Are Off-the-Shoulder Tops Appropriate for the Office?

last updated 4 May 2016

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It’s no secret that off-the-shoulder tops and dresses are a trend women of all ages can’t seem to get enough of. From prominent designers to fast-fashion retailers, it seems as if there is no escaping this particular shirt silhouette. Although the fashion world is 100% on board with this trend, what about the people in your workplace? Is revealing your shoulders and collarbone area appropriate in the eyes of your co-workers and managers? As it is with many topics (especially in fashion), it really does depend on the environment you work in…

If you work in an extremely corporate office (i.e. men and women dressed in suits on the regular), you can probably bank on the fact that walking into a meeting wearing a shoulder-baring top might come as a bit of a shock. In cases like this, it may be best to err on the side of caution and avoid this top altogether, no matter how cute it may be, and opt for something simpler like a smart shirt or demure dress. (You can shop our favourite 101 office-appropriate pieces here to get going!)

However, if your office is more laid-back and casual, there are definitely ways to work this style into your wardrobe without pushing the boundaries. In order to make an off-the-shoulder top office-appropriate, we recommend you pair it with more conservative, tailored bottoms—wide-leg trousers or a pencil skirt, for example. That way, it's clear you are aware of the professional environment.

We shared our thoughts, but now we want to hear from you…

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Lauren Eggertsen is currently the editorial director of Who What Wear and has worked at the company for over eight years, where she started as an associate editor and has since worked her way up. Lauren has over 10 years of experience in the fashion editorial space, starting her career with internships at Marc Jacobs, Marie Claire, and The Zoe Report, where she was later hired as their editorial assistant. Lauren has worked in the Los Angeles and New York Who What Wear offices but currently calls L.A. home. It is here where she leads and manages Who What Wear's fashion team and oversees all day-to-day editorial content and large tentpole moments. This includes all of the runway, trend, and shopping-driven content that ultimately helps to build a strong brand reputation within the industry. Lauren's role also includes helping to set the fashion direction for all original photo shoots and often styles many of the celebrity cover shoots, including big names like Kaia Gerber, Normani, and Kristen Stewart.

She has also attended multiple fashion weeks, including New York, London, Milan, and Paris, where her personal style has been featured on sites such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Elle. She prides herself on discovering and supporting small brands and on her knack for a good vintage shopping find. When she isn't working, she enjoys researching and dining at reputable restaurants around both her neighborhood and the globe.