Casual officewear inspo needed

[HillyHoney]

I've worked from home for the last two years (prior to that was in a fairly smart office) so it's been comfort over style really. I have some upcoming office days with my team in one of our big city central offices and have no idea what to pack 😳

These offices are big so cover a lot of approaches, as it were - suits and ties/smart dresses for the top of the tree, but they're much more visible/need to be media-ready at any point. Everyone else falls within standard office/smart-casual/business-casual, I'd say. So I know that I have some latitude here really but it's more about inspiration - what are you all wearing in your (non City finance/lawyer) offices, especially given the range of temps at the mo?

I often default to wide-legged trousers and will probably wear smartish trainers, but it's tops I feel stuck with. I have a few slightly oversize shirts but they feel more summery now. I have a couple of big knits I like but I'll probably get too hot immediately 😂 what's the solution? What's the Breton top of modern casual officewear?!

Following to get some ideas - I wear a lot of dresses! Bare legs and smarter trainers when it's warmer, tights and boots when it's not.

I like short sleeve knits like these:

Arlette Pointelle Stitch Knitted Tee - Oatmeal | Hush

https://www.massimodutti.com/gb/woolcashmere-blend-short-sleeve-knit-sweater-l05637593?colorId=724

I wear wide legged trousers and fine knit jumpers a lot. Tucked in, belt, smart trainers or boots, little bit of jewellery. Smart enough, comfortable.

I wear my 100% merino wool jumpers to death - I find they are like a warmer and more "elevated" long-sleeved t-shirt. They work on their own with a vest underneath, or nothing underneath, or a collared shirt, and with a skirt or trousers or jeans. If you want to wear with wide-legged trousers, make sure you get jumpers that fit more like a long-sleeved t-shirt, ie. that aren't too baggy. For a casual office, you can layer a white t-shirt underneath so it's just visible along the neckline, and then a jacket on top if you want to look a bit more pulled together. They're long enough to be tucked in like a blouse, but also have the band at the bottom if you want to wear them out, you can wear a scarf around the neckline or a necklace, etc etc.

Uniqlo and M&S both have them in store now in a range of colours (both around £35) and they're machine washable and much more forgiving in terms of not overheating!

I'm really enjoying an instagram channel that is new to me, Claudia Berresford, who has a "what do wear when you think you have nothing to wear" series that is perfect for my office.

Uniqlo jersey barrel leg trousers (not really jersey) smart shirt over camisole, fine knit jumper over shoulders that can layer over shirt if needed. Fancy trainers, Black Tulip or Regarde Le Ciel. Smart belt, classic jewellery.

i am a big fan of light knits - either cropped or tucked in.

Ooh a lot of love for light knits here. I do like a bit of pointelle!

I just feel like I'd be boiling in long-sleeved merino jumpers but maybe they're better at regulating heat than normal knits? I have a bit of a chronic fear of overheating - would always rather be too cold. I do like the idea of stuff that works for casual too - having got rid of all my office stuff ages ago I'm loathe to buy stuff that only really works for that now.

https://www.primark.com/en-gb/p/crew-neck-jumper-red-991182498352 these are brilliant jumpers. Obviously they’re not wool but they’re lovely and soft, wash brilliantly and look great. I have them in a few colours and wear them to death. Today I wore one tucked into barrel trousers, a leopard print slim belt and boots

I overheat easily in anything that is synthetic, but 100% fine knit merino is like witchcraft - always breathes, warm when you need it to be, cool when you don’t, and it wicks away any moisture so it’s even better than cotton. They even make activewear out of it. Give one a go and you’ll see it’s not like any other jumper!

Here’s a few of my Office looks, not completely corporate but mostly smart casual imo.

where are people getting their fine knits? im very busty so wanted something scoop style

Reiss, White Company and Mint Velvet have some lovely fine knits.

This is nice

https://www.thewhitecompany.com/uk/Sparkle-Ribbed-Knitted-Polo-with-Recycled-Cotton/p/A20790?swatch=Hot%20Cocoa

Marks & Spencer’s have some great stuff at the moment!