Choosing an outfit for work is one thing. But choosing an outfit that reflects your unique sense of style, follows your office dress code, and is well-suited to a day spent both in and outside of the office? That’s another beast entirely.
Only you can decide what pieces are the best fit for your personal workwear collection. But if you’re looking for a place to get started, or an idea for your next addition, you’re in the right place. Here are 8 of my favorite suggestions for making every day at the office feel like a trip down the runway:
1. Chic, Comfortable Outerwear
Outwear is a staple of most any workwear collection. From giving a presentation to attending an important meeting, having the tools to dress in style or spruce up a more casual look is the perfect way to give the best possible first impression.
Of course, looking good isn’t the only consideration. Your clothing should also make you feel good: comfortable, confident, and ready to own every room you walk into.
That’s where Quince’s collection of blazers and vests shines.
My personal favorite of the former, the company’s Ultra-Stretch Ponte Single-Breasted Blazer in black, is crafted from a double-knit ponte fabric designed to resist pilling, wrinkles, and other irritants. Alongside preventing its wearers from having to do battle with an iron every time they take it off, it’s also fully washable (though the piece should not be placed in the dryer) and possesses three pockets—a welt breast pocket and two welt hand pockets—making it as functional as it is attractive. It’s the perfect addition to any outfit, from a pressed shirt and dress pants to a relaxed tee and jeans.
Of the latter category, my personal favorite is the company’s 100% European Linen Vest, also in the black colorway. Lightweight to the blazer’s comfortable heft, the vest’s material and craftsmanship ensure it is as breathable as it is durable, and as stylish as it is versatile. Wear it any way you choose, from unbuttoned over a favorite shirt to buttoned alone or over a nice blouse (in my opinion, it looks great when paired with form-fitting pants, flats, and a favored necklace). It’s all but guaranteed to look amazing on you no matter what you choose.
Take a dive into Quince’s extensive outerwear collection HERE.
2. A Stylish, Breathable Blouse
The best tops are the ones that don’t feel like a chore to wear.
Fabric that’s too itchy. A band that digs into your skin. Material so tight that you feel overheated and underoxygenated at the same time. Whatever the case, the story is often the same: the moment you get home, you can’t wait to rip it off and replace it with something more comfortable.
LILYSILK tops are a different story.
Made from materials including stretched silk, linen, and cotton modal, they are cut to be flattering, non-clingy, and perfect for almost any weather or occasion. My favorite of the bunch is the company’s Silk Breeze Jersey Stretch Boatneck Top, crafted from a blend of mulberry silk and viscose. Stretchy and lightweight, I’ve found that it complements nearly any look, though my current preference has been pairing it with one of many A-line skirts.
Boatneck tops not to your taste? Don’t worry—LILYSILK has it covered. From wrap blouses to tank tops to cowl neck shirts, there’s something for everyone.
Find your new favorite LILYSILK work blouse HERE.
3. A Versatile Skirt with a Touch of Flair
Not every workplace dress code has room for outside-the-box fashion. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish in your own unique way. And one of the best places to start your search? Solgo Atelier, a company known for combining luxury fashion with an unforgettable touch of flair.
Solgo Atelier got its start in Southeast Asia, where the business’s founder and creative director, Solomon Ngo, first learned to sew in his mother’s tailor shop. After spending 18 years in the fashion industry, learning everything he could from an array of brands and designers, Solomon decided to take the next step in his journey by returning to his roots: the belief that beautiful fabrics can hold feeling. And he decided to make those feelings accessible to everyone.
Today, Solgo Atelier creates clothes for the woman who is always changing environments, from boardrooms to a night on the town to a weekend escape. Elegant, affordable, durable, sustainable, and made from the highest-quality materials, each offering is designed to be as easy to wear as it is confidence-building. And for me, none of the pieces exemplifies that more than the Gina Faux Wrap Crepe Skirt.
Made from triacetate crepe, the skirt does require a degree of care, with instructions to dry-clean rather than put it through the washing machine. But the continued preservation of its attractive, versatile camel coloring, as well as its modern, almost architectural lines created by the asymmetrical cut, makes the extra effort well worth it.
Of course, it’s not all about appearances. The skirt’s 100% mulberry silk lining is smooth and cooling, making it comfortable even on warmer days. The top half of the piece fits tightly to the body, almost like a pencil skirt, while the faux-wrap styling makes the hem loose and easy to walk in. Plus, the skirt is layered in such a way that, even on windy days, the pieces never separate to a compromising degree, reducing some of the anxiety that comes with wearing a normal wrap skirt.
