8 Sort-Of-Smart & Stylish Work Outfits

I do feel a bit of a fraud when it comes to advising on workwear. For one, I don’t have a ‘real’ job anymore. I don’t go to an office, and even when I did, it wasn’t the sort of working environment that had a dress code. If anyone dared to turn up wearing something smarter than usual, there would be whispers round the coffee machine that they were off for a job interview. So if you’re looking for someone who actually knows what they’re talking about, you should probably leave now and try your luck elsewhere.

That said, when I was in the office, I’d always try to dress in a manner that was smart enough not to feel awkward if I was suddenly called into an unscheduled meeting with the chairman, which happened on a regular basis. You don’t want to be heading up to the fifth floor wearing a hoodie and flip-flops.

I also know what I like, and I think I can put together some sort-of-smart outfits that work for a variety of workplaces, so let’s get straight into it.

THE VERY USEFUL BLUE SHIRT

I did a whole post about the merits of a good blue shirt last year, and I stand by that. A blue shirt works well with so many other colours, and it’s more interesting and slightly less formal than a plain white shirt. In fact, it’s a perfect item to add to your work wardrobe. My top three blue shirts are this one from Uniqlo, this one from Boden and this one from WNU.

THE SUEDE OR LEATHER SKIRT

You could go for any smart skirt, but there’s something more upmarket about suede or leather. Wearing a suede skirt says: ‘I mean business, but I also know how to keep myself clean from food spillages because I’m wearing quite a delicate fabric on my bottom half.’ If you’re wearing a leather skirt, you’re telling me: ‘I’m a high-powered professional, but I still have a rock edge, and in my youth you could well have seen me dancing on tables at the Astoria.’ Therefore, both would earn my respect.

PINK & BURGUNDY

If you’re looking to inject some new colours into your work outfits beyond the safety of the usual black, white, grey and navy, have a look at burgundy and pink. They work really well together and will also mix in with your safe colours. I feel like this combination would work in even the most corporate of environments. I love the shape of the Aligne blazers, which come in a variety of colours. They give you structure and bring something different to the usual straight-cut silhouette.

ALL BLACK WITH A TRENCH

If you’re not a fan of colour, that’s absolutely fine. After all, I live by the motto of ‘if in doubt, wear black’ for almost any occasion. Apart from weddings, maybe. All black looks great with a trench coat, and we’re currently entering the second trench-coat season of the year (they work best around March and April and then again in September and October). And if you’re after a good boot with a heel that’s smart but also comfortable enough to wear all day, I can recommend these Rixo boots. I have them in the brown suede and am very much looking forward to proper ‘boot weather’ when I can wear them.

UPSCALE GEOGRAPHY TEACHER

Because workwear doesn’t necessarily have to mean classic office attire. The argyle knit is back again this season, and I’ve seen variations all over the high street, so if you bought into this trend the year before last, I hope you held on to it. I only say ‘geography teacher’ because of the cords. But remember: cords are for everyone, not just teachers of oxbow lake formations.

TAN ACCESSORIES FOR THE WIN

We all know by now that accessories can be the key to pulling together a look. Tan accessories work particularly well, as they lighten up any outfit and are a nice change from your obvious black work bag and shoes.

ELEVATED JEANS

I know, I know – jeans aren’t classed as workwear by any stretch of the imagination, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be smart. And unless your office dress code is particularly strict, I would say they’re acceptable in most places these days. Elevate yours with a classic blazer, white shirt and red accessories.

GET CLAUDIA’S KILT

That’s Winkleman, not Schiffer. Schiffer is more likely to be found in a Brentford FC top these days (true story: her husband is now a shareholder and she’s been spotted many times at the Gtech). The new series of Celebrity Traitors is rumoured to start at the end of this month, so get ahead of the Winkleman fashion game at the office with a modern kilt. They were harder than hens’ teeth to find last year, but the high street has stocked up this time round. My pick of the bunch is this black one from Albaray.

I hope (despite my admission of fraud) that this has given you some ideas for workwear over the next couple of months.

Kate x

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