What are people wearing to the office now and where are you shopping?

[TheLilacFinch]

I am moving jobs and will be more office based (which I wanted!!), but really struggling to know what to wear as there doesn’t seem to be much office wear in the shops anymore.

Pre Covid I was in my late 20s and my work wear was a mixture of shops but my go tos were Oasis, Warehouse, Hobbs, Jigsaw. I’ve been predominantly at home for the last 6 years and just in jeans/trainers/cardi when I have been in the office. I’ll be going to a regional office of a large accountancy firm so need to be quite smart but not overly smart if that makes sense.

I’ll definitely get some black and navy trousers for now, probably one slim leg and one wide leg. I like the look of some bits on Sezane so might do an order. I’m very happy about ballet flats being back “in” so will probably buy a couple of pairs for the summer. But I’d really love some inspiration of what people are actually wearing to the office now and where you’re all shopping!

Thanking you all in advance ☺️

I could have written this thread myself a few days ago. Im about to go back to work after maternity leave and wanted to refresh my wardrobe following a bit of weight loss and 2 kids in 3 years and after the Covid era!

I’ve bought some bits from mango, they have good basic staples I think, I’ve also ordered some bits from H&M, although returning a lot! And a sezane jumper arrived yesterday! My office sounds similar to yours in that it’s smart, but not too smart.
I’ve seen some bits in M&S that look great, and recently bought some short sleeve cardi / tops from there so need to have another trawl

I’ve recently returned to an office based job. My manager seems to dress in black top, trousers and trainers, others wear similar. I’ve found clothes I wore at my last office, M&S knee length stretch pencil skirt, Hobbs black 3/4 length sleeve top, H&M pleated chiffon skirt, Tu floral pleated skirt, selected femme linen trousers black. I already have fit flop patent black ballet shoes but bought some Tu leopard mesh shoes yesterday. The only other thing I might need is a white or light coloured shirt.

What sort of office? Finance, tech, architecture, charity, NHS, double glazing sales...?

I put it in the OP - I’ll be going to a regional office of a large accountancy firm.

Thank you I had forgotten about Mango! I’ll take a look and will place the Sezane order this evening I think. Their trousers look really nice but I’ll hold off til I get a better idea of the office vibe.

I’ve really gone off H&M recently too, the sizing and quality is so hit and miss, plus it takes so long to arrive here.

I'd wait until you get to the office and suss out the real dress code. 'Smart casual' can vary depending on where you work.

I’ve seen some lovely leopard print flats on Boden, I feel they are a classic. I’m torn on wearing trainers to the office but I think actually it’s fine for most offices now.

I got rid of most of my old workwear because I’ve ended up moving 5 times since 2021 🫠 but I did have those Hobbs 3/4 tops before so might check on Vinted!

My office is more casual slightly smart (if you feel like it), although the other day I wore some Uniqlo jersey trousers, a blouse and a blazer and got asked 4 times why I was so smart. 1 person asked if I had an interview 🙄.

I shop in Uniqlo, Cos and M&S, and no longer have 'office wear'/'home wear', I just have 'wear'. But I work in the creative sector, so will be more relaxed than an accy firm.

sorry OP, not much help as I wfh and think it's a smart day if I change out of PJ's but "probably one slim leg and one wide leg" made me laugh - sounded as if you were being very stylistically adventurous 😁

If your new place has any SM accounts you could have a look to see what staff are wearing in those to get a bit of an idea of how "smart" smart is for that particular office. I would say website but the last place I worked used all stock photos for ours so none of us looked like that in real life!

It seems to be more casual than pre Covid … I mainly use Next.

Our office is casual - trainers, jeans etc all fine, if we are meeting clients most people do lean on the smarter side but not suit/jacket smart really.
Today I wore some straight leg jeans, trainers and a shirt tucked in.
yesterday I was in a jumpsuit and loafers.
WFH the rest of the week and I’ll be in a pair of joggers and a sweatshirt!
Mostly my stuff comes from Whistles, Sezane, With Nothing Underneath, nobody’s child, mint velvet, reformation but I don’t really have separate work and life clothes. Happy to wear my work stuff out and about in real life as our office is casual and I’m a casual dresser anyway.

mine is border line smart casual. today I wore beige chinos with a smart denim shirt and a neck tie to dress it up a bit. I wore ballet flats with a proper low heel shoe. during summer I switch between midi pleated skirts and smart top or similar to what I wore today. I have nice smart patent birkenstocks aswell
during winter switch it up a bit with tights and the skirts and warmer jumpers and blazers and boots. I am not a lover of some runners now some of the ones I see in work are very scruffy. especially the sambas 🙈 I wear my glitzy golden goose or I have smart silver and tan leather ones that look like a shoe but are a runner
just to add I shop in what has been mentioned already uniqlue cos and marks I also love essential antwerp ( for a bit quirky basics ) munthe second female and mos mosh - Danish brands. stuff that can be worn at home and at work

Im always in wide leg trousers and trainers, and either a tshirt or sweater tucked in depending on the weather.