It’s also easy to dress up or down. I’ve found that this particular piece fits best with some of my black tops, from the LILYSILK boatneck top to a plain fitted t-shirt, and is well-suited to everything from heels to flats to a comfortable, well-loved pair of low-top canvas sneakers.
Discover the magic of Solgo Atelier HERE.
4. Fitted, Flattering, Wholly Wearable Dresses
Dresses are among my favorite things to wear outside the house.
The right dress presents a variety of benefits: easy to throw on, confidence-building (when well-fitting and complementary), washable, and preferably possessed of usable pockets. Actually finding dresses that fit these criteria, however, can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack—at least, that’s true most of the time.
Enter Alie Street.
Founded by Tiffany London in 2015, the company draws on a long legacy of fashion expertise. Alie Street takes its name from East London Street, the original home of Louis London & Sons, an internationally known fashion label founded by Tiffany’s great-great-grandfather nearly 170 years ago.
In 2003, Tiffany continued the family tradition with the launch of Tiffany Rose Maternity, a British label making high-quality fashion accessible to new and expecting mothers. The company’s success—and widening audience—led Tiffany to start a second label for those seeking non-maternity wear: Alie Street.
Over the years, the company’s collection has grown increasingly expansive, making it hard to pick favorites. But when it comes to workwear, my preferences have to be the Annie Dress in pine green and the Luna Midi Dress in black.
With ¾ sleeves, a fit-and-flare skirt, and a crossover neckline, the Annie Dress is beautifully flattering without feeling overly warm or heavy. The color truly makes it shine, bold enough to feel unique and personal, but deep and modern enough to please most dress codes. And the skirt is one of my favorite elements, perfectly wide and swishy for twirling when the mood strikes. Ideal for everything from boardroom meetings to a dinner with friends, it’s quickly become a staple of my closet.
Don’t let the empire waist and high neckline fool you—the Luna Midi Dress can be playful as well as polished. The hidden side pockets are perfect for storing small bits and bobs on days out, while the chic cut is as easily complemented by boots and a funky necklace as it is by a nice jewelry set and heels. Plus, despite the dark coloring, it’s proven wonderfully wearable on hot days, making it perfect for summer visits to the office.
Explore the wonderful world of Alie Street dresses HERE.
5. An All-Day Pair of Flats
A good pair of flats is, in my personal opinion, one of the hardest things to find.
Some are too narrow, too tight, or too loose. Others have seams that dig into your feet as you walk. More still look great, but are only wearable for a few hours.
But at Charix? The flats are ready to follow you from home to the office to an after-work event and back again.
The company got its start with founder Suley Ozbey—and later, his co-founder Rossen Tsanov—who was inspired by traditional Turkish leather shoes called charik. Using these as a base, he added elements including memory foam insoles, non-skid outsoles, soft stitching, a contoured heel, and an increased array of size options, making them more appealing to the modern customer. He searched for the softest natural leathers, ensuring that each shoe would be wearable and well-fitting without trapping heat. He built a team of perfectionists, creating magic in a positive, caring work environment.
And eventually, he created a shoe that brought—and continues to bring—history and artisan magic to life in contemporary form.
Today, the company offers an impressive array of footwear, from slippers to loafers to mules to lounge shoes for both men and women, as well as accessories including belts, socks, and leather goods such as wallets. Most of its products come in an extensive variety of colorways and sizes, making it easy to find something that meshes well with your workwear wardrobe.
In my case, that best-fit option was Charix’s Black Slip-Ons.
With its highly versatile coloring, distinct curved upper, and classic shape, it’s a shoe well-suited to everything from dresses to pants to shorts in all cuts and degrees of dressiness. Whether I’m running errands, spending a day out, or doing work, they remain wearable all day long, without the need for an additional insert or a bandaid on the heel. Plus, the unique craftsmanship of the shoes means that, over time, they mold to your foot shape, creating a distinct fit and heightened degree of comfort.
Try out your own pair of Charix shoes HERE.
6. Vintage Lipstick for the Modern Workplace
I’m a firm believer in makeup being a choice for women in the workplace, not a requirement. Personally, I tend to wear very little, save for one thing: adding an extra touch of glamour to my outfits with a favored shade of lipstick.
And when it comes to cosmetics that have mastered the balance of sophistication, durability, comfort, and easy application, there are few companies better than Bésame Cosmetics.
With offerings ranging from nail polish to cake mascara to blush to powders, Bésame Cosmetics’ vintage-inspired formulas are well-known, well-loved, and well-suited to almost any occasion and personality. The challenge, for me, has never been finding something I like, but rather limiting myself in the face of so many options.
