Anyone else still enjoy dressing smartly for the office?

[DuchessOf]

My job has been increasing our in-office days over the past year and I now go in four days a week. I go into an office to sit in a cubicle and take online meetings, as my team works across the country.

I've realized how much joy I get from actually wearing (and using) my "nice" things. Especially my workwear!

I feel like fashion has become so casual that sometimes I wonder if I'm the odd one out for actually enjoying workwear. I love a suit. I love tailored trousers, a good blouse, proper shoes, a proper wool coat. I've even veered dangerously close to Margaret Thatcher with my pussy blow blouses. All of this was collected over the years and most of it was bought on eBay and Vinted. I have some H&M suits that have been with me for 10+ years. So I'm definitely not spending a fortune sourcing this stuff.

Now on my work from home days, I'm usually in leggings and a basic top - maybe a jumper or a white cotton blouse. So this isn't some "oh my goodness, we've all become slobs" rant. But I do sometimes feel a little sad that we've collectively decided that comfort and looking smart are somehow opposites.

Anyone else still love dressing for work or has everyone else fully embraced the comfy casual look?

I have found my people! We are smart casual at my work so no-one is in midriff tops or flip flops but there is a fairly wide interpretation of what’s appropriate.

I wear suits, smart dresses, jackets and trousers, with decent heals or flats. Very occasionally I’ll wear trainers but it’s rare.

I am one of the most dressed up people and I don’t care!

I love getting dressed for work, it’s pretty much the only time I wear nice clothes, the rest of the week I’m in gym wear!

It is very important to dress for work as you will be judged accordingly

I adore pussy-bow blouses - they were the only good thing about Margaret Thatcher ...!! 😁

In my 30s I went through a short spell of wearing silk pussy-bow blouses with fitted, fishtail hem pencil skirts, seamed fishnets & heels. It did attract a certain type of man ... including a Tory politician 😬

(I'm an Irish, feminist, leftie green-y type - I think he found me "exotic" ...!!)

Plus there's no reason why you couldn't wear a pussy-bow blouse while tending sheep on the Outer Hebrides, surely?!!

(I'm thinking with jeans, welly boots & knitted vest ... 🤔??!!!)

I like to wear a dress and jacket for work.

The smarter you look the better you get treated . I noticed when I worked in retail that if a customer was in a suit or dressed up the staff would unconsciously stand a bit straighter and make more eye contact .

I also work in FS and have definitely seen a shift towards more casual dressing over the last 10 years since I started in the industry. In my office the dress code is smart casual, but I'd say a lot of people dress on the more casual end. I enjoy making a bit of a effort so I usually do tailored trousers and a nice top, or a dress, never heels though. Always wear jewelry and do my makeup.

I dress up even when working from home although less accessories. Currently I have on a black jumpsuit with culotte style legs on. I would pair it with a fitted blazer when I am in the office and small heels and a belt around the middle but currently no belt on and bare feet but its roasting where I am today. When I go to the shop or school collection i will put the heels and blazer on just as if I was in the office. Makes me feel better when I look the part.

I used to love dressing smartly for work. I've now given it all up to 'escape to the country' but I miss it. I used to take my high heels in my bag and I loved putting them on and feeling all powerful!

I actually realised fairly recently that I can get my fix by teaming smart blouses with jeans. I've just bought a gorgeous Jigsaw number with a pussy bow that I'll wear to the pub etc. I counted my Vinted bargains the other day and I've got 13 blouses now...

I'm still drawn to really smart dresses which was what I mostly wore. I have to stop myself!

I feel you on the heels! I love the extra height. I have a pair of Prada pumps (eBay find from ages ago) and always feel so glamourous when I wear them. They are strictly for work though - ballet flats for the commute because I would probably break my neck walking home from the bus with them 😂