You don't need a suit jacket to look like someone worth hiring. Here's what to wear instead.
Last month, a friend texted me a photo. It was her brand-new professional headshot. She looked polished, well-lit, perfectly framed.
And completely unlike herself.
She'd borrowed a blazer from her sister. A charcoal one that was slightly too big in the shoulders. She paired it with a white shell top she never wears. The photographer told her to keep her smile "subtle but confident," which resulted in an expression that landed somewhere between constipated and confused.
She'd spent $350 to look like a stranger.
Here's the thing that nobody in the headshot world wants to say out loud: the blazer is not the point. It never was. The blazer became the default professional headshot outfit the same way Times New Roman became the default resume font. Not because it was the best choice, but because it was the safest one.
And safe is exactly what makes most headshots forgettable.
The Blazer Problem Nobody Talks About
I've been working in the AI headshot space at HeadshotPhoto.io for years now. We've helped over 50,000 people create professional headshots. And I can tell you with confidence: some of the worst headshots we've seen involved blazers.
Not because blazers are bad. They're not. But because people wear them like armor instead of clothing. They borrow one that doesn't fit. They pick a color that washes them out. They pair it with something underneath that creates a weird visual tension between "I'm casual" and "I'm formal."
The result? A headshot that screams, I Googled "what to wear for a headshot" and panicked.
But then something clicked. We started noticing that customers who uploaded selfies in their everyday professional clothes (a fitted sweater, a clean button-down, a structured knit top) consistently preferred those AI headshots over the blazer versions.
The data was clear. People look better when they look like themselves.
So What Do You Wear Instead?
Here's where most articles drop a generic list: "Wear solid colors. Avoid patterns. Dress for your industry."
That's not wrong. It's just not helpful enough.
What you actually need is a formula. A way to think about your headshot outfit that gives you confidence without requiring a trip to Nordstrom or a borrowed jacket that smells like someone else's closet.
The formula is simple:
Fit + Color + Neckline = A headshot outfit that works without a blazer.
Let me break each piece down.
Part 1: Fit Is Everything (More Than Color, More Than Style)
This is where most people get it wrong. They obsess over color and forget that a wrinkled, baggy shirt will undermine everything else.
In a headshot, the camera crops tight. Usually from mid-chest up. That means every fold, every sag, every pull across your shoulders is amplified.
The rule is simple: your clothes should follow your body without squeezing it.
A fitted crewneck sweater in merino wool? That photographs beautifully. A loose Oxford shirt that gaps at the collar? That looks sloppy even on a $500 camera.
Before your headshot session (or before you upload selfies for an AI professional headshot), try this: put on your outfit, sit down, and look in the mirror. If the fabric bunches at your shoulders or gaps at your neck, try something else.
Part 2: Color Strategy (Not Just "Wear Blue")
You've probably read that blue is the best color for headshots. And sure, blue works. But telling everyone to wear blue is like telling every restaurant to serve pasta. It's a safe choice that ignores everything interesting about you.
Here's a better framework:
Mid-tones and jewel tones photograph best. Think navy, burgundy, emerald, slate, plum, charcoal, and deep teal. These colors create clean contrast against most skin tones without overpowering your face.
Avoid the extremes. Pure white can overexpose under lighting and create distracting glare. All-black can flatten your features and blend into dark backgrounds. Neons cast weird color onto your skin.
Match your undertone. If you have warm undertones, lean into earthy and saturated colors. Cool undertones pair well with soft neutrals and muted jewel tones.
Stay with me here. This next part matters more than you think.
The color you wear sends a psychological signal. Studies in color psychology suggest that navy communicates trust, burgundy signals confidence, and green projects growth. This isn't pseudoscience. It's the same reason financial firms use blue logos and wellness brands use green.
Pick your color with intention, not just because it was clean and hanging in your closet.
Part 3: Neckline Matters More Than You'd Expect
In a cropped headshot, your neckline is basically the frame around your face. Get it right, and your face becomes the focal point. Get it wrong, and the viewer's eye wanders.
For most people, a modest V-neck or clean crew neck works best. V-necks subtly elongate the neck and draw the eye upward. Crew necks create a clean, modern line.
