One of fashion's biggest conundrums is the topic of workwear, and it's no wonder why. With the exception of the power suits in the films Working Girl and Babyboom circa 1980, workwear doesn't usually inspire creative styling. Once upon a time dressing for the office meant lacklustre outfits geared towards practicality and often in the shadow of menswear, but we've come a long way from repetitive two-pieces that resembled school uniforms. There's been an evolution of sorts—retailers have heard the cries of women far and wide and are producing elevated clothing to bridge the gap between formal and informal.
We're becoming imaginative with our pairings and inspiring each other to mix things up. Meanwhile, it seems many office dress codes are becoming more relaxed, enabling employees to broaden the criteria beyond tailored trousers and button-downs. Your office may still call for an element of formality that requires shirting or modest styling, but there's plenty of room beyond that to play with fashion; whether that's incorporating smart denim, integrating tailoring into off-duty looks, weaving in natural fabrics or experimenting with directional and bold earrings.
So, if you're looking for officewear inspiration, look no further. Keep scrolling for five fresh looks you can wear to work and beyond, courtesy of some of our favourite fashion content creators.
Classic Office Looks to Copy This Autumn:
1. T-Shirt + Full Skirt + Mules
Style Notes: An outfit like this is easy to transition between seasons, whether you introduce natural fabrics into your wardrobe for spring and summer or add a blazer for autumn. Try a tonal ensemble, as demonstrated by Abi Marvel.
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A unique hue that pairs wonderfully with cocoa tones.
Style this with a fitted T-shirt or a crisp poplin button-down.
Keep the tonal theme going with this long brown trench coat, which offers some warmth in cooler seasons.
These Manolo Blahnik mules have been on my wish list for far too long…
Thankfully, '80s-style power studs have made a comeback.
2. Slouchy Blazer + White Jeans + Ballet Flats
Style Notes: Make like Taffy Msipa and layer your outfits whilst the forecast is still confused. The caramel-toned blazer and bright denim speak to the brighter, warmer seasons, but incorporating knitwear will ensure you remain warm when it's colder outside.
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There's something so chic about a crew neckline styled underneath a knit.
There are so many chic ways to style this cardigan.
Luckily for lovers of relaxed fits, puddle-cut jeans are still going strong.
No wardrobe should be missing a beige blazer.
I love the pointe-inspired square toe on this pair.
3. Blue Button-Down + Black Maxi Skirt + Open-Toe Mules
Style Notes: Tastemaker Monikh Dale knows a thing or two about refined dressing, and although she doesn't wear her outfits to the office, they boast smartened elements that will translate well to an office environment. Pair your button-downs with a column maxi skirt (of which there are plenty this season) instead of trousers and prop up the look with open-toe mules.
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Crisp blue brings a fresh element to officewear.
This skirt makes my high-street top 10 of 2024 so far.
For a sleek finishing touch.
You can pair these with black tights for cooler seasons.
This will fit all your essentials when you're headed into the office—and it'll do so with style.
4. Grey Suit + Mesh Shoes
Style Notes: There's no more classic outfit pairing than the matching suit look. To make it more contemporary, opt for cool tones in a relaxed fit as Marilyn has done here. Pair this timeless look with this season's celebrated mesh flats, as long as your office dress code allows for open footwear. If not, style it with pointed boots.
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Frankie Shop's Gelso collection comes highly recommended.
The matching trousers are very well cut.
The leather ankle wraps are such a unique twist.
A retro-inspired silhouette courtesy of footwear and handbag brand Neous.
The accessory for instantly amplifying your outfit's cool factor.
5. Silk Shirt + Grey Skort + Slingback Heels
Style Notes: Sylvie Mus expertly demonstrates how to mix textures here. Grey melange was once uninspiring, but now it's a fresh tone to disrupt the usual black and white when it comes to office dressing.
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Swapping cotton for silken textures is a refreshing take on office attire.
Perfect for playing with proportions, whether you secure it around your waist or leave it looser.
Want to breathe new life into your trouser collection? A tailored tennis skirt is bound to inspire.
A classic silhouette in a cool patent leather finish.
Silver and grey always pair perfectly.
This piece was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
