Corporate employer says “dress for your day” - what to wear

[Shirleyphallus]

My formerly very corporate and formal employer is changing their dress code to “dress for your day” and wants everyone back in work soon

I haven’t been at work since before lockdown and have no bloody idea what to wear. My precious wardrobe of super corporate dresses / blazers / heels seems way too formal. What’s the way forward? What is everyone else wearing?

I’ve had a “dress for your day” code for a while. It basically means if you’ve got a meeting with a director or client you dress up a bit more than usual. So jeans with a blouse, blazer and proper shoes rather than trainers and a jumper. I haven’t seen a man in a suit or a woman in a tailored dress and jacket for years, though.

I came on here hoping to find a back to work kind of thread.

Going back to the office more in the autumn and wondering what to wear. Feel like that super smart look has had it’s day but wondering what to wear without spending too much.

I wear nice tops, wide legged trousers, smart flats - loafers, brogues, pristine trainers. If I were doing a presentation or had cause to impress someone I'd add a blazer.

My OP should have said “previous wardrobe” not “precious wardrobe”!

I would maybe aim business casual. At least first few days try and wear something very broad.maybe have a blazer in your bag incase everyone is dressed real formal.

@Shirleyphallus

My OP should have said “previous wardrobe” not “precious wardrobe”!

😆 I too am thinking about this, maybe thinking about dropping dresses altogether and having some smarting trousers with fine knit jumpers and more relaxed shirts blouses? Shoes will be flats like loafers maybe?

I think the core uniform of naice blouse and solid colour trousers hasn't changed. Your basic M&S stuff.

But much more people will be wearing lower shoes, like a low wedge or shiny loafers. (also possibly M&S lol)

I'd keep a blazer on the back of the chair and a pair of black heels in the drawer or in the car. Can't go wrong then. Ready for all events.

Do you have a desk of your own? I’d go with a dress with flats, keep heels in a drawer and see how things develop. ‘Dress for your day’ might mean (for men) suits for client facing and board meetings or it could mean wear a tie with your shirt. There’s no way of knowing how ‘relaxed’ your place will get.

At my previous job we had that dress code and it was generally interpreted as jeans/trousers with smartish tops/jumpers/casual shirts or casual dresses when working in office not meeting clients but dressing appropriately for other occasions (external conference = smart dress and jacket or trousers and smart shirt, meeting Japanese clients = very formal dress/suits, California clients = jeans). I’d go somewhere in the middle for the first few days while everyone finds their level.

We have a dress for your day code, and almost everyone, from the partners to junior staff, wears jeans most days they aren’t seeing clients.

I'd carry on wearing the clothes you already have and like and only buy for the new dress code as and when you need new clothes. It's wasteful to stop wearing the clothes you currently have, although there are some charities that give business wear to female job seekers so that might be an option.

@Knittingupastorm

We have a dress for your day code, and almost everyone, from the partners to junior staff, wears jeans most days they aren’t seeing clients.

Sorry meant to add, I work for a large financial services company

Yes I suppose trousers and blouses is the way forward but it’s so bloody boring isn’t it. I want something a bit more exciting.

I am intending to use some of the stuff I had before but also having had a baby during lockdown I certainly won’t be returning to my incredibly tight pencil dresses

Maybe I need to start a thread for work appropriate but slightly more casual dresses

There's a lady in my work who nails dresses imo. She only wears shift dresses. They are a bit looser and therefore less formal than traditional work dresses but still look very appropriate.

She gets most of them in Karen Millen apparently.

At a lower budget Wallis was always great for shift dresses back in the day.

Yes I suppose trousers and blouses is the way forward but it’s so bloody boring isn’t it. I want something a bit more exciting.

What do you consider more exciting? Boob tubes and skirts that show your underwear may not be appropriate. Ripped denim may be fashionable but perhaps not for the office. The benefit of being a woman is you have a lot more options open, skirts, dresses, trousers. Just try not to go to OTT.

I start a new job soon going the other way. Currently chinos and shirts with no ties. Going to suits with ties. Like back to 90s

I'm sitting in my office in London now (finance) and everyone is wearing jeans, trainers and some sort of top. I'm wearing a Uniqlo Ines de la Fressange viscose blouse, one colleague is wearing a white poplin shirt, the other is wearing a slightly oversized linen shirt. All three of us are wearing white trainers (I used to wear trainers only on the commute and change into heels when I got to my desk). I'm the most senior and have a linen blazer on the back of my chair.

I'm plotting a trip to COS in my lunch hour though. COS is the ultimate in looking completely shit on the website but amazing when you try stuff on.

In your case I would keep your super-corporate stuff if it still fits, is good quality and doesn't look dated, but mix and match with other things. Corporate dress with flats and a cardigan, blazer with a t-shirt and jeans, blouse with chinos or cords etc. Keep some neutral heels under your desk if you need them but wear flats or trainers most of the time.

@BigFatLiar

Yes I suppose trousers and blouses is the way forward but it’s so bloody boring isn’t it. I want something a bit more exciting.

What do you consider more exciting? Boob tubes and skirts that show your underwear may not be appropriate. Ripped denim may be fashionable but perhaps not for the office. The benefit of being a woman is you have a lot more options open, skirts, dresses, trousers. Just try not to go to OTT.

Good point. I am just desperate to wear a ripped denim mini skirt and boob tube to the office.

Xiaoxiong thanks for the Uniqlo Ines tip!

Agree re Cos too, saw loads I wanted in there at the weekend

On my idea of combining your previous workwear with more casual stuff:

Black trouser suit with a t-shirt and trainers

Tweed sheath dress (maybe find one a little longer!) with trainers

White button down shirt with black jeans and black vans

I wear dresses mostly when in the office (not since pre Covid) as I hate ironing.
Shift/tunic dresses and higher neck wrap dresses are the easiest for work.
Footwear, cardigan v blazer and hair and makeup make a big difference to the same dress also.
I love the soft material blazers that feel like a cardigan but look structured.

Oh God, I'm not looking forward to going back to the office and having to change from my current WFH uniform of joggers covered in dog hair, and ratty tee shirts.

My gaffe has dress for your day (and we are talking large corporate). Generally people wear suits/formal for client meetings etc but tend to be more informal - jeans, T-shirt's, floaty dresses - when they don't have any external meetings. Some people wear a suit/smart regardless because they like to. The main thing is that it is work suitable- so no flip flops, ripped jeans or bikinis

Trouser suits, always smart and professional. No need to think about it, I just alternate them each day.

On more casual days when the office is quieter I like wearing plain pleated maxi skirts with a work blouse tucked in with trainers. I do have some cropped blazers which smartens the look. Tunic dresses and shirt dresses are also nice ways to be less formal than shift dresses but still stay smart. I have some printed midi dresses in monotone which work, but I wouldn’t wear a multi coloured floral dress to work.

It’s a male dominated environment and I’m relatively senior so don’t want to come in too casual. Smart hair, simple jewellery