10 Christmas Outfit Suggestions

 9 Workwear Ideas That Are Both Smart and Stylish

With September’s post-summer return-to-office marked on our calendars, there’s no one answer to the daily question of what to wear to work. The goal is to strike the ideal balance of sophistication and stylishness in the perfect pleated trouser, ultra-crisp white shirting, and modest midi-skirts. But by way of labels like Totême, Proenza Schouler, and Cos who create luxurious pieces of modern workwear, there are several smart tricks to try when shopping for the best office clothes for women.

If you’re planning to embark on a workwear-friendly wardrobe overhaul, shirting

 is a solid starting point. Look to soft materials to ease your way back into something resembling desk-side polish—we love the classic styles from Victoria Beckham and Anine Bing. For those of us who are ready to embrace some form of structure, a trusty blazer looks both stylish and smart. Vince’s double-breasted twill blazer is one to make a part of your power suit equation. Pair it with similar hued khaki pants from The Frankie Shop for a full look. More on The Frankie Shop: when it comes to your workwear wardrobe, consider the brand your first port of call. Its roster of closet heroes—from trendy vests to sleek shirting and tailored trousers—are some of the many reasons why the brand is a Vogue editor favorite.

The midi-skirt silhouette was a standout style at many of the SS22 shows, specifically Tory Burch’s spring collection, which took over the streets of Soho, where models walked down the cobblestones with glamorous ease. The ease of the midi skirt is especially desirable when getting dressed in the early hours of the morning. On top, pair with a cozy cashmere knit or a tight, black crew neck as modeled in the Tory show. A tie-dye printed midi-skirt from the boys behind Proenza Schouler is another great pick.

As for the eye-catching jewelry that will have your coworkers lining up at your desk to see what’s what? Simple, dainty pieces from Laura Lombardi and Completed Works have what it takes. Mejuri is another jewelry label worth adding to your rotation—we like their double-hooped silver earrings. When looking for office-appropriate sneakers to wear with a knit maxi dress or one of the above midi-skirts, The Row and Mango make pairs worthy enough to be worn at any big meeting. For more, look toward these embroidered suede ‘Nama’ sneakers from Chloé that are also a favorite of celebrity style star Katie Holmes. Honorable mention goes to the fact that they are consciously crafted with a hand-stitched, recycled mesh.

Tailoring You Can Trust

Blazers can smarten up even the simplest of looks. Find a style that fits well on your shoulders, and ensure that the length of the hemline and sleeves are just so. For example, the silver buttons on Veronica Beard's navy Miller dickey jacket add a feminine touch to the otherwise classic, menswear style. Everlane’s oversized, plaid blazer is a classic amongst the Vogue editor for a reason—its roomy shape is a more modern approach to the blazers you might already have in your closet.

Wear-Anywhere Trousers

If you’ve yet to find the perfect pair of trousers, let Vogue’s selection be your first port of call. When it comes to a solid wardrobe foundation, there are few things more versatile and reliable than tailored black pants. Pairs from Totême and Joseph both have a straight-leg silhouette that hits right above the ankle, allowing for the perfect amount of legroom to show off any shoe. Pleated pants from The Frankie Shop are more of a relaxed fit for, say, a casual Friday? A note to remember: You can always tailor a pair that aren’t spot on.

Preppy Loafers

No back-to-office outfit is complete without a shiny new pair of shoes. Loafers are the footwear shape of choice among the street-style set: the preppier, the better. For added height and texture, Gucci reimagines their classic horse-bit loafer with a toughened-up lug sole. Indented for traction means that this style is ideal when navigating a rainy commute into the office. More classic, menswear styles can be found courtesy of Mango and Saint Laurent.

Crisp Shirting

White shirts will forever be a classic wardrobe staple like this one from Anine Bing, but why not try a trendy color like a zingy striped green from The Frankie Shop or a lovely lavender from Mango? Meanwhile, Victoria Beckham has mastered the art of creating subtle edges on all of her classic pieces of workwear. Take the cropped hem on this polished poplin shirt, for example—an unexpected yet welcomed take on the traditional button-up. One thing’s for sure; your colleagues will be asking for your outfit details.

The Nine-to-Five Dress

You’re wrong to think that dresses should be reserved for summer. With the right styling, certain dress styles can take you from day to night in an instant. Knit maxi dresses are especially office appropriate, equipped with a few additional welcome layers to keep you comfortable and warm throughout the day. Knitted from recycled cashmere in beautiful blue tones, Chloé’s long-sleeve dress will hopefully remind you of summer days spent by the sea when the fall and winter days feel long and gloomy. Meanwhile, a black dress is a workwear wardrobe staple for a reason. This knitted dress from Cos is seasonless.

Midi-Skirts

With more coverage than the trendy miniskirt, but with far less commitment than the floor-length maxi skirt, the reliable midi skirt is the answer to any and all of your office attire needs. The style was tested on the SS22 runways and was an instant hit amongst all of fashion’s chicest insiders. The silhouette especially shined at Tory Burch, where models walked down the cobblestone streets of Soho with glamorous ease. Make the midi skirt the centerpiece of your fall wardrobe and pair it with a cozy cashmere knit or a chic riding boot on the bottom.

Work Bags

The best work bags and totes should always have one major thing in common: function and, of course, style. When searching for your own, ask yourself: is it durable enough to lug from work to play? Is it roomy enough to fit all of your workwear essentials like a laptop, portable coffee mug, or notepad? Thankfully, work bags from Cuyana and Bottega Veneta fit that bill. Trendier options like a canvas tote from Hereu or a soft leather shoulder bag from Chloé may be slightly less practical but are incredibly eye-catching. Whether your office is full of fashion files like ours or not, your coworkers are likely to line up at your desk to see what’s what.

Office-Appropriate Sneakers

Office-appropriate sneakers that pack the same punch of formality and function as a preppy loafer or ballet flat are hard to come by. When making the journey back to the office after some time spent away, elevated comfort is important to keep in mind. White sneakers will forever be a closet hero, which makes these from The Row and Tory Burch clear winners. A little black sneaker from Mango is a dressier shoe style to consider to go along with any of your LBDs. Standing alone, however, is the ‘Nama’ embroidered sneaker from Chloé, made from a hand-stitched, recycled mesh for the eco-friendly conscious. This new style is also a favorite of Katie Holmes, an It girl when it comes to fall fashion.

Everyday Treasures

If your work schedule still includes some work-from-home Zoom calls, these everyday treasures are sure to stand out on the screen. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also include them in your in-office jewelry rotation, though. Simple, dainty pieces from Laura Lombardi and Completed Works have what it takes to catch your coworkers’ eyes, and these silver double-hoop earrings from Mejuri require nothing more than what you see is what you get.