But as someone who has often paired professional wear with soft neutral tones, few shades caught my attention more than one of its newest: Wild Peach Lipstick.
A lovely pink inspired by the 1960s, the lipstick is crafted with a nourishing formula that glides on like butter and leaves behind a slight sheen (and no irritatingly oily feeling). It’s playful without being overly bright, ideal for expressing yourself in the office in a way that is both subtle and eye-catching. Plus, the beautiful, bright gold casing with its matte flower design is a constant delight to look at; as beautiful an addition to your bag as this lipstick is to your workwear collection.
Find your next lipstick obsession from Bésame Cosmetics HERE.
7. The Ultimate Tote Bag
From water bottles to writing utensils to work pads and laptops, we often carry a small trove of things with us as we head off to the office. The more you have, the more a good bag becomes a necessity as well as a convenience.
But when it comes to this particular workwear accessory, function isn’t the only thing that matters. Aesthetics, craftsmanship, and durability are important, too. And as I’ve recently discovered, Pom Pom London is here to help with all four.
Founded in 2015, the company has spent the past decade steadily building an array of collections including crossbody purses, occasion bags, beach bags, and messenger bags. Available in all shapes, sizes, and colors, these items are known for being both stylish and practical, with sleek, modern designs, premium materials, and pocket-filled interiors.
The company’s wealth of accessories, including colorful, interchangeable straps, adds a unique, personalized touch to many of its purses and satchels, while its signature pom-pom and tassel keychains add a touch of whimsy to each offering.
How can you choose the right bag, with so many options available? Well, when it comes to a work bag, size does actually matter. And on that front, the Pelham Tote Bag is a clear winner.
Measuring 18.5 inches wide by 5.5 inches deep by 11 inches high, the handmade tote is a stunning piece, with gold hardware and a 100% full-grain leather exterior. The bag boasts a large main compartment with a zip closure, multiple interior pockets, a D-ring for your keys, an additional external pocket, and an easy-to-clean fabric lining in case of spills. The handles are adjustable, though not removable, and sit comfortably on the shoulder without feeling awkward.
But what all can it fit? Well, according to Pom Pom London, when fully packed, the bag could conceivably fit 26 items (examples provided by the company), including a powerbank, 13” laptop, tube of hand cream, glasses case, wallet, A4 notebook, 500ml water bottle, hairbrush, and small collection of makeup. In short, just about everything you would need in and out of the office.
Find the perfect Pom Pom London bag for your work needs HERE.
8. Simple, Elegant Accessories for Any Room
Oftentimes, jewelry is more than an accessory. It’s a statement of personality; a staple part of our everyday wardrobe.
Of course, that sense of self-expression isn’t found in just any bracelet, necklace, or earring set. It’s found in thoughtfully chosen and crafted pieces that stand out in any environment, from work to play to celebration. And for the contemporary woman, one of the best options is Loni Paul Jewelry.
Based in Massachusetts, this U.S.-sourced, small-batch brand was founded by Loni Paul, a lifelong jewelry lover who, as a teen, spent hours combining thrift-store finds, her mother’s vintage jewelry, and modern pieces to shape her own style. Her jewelry became a part of her, an expression of her individuality. It was a feeling she wanted to be able to share with others. Today, it’s the foundation of her very own business.
That business is known for its signature look: richly textured, burnished matte metal that evokes the aesthetics of vintage craftsmanship while displaying the clean geometrics of contemporary style. Each piece is handcrafted in the company’s Massachusetts studio using high-quality materials, all of which are lead, nickel, and cadmium-free, ensuring a high level of quality and continued ethical production.
And of the Loni Paul collection, two pieces stand out when it comes to workwear: the Orbit Necklace and the Gold Sculpted Circle Necklace.
The first, as the name suggests, is inspired by celestial bodies, featuring a collection of circles and organic shapes in varying sizes that create a sense of aligned movement and rhythm. It’s a simple, understated piece, but no less eye-catching for it, and it perfectly suits most any outfit. I’ve found it particularly attractive with faux turtlenecks and collarless blouses, pieces that give it a backdrop to stand out against or a frame to highlight its gorgeous charms.
The second necklace is quite literal in its name, composed of burnished circles of varying sizes with small, ovular links tying them together. The toggle clasp makes it versatile in its styling, with three distinct forms available for wearers: toggle back, toggle forward, and lariat style (though the latter requires a relatively small neck). It’s surprisingly weighty, though not uncomfortably so, and a highly noticeable piece that I’ve found myself repeatedly pairing with high-necked dresses as an elegant neckline decoration.
Discover your new signature piece from Loni Paul Jewelry HERE.
