Dressing for the Office in 2018: The Dos and Do Nots

Mastering the office dress code is tricky but essential if you want to feel confident in your job. It’s no secret that work clothing has relaxed over the years. Rewind 20 years and the office dress code was all about power dressing — formal suits, smart blouses and an almost exclusively monochrome colour palette.

So, what’s changed? Perhaps our love of after-work socializing has something to do with it. Now, we need an outfit that takes us from desk to drinks, which means that the office dress code has relaxed and given rise to a new wave of super-stylish professionals who look just as good at work as they do catching up  with the girls.

Of course, there are many pitfalls you can fall into if you get carried away with this trend. Go too casual and you risk an awkward chat with your manager about dressing appropriately, while a formal outfit may be too much.

The trick is to strike the perfect balance between work-formal and stylish-casual. Thankfully, this guide has plenty of tips for mastering the new generation office dress code.

Trouser suits and stylish bottoms

To exude effortless chic, you need a cool collection of stylish women’s trousers — tapered trousers are essential. They’ll hug your figure and subtly show off your shape, and will look great with both smart flats and heels. Wear your flats day-to- day and switch them for heels for that all-important meeting. Trust us, your feet will be grateful!

Fancy going for something bolder? Frill hem pants and culottes make gorgeous work-ready outfits, although we recommend not going too ‘loud’ when it comes to your choice of print and colour! For a more casual look, wear them with a loose-fitting plain t-shirt and slouchy cardigan or plain jumper. Loosely tuck the hem of your top into your trousers at the front. To create a formal look, swap the t- shirt for a smart blouse — an embroidered shirt would be the perfect choice for an on-trend look.

Work-appropriate dresses

Every working wardrobe for women has almost always included a style of dress, and now, the options for choosing more contemporary, chic styles are great! But if your new workplace still has a formal dress  code, choose a simple midi occasion dress to play it safe with style. Stay away from lace, bold prints or bright colours as they can make you look like you’re dressed for a night out instead of a day in the office! Instead, stick to plain styles or subtle prints for versatile looks you can work throughout the year.

How about a tunic dress or shirt dress for the spring-summer season? Jumper dresses also work well with tights and heeled ankle boots, or try a plain high-neck, cotton design for simple chic appeal!

Denim designs

Who’d have thought that it would be perfectly acceptable to wear jeans for work — well it is, if you get the style correct!

Err on the side of caution: no distressed denims and slashed jeans! Keep it classic with plain, rip-free denim and choose a darker wash to give a more formal vibe. We’d also recommend maintaining a formal vibe in the rest of your outfit to avoid letting your look stray too far into off-duty territory. Pair your jeans with a smart-casual shirt or blouse and wear with more formal flats and a chic blazer. Last thing: double check your office dress code to make sure you’re actually allowed to wear denim at work! Some establishments frown upon it and you don’t want to make a bad impression.

Work-ready shoes

Your main footwear options are typically: flats, boots and heels. Loafers are a huge trend at the moment, which is good news for all you professionals! Smart yet stylish, they’re the perfect work shoe that can be worn with trousers, dresses and jeans. You’ll definitely need black loafers, and it’s wise to invest in a nude pair, too.

Boots are always a handy footwear type to have at our disposal. Over-knee boots teamed with tights and a jumper dress is an on trend look for 2018, while heeled boots are also a great option. As they’re both formal and versatile, flat boots can also work.

Sometimes, all we need is an extra touch of height to make ourselves feel confident and good about ourselves. This makes high-heel shoes perfect for the workplace. However, you’ll need to choose a sensible heel, so leave the sky-scraping platforms at home for work. That doesn’t mean you have to wear kitten heels though; mid-heeled, closed-toe shoes are the perfect choice. Strappy sandals are your perfect day to night office choice — team with wide leg trousers for a chic daytime look.

Be the ultimate work style queen with these top tips — you’ll be the office fashionista in no time!

This is a guest post.