Be honest, how many times have you stood in front of your wardrobe trying to pick the right outfit to wear to work? You’ve probably been in that predicament more times than you can count. And sure, you’ve had a bit of a break from mixing and matching clothes with the whole work from home thing during the on-again, off-again lockdowns we’ve been experiencing.
While you certainly don’t mind the convenience of working from the comfort of your own bed and not slipping out of your pyjamas for the whole day, the sad reality is that it’s bound to come to an end at some point. Will you be ready to take on the real world again? Fortunately for you, we’re here to make sure you’re sticking on the right track. Perhaps the most fool-proof way to pick out clothes for the office is by wearing fashionable business work wear. Here’s what you need to know to get going.
What Is Business Work Wear?
Essentially, business wear refers to a whole line of clothing items, including suits, blazers and jackets. All of these are well-fitting and precisely tailored to suit your body type. This results in a smart, sophisticated and stylish appearance that is intended to make you look like a professional. And that is exactly what you are.
Think about it for a second, you have a specific set of clothes that you’re expected to wear every day as you go about your tasks. Can you imagine how much time, money and effort you get to save? You wouldn’t have to spend hours on end figuring out your looks. Sounds like a dream but it can honestly be a reality.
But here’s the thing. Some businesses have company-issued uniforms that they give out to employees. If you fall into this category, then you’ve got absolutely nothing to worry about since they’ve got everything sorted for you. However, if you’re one of the less fortunate ones and your employers ask you to pick out clothing items based on specific guidelines, then that might be somewhat of a challenge. Even so, there’s no need for you to worry because we’ll get you posted on all the details.
What Are the Different Types of Work Clothes?
This is the part where we pull out the big guns and tell you all about the clothing items you’re required to wear at work. All you have to do is read through our guide to business work wear and you’ll be more than ready to take on the world of shopping.
Corporate Blazer
Kicking off our list is a cosy, form-fitting blazer that’s a great way to keep warm in chilly winter all while sticking to your business casual dress code. While blazers do come in loads of interesting patterns, it’s best if you stick to plain designs and neutral colours to maintain your professional appearance. In other words, that extra colourful and flowery number is probably not the right fit for the office.
Another thing you need to consider when shopping for a formal blazer is the material. One of our personal favourites is the classic worsted wool because it’s super soft and snuggly. Plus, its durable design makes it highly resistant to pilling, which is just an added bonus.
Corporate Dress Shirt
Make no mistake, men aren’t the only ones that can strut their stuff in a formal dress shirt at work. In fact, many businesswomen are stepping up to this trend and owning the stage in the process. Dress shirts are quite popular in the while-collar community due to their timeless elegance and sophistication.
Pro tip – make sure your dress shirt is neatly collared and pressed to avoid wrinkles. Additionally, you need to pay attention to the base colour because you’re not supposed to go overboard. Instead, try to focus on the simplicity of white or baby blue as your optimal choices.
Corporate Jacket
With their flat collars, minimalist designs and neutral colours, corporate jackets have remained the signature clothing item of the business circle. Plus, many models have hefty pockets on the sides to store all your bare necessities. It’s quite practical, don’t you think?
Some companies may opt to stitch their logo onto the front portion of the jacket. While that’s a nice way to strengthen the sense of unity and belonging within the firm, that’s about as far as you go when it comes to accessorising your formal jacket.
Corporate Pants
It’s a good idea to match the colour of your pants with that of your top if you really want to achieve a cohesive look. But the one thing you should direct your attention to the most is the length of your pants because this can really make or break your whole appearance. If the length is too long, your pants will drop to the floor. If they’re too short, you run the risk of showing some serious ankle. Either way, you end up looking sloppy and unprofessional.
For this reason, your pants need to be tailored and pressed according to your body type. Generally speaking, medium break length is the corporate standard, though it varies from person to person.
Don’t Forget the Footwear
First thing’s first, you need to find comfortable shoes because you’ll be wearing them for at least 8 hours every day. Otherwise, you’ll be dealing with lots of discomfort and painful blisters. That’s definitely not fun at all.
Once you have that figured out, you need to turn your attention to matching your shoes to your outfit. That’s right, they need to go well together. Don’t assume that just because you’re wearing them on your feet, no one will notice. It’s quite the opposite actually.
