Introduction to Workwear
Professional clothing rules may have relaxed, but that does not mean that your casual clothing is suitable for the office. A good work wardrobe, especially in the warmer months, should be able to survive a sweaty commute, a cold air conditioning system, and often make yourself comfortable enough to sit for most of the day.
Building a Workwear Wardrobe
Every large wardrobe has its foundations. Celebrity stylist Angela Kyte recommends a few key classics that can be worn again and again, such as a tailored blazer, a crisp button-down shirt, and a few high-tailored pants in neutral tones. These pieces can really fit with everything. A MIDI skirt, a fine sweater, and a slip dress can also be layered over the basics, along with minimal gold or silver pieces such as small earrings, a fine chain necklace, or a classic watch.
Essential Pieces
Personal stylist Clare Chambers gives a more formulaic approach, building up what she calls her 11 key elements: three bottoms, four tops – two smart, two casual – two jackets, and one pair of shoes, as well as a belt for accessories. Of these, she says: "I usually want to style 20 key outfits for my clients." Some essential pieces include a linen mixed blazer, an ivory linen relaxed-fit shirt, and dark gray tailored trousers.
Defining Your Silhouette and Color Palette
Decision fatigue is real, and Kyte’s fix is to "define your silhouette and color palette" so that you don’t start from scratch every day. A few basic colors, one or two accents, and cuts that make you feel confident will become the DNA of your wardrobe, with accessories such as scarves or lipstick as a personal signature. Chambers uses a manifesto with five words with her clients: "A declaration of intent for the five keywords that people will, of course, associate with every outfit that you wear."
Neutral Colors and Interesting Fabrics
Both stylists agree that neutrals are their best friend. Kyte recommends black, navy, ivory, and gray as the basis that can be brought to life with fabrics such as wool mixes, poplin, and silk cotton – pieces that keep their shape and move slightly through the seasons. Chambers recommends adding “two to three trendy seasonal colors” every year to keep things fresh. This season, butter yellow and burgundy are go-to colors.
The ‘One Thing’ That Elevates Everything
If you’re not fully sold on your work clothes, you only need one piece to elevate every outfit. For Kyte, it’s a blazer: "A blazer, without question! It sharpens every look [….] Even on days when they wear basics, a blazer signals intention and grabs attention." Chambers simply calls it "the jacket" and believes it doesn’t have to be a blazer at all – "For some, this could mean an oversized blazer with two buttons, maybe a shortened bomber jacket, even a cool leather biker jacket."
Where to Invest and Where to Save
As with your everyday wardrobe, there are pieces in which you should invest, and others that you can buy cheaply. Chambers places accessories at the top of her investment list. “High-quality leather belts […] totally upgrade an outfit and give it a polished, more luxurious edge." Jewelry is also a must if you want to change the mood of an outfit – from trendy bracelets to timeless tennis bracelets. Kyte recommends investing in the large structural pieces – “your blazer, pants, and coats […] If they fit well, everything else looks elevated."
Changing the Way You Shop
The stylists have some golden rules when it comes to curating the perfect workwear wardrobe – and it’s all about changing how, not what, you buy. "Think in outfits, not individual pieces," says Kyte. When shopping, she asks clients to consider whether something can be paired with "at least three things I already have" and to keep an eye on a handful of finished combinations for busy mornings. Chambers says you should have a way of thinking about seeing your wardrobe as "your personal packaging that helps you to stand out, be seen, and be remembered – for the right reasons."
