cents per share one year ago. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Now, the lines between professional and casual have blurred, so much so that workout clothes can pass as daywear, and some officewear is almost indistinguishable from athletic apparel. (Getty Images)

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