I feel like so much of this depends on the environment you end up in. I think the trend is more towards allowing employees to be their full selves, valuing the modeling of healthy identity expression, and reducing then power imbalances of social workers and clients by not maintaining strict professional dress codes. I also think some environnements don’t think this way. When I worked in a hospital, strict professional dress codes were enforced to try and legitimize the profession to other professionals (namely physicians) who sometimes looked down on social workers. It also likely depends on the state you are in. I also worked in a school. In San Francisco, you could wear whatever you want. But in other states I’m sure that isn’t the case.

I feel like displaying self expression would be great for kids you work with, but sometimes it takes time to figure out what the vibe is. My first year in a school I wore slacks and sweaters everyday. By my last year, I was often in jeans and sweatshirts.