If you want to understand startup culture, dont read the pitch deck, watch what people are wearing to their office.
As a front desk receptionist at a San Francisco tech startup, I’ve become an amateur anthropologist of startup fashion. Every morning, I observe the parade of hoodies, sneakers, and ironic slogans roll past my desk, as if it’s fashion week, but make it series B.
Let’s start with Engineer Uniform: Staple hoodie, plus points if it’s from a previous startup that no longer exists, jeans, and some sneakers that haven’t been worn in 4 years. You can spot these senior devs by their Patagonia vests and deep commitment to not brushing their hair. Comfort is king here. Additionally, most of them wear the same outfit for three consecutive days. They refer to it as “decision fatigue reduction.” I call it Tuesday.
Then there are the sales bro chic: This look involves Allbirds, tailored joggers, a crisp logo tee, and just the faintest hint of cologne that whispers I hit this month’s quota. They all carry branded water bottles and sunglasses, even indoors. Somehow, they always look like they’re just returning from, or going to, a CrossFit class they didn’t actually attend.
Marketing & Design Teams are in their own category: A blend of normcore and “this took effort but I want it to look effortless.” Think wide-leg trousers, vintage sneakers, oversized sweaters, and gold jewelry from small Instagram brands. The designer once wore a bucket hat indoors for a week. I still don’t know if it was ironic.
Product managers float somewhere in between. You can tell they’re products because they look like they once read a book about Steve Jobs and never recovered. Minimalist sneakers, solid-color shirts, and that one Everlane backpack everyone apparently owns.
And then there’s the Founder, who shows up once or twice a week wearing something that says: “I was up till 3 a.m. fundraising and also maybe at Burning Man.” Always with some vintage hoodie, black jeans, and expensive sneakers that always have dirt, even though they never travel anywhere. A dazed expression that screams severe trauma.
We don’t have a dress code, obviously. That would be too corporate. But we do have unspoken rules:
- Never wear a suit. You’ll appear as if you’re here for an interview or an audit.
- Never ask why someone’s barefoot. You don’t want to know.
- Startup swag is both a status symbol and a form of camouflage. The more obscure the logo, the more power it holds.
I once complimented a developer on his hoodie, and he looked at me like I’d uncovered his horcrux. It was from a hackathon in 2017. “They only made 30 of these,” he whispered.
So, this isn’t really Silicon Valley high fashion. But there’s something more honest to the reflection of code, chaos, and caffeine. And from behind this front desk, it’s even better. I wouldn’t have it any other way!!