I absolutely love my workplace! Office environments tend to get a bad rap, but mine could not be further from the stereotype. Often, I find myself wishing that the weekend would go by faster because I cannot wait to be back at my desk on Monday, haha! Needless to say, I love workwear fashion just as much as I love work itself. In my opinion, the professionalism and work ethic you have on the inside should be displayed on the outside. As a young professional, it is so important to dress in a way that is classic, mature, and respectful. Some people find office wear fashion uncomfortable and boring, but I could not disagree more! The office fashion world is filled with all sorts of colorful tops, varying blazer fits, differing heel types etc. There is a niche in the office fashion world for everyone; you just have to find what works for you and your personal style preferences.
Follow this 3 STEP GUIDE, brand recommendations, and my golden rules of workwear fashion below, and you’ll be crafting a workwear wardrobe with pieces you’ll wear for years to come 🙂
Step 1 – Narrow Down Your Neutrals
A classic wardrobe starts with a foundation of go-to, basic pieces. When it comes to purchasing pieces like pants, skirts, and tops, sticking with 3 basic neutral colors makes it so much easier to mix and match pieces. Professional wear pieces are not always cheap. If you are looking to invest in pieces that will last you for years, purchasing neutral pieces is a must (this includes shoes too!). My 3 workwear neutrals are black, beige, and white. For the longest time I would buy skirts and tops in any color that appealed to me. I owned workwear pieces that ranged in colors from hot pink to forest green. They were cute pieces on their own, but the colors were all so different that matching was made almost impossible. I was basically throwing money away on items that couldn’t coordinate with each other. Find your color palette and stick to it! Personally, I love a classic (almost vintage-like), feminine workwear style. Wearing neutrals enables me to jazz up my basic pieces with 60s padded headbands, pearl earrings, and fun lip colors. On an already chaotic morning, sticking with my color scheme makes getting dressed for work so much more efficient! Of course you can buy the occasional piece outside of your neutral trio, but to make getting dressed less stressful, having reliable neutrals is the way to go.
Step 2 – Pick Your Signature Accent Color
Once you’ve narrowed down your 3 basic neutrals, it’s time to choose your signature accent color! Your signature accent color will be like another neutral in your wardrobe. It is a color that can coordinate with any of your neutrals, and adds a needed pop of color to your look. The color that goes perfect with my black, beige, and white pieces is the Elle Woods approved pink! A simple pair of black pants and a white collared blouse will be instantly elevated just by adding a pink headband, a pink blazer, or a pink pair of shoes. Find a color that works best with your neutrals, and invest in those colored pieces. Again, a classic wardrobe is centered around buying pieces that will last! Always choose your color combos wisely 😉
Step 3 – Incorporate Additional Pops of Color/Patterns Wisely
I will always stand by my belief that having a defined color palette is the best way to approach office fashion, but hey, ya got to throw some fun colors and patterns in the mix! This will look different for you depending on your specific tastes and style preferences. Personally, I love the color blue, and invested in a light blue blazer (HM, above) and a blue floral top (Antonio Melani, below). I also have a cute lemon patterned top from Abercrombie, and a bright teal top from my mom (scroll down to the graphic below). Because I have a good base of neutral pieces, throwing in a few fun colors helps to jazz up my wardrobe! If you are going to purchase something colorful, just be sure that it will compliment your neutral pieces.
I try and take a work selfie at the end of the day to commemorate my office days 🙂 You can see down below how I have mixed and matched my neutral pieces with different colors, textures, and even patterns.
My Personal Golden Rules for Office wear Fashion:
- Stay away from Rayon and Viscose fabrics
Rayon and viscose make for flimsy fabrics that are hard to launder. They also feel cheap, and are often very thin. It is okay if there is a little rayon or viscose blended with polyester or cotton, but if you are looking for pieces that will last you, avoid these fabric types.
- Stay away from chunky necklaces
The 2010s called, and they want their necklaces back. The picture above may be a bit of an extreme example, but unfortunately this type of accessory is still spotted in office settings. Jewelry should only serve to enhance your look, not steal the show. Opt for delicate, simple pieces that will enhance your classic look. Pearl earrings, dainty gold chain necklaces, rose gold studs, or small gold hoops can elevate your look without being too flashy.
- Keep your hemlines right around the knee
Always make sure you are following the dress code rules of the office, but I find that skirts that end around the knee are the most appropriate for an office environment. You want to be known as an Audrey Hepburn not a Cher from Clueless.
- If you are 5’4″ and under, stay away from round toe flats.
Pointed toe flats help elongate your legs and give off a sophisticated look. There are some round toe options that can make for a nice look, but as a general rule, pointed toe flats will enhance your appearance.
- Do not wear t-shirts with workwear skirts or pants
I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I am 110% guilty of this fashion crime. Mixing together a casual t-shirt fabric with the professional fabric of an office skirt/pair of pants is NEVER a classy combo. I know t-shirt material is more comfortable, but it should never be mixed with the fabrics of professional wear. It doesn’t elevate, it only downgrades the look.
Now that you know what you’re looking for, where do you go to find pieces like these?
I got you girl, keep scrolling 😉
Just a disclaimer, there are probably other brands out there that also make amazing work clothes! The ones listed below are my tried and true personal favorites 🙂
Favorite Work Wear Brands
Low Budget:
- HM – So many good deals and so many basics! 3 of my 4 blazers are from HM!
- Thrift Stores/Your Parent’s closet – These are where the hidden gems are found! Classy dressing does not have to be expensive and some of the most fashionable people I know exclusively shop at thrift stores.
Middle Budget:
- Zara – Great for finding fun colors and classic/vintage looking pieces
- Mango – Their workwear pieces often go on sale, so look out for those! Like HM, they have some great basic pieces, and an adorable array of tweed pieces!
Higher Budget:
- Antonio Melani – My favorite brand of all time. I always wait for their sales to snag some pieces. Highly recommend going to a Dillard’s near you and diving through the sales rack. You will find so many gems!
- Tommy Hilfiger – Makes my fav 60s-esque dresses (this is where I got my black dress from the photos at the beginning of the post)! You can find them on Macy’s 🙂
- And Other Stories – Impeccable quality. These are investment pieces for sure, but I assure you that these pieces will last you for years to come. Their pants are especially excellent.
I hope you all enjoyed my workwear guidelines and recommendations! Together, we will all make Work wear fashion great again!!!
Happy Saturday!