At a Glance
- Kacey Mathews, 22, went viral for wearing jeans and a sweater to her Virginia Beach customer-service job
- Her TikTok clip, now at 8 million views, drew heated “business casual” debates
- Mathews says no colleague has ever complained and she dresses “appropriate” for a non-facing role
- Why it matters: The clash highlights shifting workplace norms as Gen Z redefines professionalism
Kacey Mathews isn’t trying to make a fashion statement-she’s trying to get through her workday. The 22-year-old corporate customer-service rep posted a short TikTok in November showing her daily outfit: a cozy sweater, jeans and sneakers. Within days the clip exploded, racking up 8 million views and thousands of comments arguing over what “business casual” actually means.
The Outfit That Broke the Internet
Mathews works out of a small Virginia Beach office where she never meets clients face-to-face. The official dress code is loose, so she sticks to what feels comfortable.
“I typically wear leggings or jeans, a sweater or hoodie, and whatever shoes I am feeling that day,” she tells News Of Losangeles. She adds that both of her co-workers, who are from an older generation, “wear jeans and a hoodie or sweater daily.”
No manager has ever flagged her clothes, she says, and she considers the looks “very appropriate” for her role.
TikTok Backlash: “Pull It Together”
Commenters were less forgiving. A sampling of the top reactions:
- “Business casual literally means no jeans. Professionalism is still a thing let’s pull it together.”
- “Nothing about jeans is business casual.”
- “That’s just regular casual. For business casual you need at least one business piece.”
Mathews says she read the thread with amusement. “I was honestly entertained by the negative comments and the arguments under them. It is my job, so I think I may know more about what I can and cannot wear than some TikTok commenters,” she tells News Of Losangeles.
Supporters Clap Back
The pushback was dwarfed by supportive replies from office workers who relate:
- “I work in an office and almost everyone including me dresses like this. No it’s not technically business casual, but it’s up to you to determine what the culture of your specific office is.”
- One woman said she was sent home for jeans and a “nice T-shirt” the day her company required “business attire.”
- Another tied the debate to gender dynamics: “Forever dressing towards the business side of business casual. As women, we are so often underestimated and undervalued in the workforce. I will NOT be seen dressing anything under the highest ranking person in our office.”
Mathews acknowledges that perspective but calls it “a very old-school way of thinking.”
“Depending on the position, women should be able to dress however they please without it reflecting on their work. I work just as hard in jeans as I would in dress pants. It’s 2026, let’s not worry about what other people are wearing,” she says.
Key Takeaways
- Mathews has no plans to change her wardrobe and says productivity, not pants, should measure performance
- The viral moment underscores a generational split on what “professional” looks like in 2026
- HR pros may need clearer guidelines as remote and hybrid roles blur the line between casual and business casual