Boden it’s good for this sort of situation. Their sizing is pretty accurate, and most things have a bit of stretch. They do a good line in smart casual dresses, or blazers and nice trousers.

Everyone wears wide leg trousers and trainers in my office.

I wore grey mom jeans from zara today with a rib slim fit black tshirt from m & s and new balance 327s today..how casual is your office?

Boden ponte fabric dresses are fab. If the cut this season suits you, buy lots of colours! If it doesn’t they do change the styles so wait until autumn stuff comes in and see if the shape is better then.

I pretty much always wear trousers now (senior professional role, office is a bit smart casual depending on what you are doing).

I rotate wide leg, straight leg (full length and cropped) tapered/cropped in black, navy, brown and burgundy. I wear shirts, blouses, short sleeve knitwear, tank top style knitwear over tops in colder weather, l/s jumpers in winter. Chunky loafers, lighter weight loafers, ballet flats, trainers (spezials mostly), chunky lace up shoes, ankle boots depending on outfit, weather, season. I try and make sure everything goes with at least one or two other things so I can mix and match and not wear the same 5 outfits every week. Bonus points if it does for more than one season e.g. I had a shirt on yesterday that I wear under a jumper in winter because I like the collar. Work wardrobe tends to be Albaray, Boden, M&S, Zara, Mango, Uniqlo, Jigsaw. I’ll top up any gaps in the wardrobe/add in new season styles and colourscheaper stores, but will try and buy one or two classic quality bits each year. Mac for spring, wool blazer for autumn, long coat for winter.

I like Next and their tailored stuff. I’m a bit blobby despite weight loss and look better in structured clothes. I tend to wear blazers over plain tops and trousers - shape depending on the blazer. I like wide jeans/ trousers with a fitted blazer or more fitted/straight bottoms with oversized blazers. Occasionally I’ll wear a white shirt- I have a massive collection from my old job where I wore them all the time. I usually were trainers, occasionally proper shoes, absolutely no heels though.

My office is also “smart casual” and honestly, it seems to cover just about everything, maybe with the exception of onesies, jogging bottoms or pyjamas.

For our office (big multinational, semi smart dress code), it is very much trousers with tops or shirts. Rarely dresses (only when it is really hot), skirts are only worn by older women.
Shoes are a real mix, but all flat. Again, heels are only worn by older women (closer to 60). Otherwise brogues, loafers, nice trainers, dr martens, occasionally ballerina flats.
Pre- pandemic the dresscode was very much suit/fitted skirts only + heels, that is now very old fashioned

I have black, brown; grey and blue trousers which I wear with those coloured tops.
I add a waistcoat/cardigan and blazer.
Sometimes I will wear dresses and skirts.
Smart suede trainers, loafers ballet flats or boots.
I like any supermaret clothing that looks suitable.
I also add my favourite high end brand pieces and accessories.

I work in a fairly smart office, very multinational with lots of elegant French, Spanish and Italians.

I don’t suit trousers other than jeans, and don’t like wearing jeans in the office (a very small minority do and they are generally early 20s). I find autumn and winter easier and generally wear a black dress of some description, or skirt and long boots. I shop from Me+Em, Norma Kamali, The Kooples, Maje, The Frankie Shop and Cos mostly. I always have a blazer with me as the air conditioning is over enthusiastic.

Spring and summer I find harder, although the office is still freezing so will keep a blazer or cardigan on hand. Yesterday I wore a black slip skirt with lace trim, a white shirt and pointed ballet flats, so similar to winter but lighter layers and footwear.

Great news on the new role. I work in a law firm acting for accountancy firms so similar work wear requirements. Abercrombie wide leg smart trousers are great quality and very flattering. Linen trousers from M&S work well in the summer months. I have a number of Cos and Uniqlo white t- shirts and wear Boden, Sezane and a number of other stylish cardigans. Mint velvet and M&S both have some really good work wear pieces that you can dress up or down depending on meetings, how formal your team is and how relaxed you want to be. Zara have some stylish pieces but I find the quality isn't great. Jigsaw have a number of smart stylish jackets that help build an outfit. Good luck!

I’m office based and I just wear plain black trousers and a plain black t shirt. I really need to get my finger out and buy some new stuff and I usually buy from shein or primark.

I’m very eclectic. I wear a mixture of Hobbs, Mango, Uniqlo, Sainsbury’s, Max Mara, Reiss, Ralph Lauren, M & S, Gant & Gucci mixed in with very old Dorothy Perkins, Jaeger & Principles.

a typical outfit is

black trousers, blue & white striped shirt,
Navy trousers, white blouse, navy cable jumper
Long pleated skirt, white t shirt, black blazer
black trousers, fitted top, black blazer
beige trousers, black t shirt or thin jumper
black ribbed dress, beige cardigan
black mini skirt, white t shirt or coloured fitted top
burgundy or black midi dress blazer or cardigan
black trousers & top, beige blazer or suede jacket

I find wearing a nice belt elevates my outfit a lot.