As one of the fashion industry's greatest street style photographers, Bill Cunningham once said, "Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life." And while we may spend the majority of our time at work, one of the exciting things about an otherwise standard, ordinary day is what you wear. It's one of the best ways to communicate without even having to speak.
Dressing for the office differs for every industry and company, but one thing is universal, and that is professional outfits should be respectable. Your outfits should also be comfortable and make you feel confident, powerful, and ready for whatever your day brings. It's also always worth noting the cost-per-wear rule in this circumstance because the amount of times you wash and wear your work staples is endless.
Because finding the best pieces to work with each morning makes life easier (and more exciting), we asked five successful Australia women working in the fashion industry, from PR directors to brand managers, what they love to wear to work each day and what key work pieces they can't live without.
Keep scrolling to find out more and shop the items.
Roxy Jacenko, Director at Sweaty Betty
"I like to dress professionally. I think it's important. I don't like to be unprepared should there be a last-minute meeting with a client. That said, working in PR means our attire is quite flexible, so it's very acceptable to be in a ripped jean with a tailored jacket."
The Ideal Outfit…
"For an important day at work, my ideal outfit would be a classic black Dior dress (to the knee) paired with a black Balmain blazer and Azzedine Alaïa heels. It's my staple look. Comfortable, but also professional yet fashionable."
Can't Live Without…
- Azzedine Alaïa heels
- Balmain blazer
- J Brand jeans
Dolli Taylor, Senior Digital Manager at NAC
"I prefer to dress both professionally and casual. In PR we tend to run around a lot, especially come event time, so I make sure to dress comfortably but hopefully still chic. The day it became cool to swap stilettos for sneakers was probably the happiest day of a publicist's life."
The Ideal Outfit…
"A statement handbag, fun earrings, crisp shirt, comfy shoes, and in winter, an oversized coat."
Can't Live Without…
- A practical handbag (As a publicist, you need to be ready for just about anything, so for the day to day running around, having a big bag that lets you house all the essentials is mandatory. For events, a small bag you can wear cross body is your best friend.)
- Gucci Tiger Princetown slippers
- Sportsgirl embroidered biker jacket
Patreece Botheras, Director at Duskii
"I definitely prefer to dress smart casual, we're very much a jeans, joggers, and T-shirt kind of office. It's what we are all about here at Duskii, being comfortable with ease to move to get the job done—we all know fashion isn't as glamorous as it seems!"
The Ideal Outfit…
"An important day would consist of meetings with buyers or clients, my ideal outfit would be a crisp, tailored white shirt, jeans, simple tailored jacket, and cool sneakers, such as my Golden Goose pair, which are my all-time favourite."
Can't Live Without…
- Stella McCartney jeans
- A Tommy Hilfiger jumper
- Golden Goose or Adidas white sneakers
Rachel Gilbert, Designer
"I believe it is important to dress professionally in a work environment. For a normal day at work, I think smart casual at the very least."
The Ideal Outfit…
"My work attire generally consists of smart black basics—tailored black pants, a pair of Chanel loafers, and a smart tee, or knitted top with a tailored, directional, or leather jacket.
Can't Live Without…
- Smart, tailored black pant
- A statement jacket
- Stylish pair of loafers
Renee Schembri, Brand Manager at By Johnny
"How I dress all depends on the day, and what I have planned, however, generally it's something that is versatile. Most days I'll walk into the office with flats and leave with heels for meetings."
The Ideal Outfit…
"Smart, tailored, and mostly always monochrome.
Can't Live Without…
- A feature pencil skirt
- Basic silk camisoles
- A great winter coat or bomber
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