Avoid turtlenecks unless you have a long neck and it's genuinely your style. In a tight crop, turtlenecks can make your head look disconnected from your body. Not ideal.
Skip deep or plunging necklines. Not because they're unprofessional per se, but because in a headshot, too much exposed skin near your face competes for attention. You want eyes on your eyes.
12 Professional Headshot Outfit Ideas Without a Blazer
Now for the part you came here for. These are specific, proven outfit ideas organized by industry and vibe. Each one looks polished in a headshot without a suit jacket anywhere in sight.
For Tech, Startups, and Creative Roles
1. Fitted crewneck sweater in navy or charcoal. This is the unofficial uniform of Silicon Valley leadership for a reason. It's clean, it's modern, and it says "I build things" without trying too hard. Pair with a clean shave or well-groomed look.
2. Henley in a dark, muted tone. A step more casual, but surprisingly polished in a headshot. The button detail at the neckline adds subtle visual interest. Stick to solid colors.
3. Structured knit polo. Not the golf-course kind. A modern, slim-fit knit polo in slate or olive reads as smart-casual without veering into weekend territory.
For Corporate Professionals Skipping the Jacket
4. Crisp button-down shirt with a structured collar. The key word is "crisp." No wrinkles. No floppy collar. Unbutton one button at the top for a polished-but-approachable look. Navy, light blue, or soft lavender work beautifully.
5. High-quality mock neck top. For women especially, a fitted mock neck in a jewel tone creates an incredibly clean, editorial look. It frames the face without jewelry or layers.
6. Tailored vest over a dress shirt. Want some structure without a blazer? A fitted vest adds dimension and formality without the shoulder bulk. Works particularly well for men in finance or consulting who want to break from the expected.
For Healthcare, Education, and Nonprofit
7. Soft structured blouse in a calming mid-tone. Sage, dusty rose, or slate blue. These colors project warmth and approachability, which is exactly what patients and students need to see.
8. Clean cardigan over a simple top. A well-fitted cardigan (not your grandfather's) layered over a solid crew neck creates warmth and dimension. It says "I'm professional and I'm human."
For Real Estate and Client-Facing Roles
9. Bold solid-color top in a jewel tone. Real estate headshots appear on tiny thumbnails, on yard signs, on business cards. You need color that pops. A rich emerald or deep coral top without a jacket can actually stand out more than the traditional blazer look.
10. Button-down with rolled sleeves (for environmental or wider-crop shots). If you're shooting anything wider than the standard headshot, a crisp white or light blue button-down with sleeves neatly rolled says "I get things done."
For Creative Professionals and Freelancers
11. Quality plain t-shirt in a mid-tone. Yes, really. A premium-weight tee in heather gray, dusty navy, or washed black can look incredibly sharp in a headshot if the fit is perfect and the fabric has some body to it. This works for designers, writers, developers, and anyone whose personal brand leans casual.
12. Denim jacket over a fitted dark top. Want personality without sacrificing professionalism? A well-fitted denim jacket adds texture, warmth, and approachability. It's a bold choice, but in the right industry, it's a memorable one.
The Part About Colors and Skin Tones That Actually Helps
Generic advice says "wear what flatters you." Helpful, right?
Here's something more specific. If you're not sure which colors work for your skin, try this quick test: hold a pure white towel near your face, then a cream-colored one. If the white looks better, you likely have cool undertones. If the cream looks better, you're probably warm.
Cool undertones: Lean toward navy, plum, soft gray, emerald, and berry tones.
Warm undertones: Try burgundy, olive, rust, warm brown, and deep teal.
Neutral undertones: Lucky you. Most mid-tones and jewel tones will work.
For a deeper breakdown on outfit colors and how they photograph, our guide on professional headshot attire covers this in detail.
What If You Skip the Studio Entirely?
Here's where I'll be honest with you. I work at HeadshotPhoto.io, so yes, I have a bias. But I also have data from over 1.4 million headshots generated on our platform.
And the data says this: most people don't need a $400 photography session to get a professional headshot that works.
What they need is good lighting, a clean outfit they actually feel good in, and a tool that can turn that into something polished.
If you've got 10 minutes and a few decent selfies, you can generate a professional AI headshot that looks like you hired a photographer. The AI handles lighting correction, background selection, and that subtle polish that separates a phone selfie from a real headshot.
