Is your office style stuck in a rut? I’m sorry to say there’s nothing so ageing as outdated workwear. And yet getting it right isn’t as simple as it seems.
It’s quite possible you haven’t restocked your weekday wardrobe in a while.
Used to WFH, you’ve been relying on the same old outfits for office days – but now you’re in all week and you need an image update. How to look chic and polished in 2025?
The good news is, Covid got rid of vertiginous heels, and the black jackets with tight pencil skirts were long gone before that. Unless you work in a Shoreditch tech start-up, however, you’re too old for jeans and trainers in an office environment. Obviously.
Instead tread a middle way by following these rules to snappy office dressing. No, you don’t need Botox or Ozempic – give your workwear style an overhaul and you’ll take the years off with ease.
COLOUR DRENCHING
Don’t: Settle for pinstripe
Do: co-ordinate your top and trousers
In fashion speak, complete co-ordination is called colour drench, by which I mean matching everything you can for a fully polished effect. But what colour?
It’s true that dark tones are most slimming and, of course, in this country you can feel like an idiot in a light-coloured suit in the depths of winter. But grey pinstripe is boring.
Instead, forest green strikes the perfect note. Here a fitted jacket and faux leather trousers (£40, riverisland.com) are complemented by a luxurious soft cream cashmere knit by Madeline Thompson (£335, madelinethompson.com) making it a far more interesting combination than the usual greys or navys.
BALANCE YOUR LOOK
Don’t: Wear both loose top and bottoms or both tight top and bottoms
Do: Balance your look
You need some structure to your look to feel pulled together, and a baggy top and bottoms just won’t cut it. Beware the overly tight top and bottoms look too.
My advice? Go for one tight and one loose. It really is that simple: follow fashion’s love affair with extra wide trousers like this pair by Florere or this similar style from M&S (£48, marksandspencer.com) in this season’s shade of burgundy and make your top sleek and simple to create a streamlined effect.
Keeping the volume to your bottom half here makes the waist appear smaller, but the other way around is equally flattering.
KITTEN HEELS ONLY
Don’t: Spend a lot on skyscraper heels
Do: Look for a low heel on flats to flatter the calf.
Running for a meeting? Nothing looks less glamorous than tottering down the corridor.
Platform loafers like this pair by Bobbies (now £126, bobbies.com) have a cushioned sole to ease tired feet at the end of the day, and keep your look cool too.
Hailey Bieber is a fan and so is Taylor Swift. Otherwise, opt for a low block heel or a leg-lengthening kitten heel for an elegant yet still practical finish.
DITCH THE WRAP DRESS
Don’t: Even think about a wrap or body-con dress
Do: Snap up midlength flowy dresses
Body con dresses in the office? Yuk. Who thought that was a good idea? And wrap dresses have had their day, too, at least for now.
Instead, trust Me&Em to nail the office dress we all want to be seen in. There’s nothing dated about a midi that has just the right amount of elevating detail, but isn’t overdone .
The chunky zip allows you to adjust the neckline accordingly, whilst the stretch fabric is not only comfortable but practical too as it won’t crease, making it an ideal travel companion for business trips (now £125, meandem.com).
SLING ON A MOOD BOOST
Don’t: Wear all black
Do: Embrace colour for a confident style
We all know black is classic, it’s hard to avoid it in the office but don’t make it the default colour you wear either. Colour says brave and it says confident.
If you’re looking for something less harsh, pastels are flattering to tired skin tones and, come spring, this sky blue wool coat from Hobbs (now £296.10, hobbs.com) and blouse will not only lift your complexion but your mood too. Potential downsides? Be careful not to spill the coffee.
EMBRACE CHANGE
Don’t: Ignore fashion trends
Do: Nod to them in workwear
Just because you’re at a desk, doesn’t mean that all sense of fashion has to go out the window.
You don’t have to look as if you’ve just stepped off the catwalk, but a pleated faux leather skirt or a scallop cuff are instant outfit anti-agers. Splash out on designer brands such as The Fold for some tailored investment pieces which prioritise a flattering cut.
You really do get what you pay for when it comes to fabric quality. But if you don’t want to break the bank, Tu at Sainsburys’ chocolate faux leather pleated skirt (£25, sainsburys.co.uk) will transform a simple striped shirt into an outfit that’s truly eye-catching without being overdone.
