Office style tips are the ones I get asked about most often. Getting the perfect professional outfit can be difficult. There are many doubts…
Would it be better in a formal dress or a casual wear? What shoes to wear and what are the colors for the work environment?
In this post, I will give you all the answers you need to dress to go to the office and look perfect for every occasion.
Today, finding the perfect balance between professionalism and style can be tricky.
Depending on your field of activity and your profile, the choice of your clothing is important. You will not wear the same clothes if you were in the banking sector or in the field of fashion for example.
Women are lucky to have a lot of choices in office clothes compared to men: suits, pants, skirts, dresses, blouses, sarees … you can have fun with trendy pieces that are appropriate for the office! From sleek suits to sophisticated pieces, here’s how to dress for the office.
The women’s suit: the essential piece
Whether with pants or a skirt is the best option for those who work in a formal environment and/or in contact with customers.
When choosing a suit, it’s best to keep it simple with a neutral color, solid fabric, and possibly a few decorative details. Choose it all the same modern with a cut adjusted to your silhouette.
Then all you have to do is add a nice shirt or blouse, pumps, and accessories and you’ll instantly look classy and elegant.
The tailor is particularly essential for meetings or presentations in front of clients. It has even become very trendy and can be worn for any occasion outside the office: evening, gala, wedding,…
Classy pants
Straight pants, bootcut, 7/8 cut, high waist … the choice is yours. Choose a fit that best flatters your figure. But pay attention to the length. If your pants roll up at the bottom, be sure to do the alterations so they fit nice and neat.
When it comes to colors, neutral hues, like black, navy, and gray, are ideal. Depending on your field of activity, you can add a little more color for more originality. You can also afford jeans provided they are stylish and well worn.
A sophisticated skirt
When wearing a skirt to work, the length is critical. Ideally, your skirt should end around your knees or below. Also, make sure the slits aren’t too high and aren’t too tight, so you can sit and walk comfortably. You can opt for pencil skirts, fluid skirts, trapeze skirts, pleated skirts, … everything except the mini-skirt.
What tops to wear at the office?
The blouse is an essential part of your wardrobe. You can’t go wrong with a button-down shirt or a blouse for work. Not only does it look stylish and professional, but it’s also available in a variety of fabrics and colors, meaning it’s suitable for any occasion.
When choosing shirts, invest in pastel shades that will serve as a wardrobe staple. Then, vary with patterned shirts and deep shades to bring more cheerfulness to your outfits.
Finally, we add a suit jacket or a blazer so as not to be cold while being more chic.
A pretty classy dress
The dress is ideal in both summer and winter. Moreover, it saves a lot of time. A sweater dress in winter and a floral dress in summer for example and we already have 90% of the look! Then you just have to accessorize. Dresses should fit snugly without being too tight.
They should also be of a good length, ending at the knees or below, and not too vulgar. Although both short-sleeved and long-sleeved dresses work best in business settings, sleeveless dresses can also work when they’re not too low-cut. Otherwise, they must be associated with a shirt, a sweater or a blazer for example.
Sarees
According to Albeli, a Banarasi saree shop in Varanasi, some women are also looking for light-colored Banarasi sarees for their professional look. You can opt for the same too.
Rules to remember
When you’re dressing for the office, it’s important to feel comfortable because you’ll be wearing these clothes all day. Therefore, pants are often a better choice , as they are generally more practical than fitted dresses and skirts.
If you’ve been in your job for a while, you’ll know best what works for your office. So you can give personality to your wardrobe without worrying about having a bad image.
If you are new, during your job interview, you must have seen some employees and their looks, take inspiration from her. Otherwise, first choose sober and discreet outfits so as not to make a bad impression.
Here are 7 rules to remember :
- Opt for sophisticated clothes such as: suits, shirts, blouses, dresses, pencil skirts and classy pants.
- Choose outfits that will boost your morale
- Avoid showing too much: too low-cut, too short, too tight, too high heels.
- Don’t overdo the accessories
- Opt for a structured handbag
- Choose elegant closed-toe shoes: pumps, ankle boots, derbies, etc.
- Make sure your outfit is clean, well pressed and free of stains, marks or tears.
What to avoid in the office locker room?
Although the nature of your work environment allows for some freedom, there are a few choices you should avoid in professional clothing. In particular:
- Shorts and Bermuda shorts
- Too long or short dresses
- ripped and washed jeans
- T-shirt with letters
- deep neckline
- too flashy fantasies
- too bright colors
- strong makeup
- over the knee boots
- Too long nails and glittery nail polish
- Too strong scent
- Heels too high (do not exceed 10 cm)
Of course, you will adapt according to your workplace and the dress code . If everyone comes in basketball jeans, you won’t come in a suit every day even if it’s the trendy piece of the moment !
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at BlueFashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2013. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
