Working in the office doesn’t have to be boring or too formal. It’s ideal to focus on the details of an outfit. Make yourself stand out by choosing materials and colors that suit both your taste and the workplace. Creating a timeless look that exudes sophistication and style involves picking out classic and versatile pieces. Elevate your business casual look by adding quality fabrics, accessories, and even tailored pieces to your wardrobe.
The common work dress code can inhibit wearing anything really tight, transparent, revealing, short, open-toed, and gaudy. Business casual is a type of style that is less formal than traditional business attire and holds its original intention to give a professional impression. Here are some elements to consider when aiming for a timeless and chic business casual look:
Choose Quality Fabrics
It’s important to choose fabrics that are high quality and this doesn’t have to mean that they have to be expensive. It’s all about having a good eye for a high-quality piece. One of the ways to find out if the fabric is high quality is to look for strength and durability. The stronger and more durable the fabric is the longer the lifespan of the fabric. The way to tell if the fabric is dense is by looking at the fibers of the fabric. If the fabric is fibrous and has tighter-packed yarns it will most likely prevent it from getting brittle and damaged. Follow the light test, put a piece of fabric in front of a light source, and check to see if the light goes through the fabric. The less light that can pass through the fabric the higher quality the fabric. Another way to check for quality is to check for comfort. Your clothing shouldn’t irritate the skin, but instead, it should comfortably be worn on the skin.
Neutral Colors But Make It Pop
Neutral colors are what make an outfit look professional like navy, black, beige, and white and you can achieve a great look with neutral colors. However, still a good idea to add some pop of color to your wardrobe. If you love the color red and you want to show it, then by all means wear it. It doesn’t hurt anyone if you wear brighter colors. One example of this is wearing a bright-colored blouse or a patterned dress to work. Another example is by wearing bright colors in an obscure manner like a black Louboutin shoe with red soles or a bright-colored shirt to go under your blazer.
Tailor Your Pantsuits
A lot of people don’t consider tailoring their clothing as important but it makes your clothing suit you better than not doing it at all. It’s a great way to customize your suits to fit your size and waistline. Find a local tailor that you trust to tailor your blazers and trousers.
Blazers Are The Business Casual Signature
A well-tailored blazer is a key element for any business outfit. It will instantly elevate your outfit and it can be worn with your dresses, skirts, and pants. The blazer can be a very structured part of the outfit but adding jewelry or a delicate blouse can really enhance the look of your entire outfit.
Classy Trousers
Investing in some well-fitted and tailored trousers can be the beginning of building some amazing business casual outfits. A core focus of a business casual look is trousers or pants. Styling a trouser is the foundation of many business casual looks, pick from a high-rise, skinny, tailored, or wide-leg. Pleated trousers add a chic and classic twist to any look, add a skinny belt with some classic high-heel loafers to elevate your work attire.
Modern Shift Dresses
A shift dress is a loose-fitting dress that provides room to shift around and it’s perfect for a professional setting. It provides comfort and it’s cute enough to wear for work. You can pick between solid colors or simple patterns to make your outfit stand out. Layer on a cardigan or a blazer to give your outfit dimension.
Accessories Are Chic
Accessorizing is a great way to elevate your style through jewelry, belts, and watches. Wearing a watch lets your boss know that you are a punctual person. Your belts can always help sinch your waistline and jewelry can always make an elegant statement. When it comes to shopping for jewelry, gold jewelry looks better on warm undertones and silver looks better on cool undertones. Rose gold looks good on both warm and cool undertones.
To Wear Heels Or Not To Wear Heels
Footwear is important because of its utility and how it completes your outfit. If you are always on your feet it’s important to buy shoes that won’t exhaust you or harm your feet. If you are always on your feet it’s safer to go with flats. However, if you are always at your desk then it is easier to consider high heels. Heels can be as high as you can tolerate them and it’s always a good thing to have a neutral-colored heel to match multiple outfits. Your shoes are another great way to add a pop of color to your outfit. It’s also always good to bring some extra comfortable shoes in your bag just in case you need to switch your shoes out throughout the day.
Minimalism or Maximalism
Minimalism is really beautiful for those who love to simplify their look and keep it clean. Maximalism is for those who love color, blending, and experimenting. Whatever you love to wear there is no right or wrong answer. It’s all about knowing how to express yourself based on the dress code of your workplace. I find it interesting how many people say that Minimalism is the only thing you can wear in the workplace but that is not true. Wearing what you want and at the same time being compliant with your workplace is the best way to choose your daily business casual attire.
Layering Is Not Only For The Winter
Adding layers to your outfits creates depth to your look, some examples of this are adding a scarf, cardigan, blazer, or a trench coat for a more polished look. Layering is more common in the winter, but it doesn’t have to be only in the winter. You can also create layered outfits in the spring and summer months, like layering a dress with a thin cardigan.
Handbags Are Not For The Weak
Handbags make statements especially when there is heavy workplace politics. Some workplaces determine a hierarchy in the workplace by the name you carry on your handbag. If this is your workplace, you don’t have to fall into the pressure of buying an expensive bag especially if you can’t afford it. Keep your individuality by wearing bags that you like and are within your budget. There are so many cute bags out there in all types of price ranges that match any aesthetic. For a standard business casual look, a natural-colored bag is probably the best when showing up to the workplace.
There are many ways to elevate your business casual attire for any part of the year. It’s all about discovering your own style and finding the pieces that define you the most. It’s easy to mix and match and experiment because business casual is actually rather lenient compared to formal clothing. Elevate your style game by finding clothing that you love and embracing it with confidence. It’s always good to remember that clothes are supposed to make you feel good about yourself.
