I have had a lot of conversations with female clients who work in the city, that the way they are dressing for work has drastically changed since the pandemic. Most people now work on a hybrid format, with a mix of working from home and coming into the office.
They struggle to understand what to wear now, due to the dress code seemingly changing to a more relaxed version of what they were used to. The office wear of 2023 and beyond, seems to be incorporating more comfortable attire, and they feel that they no longer know what is suitable for the office.
As a personal stylist, I work with my clients to help them learn the ways to dress that they feel confident in, while remaining suitable for their environments. So, if you are feeling that your work wardrobe is no longer serving you, and you’re looking for ways to dress for this new hybrid way of working, then here are my top three tips for what to wear at work.
Tip Number 1 – Working from Home
Working from home looks tend to go more on the comfort and relaxed side, particularly on the bottom half of your outfit. You will tend to be able to walk around with less of an “office look”, but still need to look professional while jumping on and off of meetings. Your top half does still need to be more tidy and professional.
My top tips for working from home outfits:
Add a cosy yet good quality jumper, so you can remain warm but happily jump on a virtual meeting without having to change.
Wearing a colour from your colour palette will make a big difference, particularly when on camera, too. Make sure it doesn’t blend into the background, so you don’t disappear!
Add accessories such as earrings or headbands to add a little detail to your look, and finish off the professional style.
For your bottoms, you may want to wear something a little more comfortable, such as leggings or relaxed trousers.
Tip Number 2 – Working from a Corporate Office
If you need to have a more corporate look, or have a strict dress code because you are a lawyer or you are meeting clients, a suit with a little personality is an easy go-to for this.
Top Tips for adding personality to a suit:
While suits are excellent for corporate styling, they can feel a little restrictive. Depending on your position and company, you can add a dash of personality in a few ways:
Wear a colourful heel or bag to your look to make your suit pop.
Pop on a brooch to your lapel to liven up your suit jacket.
Look for a different colour for your suit. Navy or black are no loner the only options! A deep grey, lilac, brighter blue, or even look for yellows, pinks, or greens, depending on your colours, to really jazz up your suit options.
Change up the suit by wearing a different jacket with your black or navy bottoms, and vice versa.
Tip Number 3 – Working in the New Office
The case seems to be that most offices have now relaxed their dress codes with the changing times. This means you can have smart-casual looks, which may feel a little difficult for those who have always worn a suit to work, and now have more options!
A few ways to make a smart-casual office look:
Wear your suit jacket with a pair of smart jeans. A deep wash is often best for this as it remains professional, but brings that touch of a more relaxed look to the outfit.
Wear a suit with a smart t-shirt, in place of a blouse or shirt. There are lots of options for smart, high quality cotton t-shirts, that have a bit of personality, without having a slogan that may feel too casual!
Pop on your favourite trousers or chinos, and add a comfortable high quality jumper or long sleeved cotton tee. The smarter bottom half of your look will elevate the comfort of your top half.
Try out an alternative shoe, such as a brogue or a platform. Heels are no longer a requirement for the office, so play with more relaxed styles. For more ideas on shoes that work for the office that aren’t heels, I have shared a few of my favourites in this article.
Play with colours that bring a touch of personality to your outfit, allowing you step out of the traditional black or navy palette.
When it comes to working in a new way, it can feel difficult to plan your looks when you go to the office and when you stay at home. I hope some of these ideas have helped you plan your outfits for this new way to dress.
If you are a professional and you’re feeling unsure on how to dress for your new working style, I can help you make it a pleasure to dress for your work life.