No blazer required.
Watch: How Headshot Photo Turns Your Selfies Into Professional Headshots
Wondering what the actual process looks like from start to finish? This quick walkthrough shows how you go from uploading a few casual selfies to receiving a full set of AI-generated professional headshots, including outfit and background options you can customize.
HeadshotPhoto.io Review: One of the Best AI Headshot Generators
The Biggest Mistake People Make With Headshot Outfits
It's not wearing the wrong color. It's not skipping the blazer.
It's wearing something that doesn't feel like them.
I've seen it hundreds of times. Someone dresses up in clothes they'd never normally wear, sits in front of a camera (or uploads selfies to an AI tool), and the result looks technically fine but emotionally hollow. There's no spark. No personality.
The whole point of a professional headshot is to make someone want to work with you, hire you, or trust you. And trust starts with authenticity.
If you wear suits every day, wear a suit. If you live in crewnecks and button-downs, wear that. If your industry lets you show up in a quality t-shirt, own it.
Your headshot should look like you on your best day. Not like a costume.
For more tips on getting your headshot right (beyond just the outfit), check out our complete guide to professional headshot tips and dos and don'ts.
A Quick Note on What's Trending in 2026
The headshot world has shifted. If you haven't updated yours in a few years, here's what's changed:
Authenticity over perfection. The over-retouched, plastic-smooth look is out. People want to see real skin, real texture, real expressions. A slight smile that looks genuine beats a perfect smile that looks performed.
Relaxed confidence over rigid formality. The stiff, shoulders-squared, direct-to-camera corporate pose is giving way to slightly angled shots with softer expressions. Think "focused and present" rather than "posing for a passport."
Environmental and lifestyle shots are growing. For some platforms (personal websites, speaker pages, social media), a traditional headshot paired with a few lifestyle shots creates a more complete picture of who you are. We cover the different styles and when to use them in our breakdown of types of headshots.
The Takeaway That Actually Matters
Let me bring this back to my friend. The one who spent $350 to look like someone else.
She ended up retaking her headshot three weeks later. This time, she wore a fitted navy mock neck she already owned. She took a few selfies in natural light by her kitchen window and ran them through our AI headshot tool.
The result? She looked like herself. Confident, warm, approachable. Not a blazer in sight.
She told me it was the first professional photo where she didn't cringe.
That's the whole point. Not to look impressive. Not to follow some outdated dress code. Just to look like the kind of person someone would want to meet.
And you don't need a blazer to be that person. You never did.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear for a professional headshot if I don't own a blazer?
A fitted button-down shirt, crewneck sweater, or structured knit top in a solid mid-tone color works perfectly. The key is clean fit and a color that complements your skin tone. Many professionals in tech, healthcare, and creative industries skip the blazer entirely and still produce headshots that look polished and credible.
How does a casual professional headshot compare to a formal corporate headshot?
A casual professional headshot uses softer clothing (sweaters, open-collar shirts, knit tops) and often has a warmer, more approachable expression. A formal corporate headshot leans on structured attire like suits and blazers with neutral expressions. The right choice depends on your industry and where the photo will appear. LinkedIn and personal websites often benefit from a slightly more relaxed style.
How do I choose the best headshot outfit color for my skin tone?
Test warm versus cool tones against your face. If cream and earthy colors look more natural on you, choose warm tones like burgundy, olive, or rust. If white and silver look cleaner, go with cool tones like navy, plum, or slate. In general, mid-tone and jewel-tone solids photograph best and keep attention on your face.
Is it worth getting a professional headshot without a suit, or will it look too casual?
It's absolutely worth it, and it won't look too casual if you follow a few rules: choose fitted clothing, stick to solid or minimal-pattern fabrics, and pick colors with intention. In 2026, many industries actively prefer approachable, authentic headshots over stiff, over-formal ones. A quality crewneck or structured blouse can project just as much competence as a blazer.
Can AI headshot tools generate professional photos without a blazer or suit?
Yes. AI headshot generators like HeadshotPhoto.io let you customize outfit styles and backgrounds during generation. You can select business casual, smart casual, or industry-specific looks without defaulting to a blazer. The AI handles lighting and background polish, so your chosen outfit looks natural and studio-quality in the final result.
