Is it just me, or do you also run to social media to get inspired for new office wear each and every season? I have been a corporate girly for almost a decade (!!!) and I still feel slightly panicked when a new season rolls up and I have to start changing my office wear. While I love seeing the ‘office siren’ trend all over socials, this is not realistic in a corporate job. However, this does not mean that you can’t be the office fashionista while still hitting all of your project deadlines. Check out some of my favorite office wear looks for the upcoming fall season!
Neutrals? For Office Wear? Groundbreaking.
I know, I know. Neutrals? Really Tess? HEAR ME OUT. I love neutrals. I think they look so put together and chic. If I am being honest, I actually don’t see that many girlies wearing anything outside of black in the office, especially in fall. So, technically, neutrals are going to make you stand out for all of the right reasons.
It is so easy to mix and match different neutral shades if you don’t want to keep it too monochrome. The best way to pull this off is to have some pieces in the same shade range. If all of your pieces are different colors or nuances, it may end up looking a little mismatched. As you can see, I chose to have a black top, belt, and shoes while my purse matched my jacket. This way, my dark beige trousers looked like they belonged instead of being an uninvited guest.
Another key point is finding balance in your outfits. While this should apply to all of your fits, it is non-negotiable for us corporate girlies. If your pants are quite loose like mine, opt for a fitted top/jacket and vice versa. This will please the human eye because there is balance and structure. Not only that, but it can also give the illusion of a smaller waist depending on the cut of the fabric. In my case, my jacket is cropped, ending right around where my pants start. Legs for days and a tiny waist illusion? Sold.
Chilly Autumn Day? I Got You.
If I am being honest, this is one of my favorite work fits of all time. I pull this one out when the day is a bit more chilly than the usual autumn routine and I carry it on through winter. I bought this gorgeous vest last year but as you can see it is very low cut. I wanted to find a way to wear it as office wear and this beauty was born.
There is just something so effortlessly chic about a vest, and layering one? Fashionista-level skills. With such a feminine vibe, a long skirt was a must. Finally, booties. Or regular boots. Even thigh-highs if it is really cold in your office! Nobody will know as it is hidden by the skirt. For this office wear look, I think a heeled option truly elevates the whole look, but I am sure a flat pair of boots would be lovely as well. Pro tip? If you want to wear this during the winter, just add fleece-lined leggings under the skirt.
For an outfit that is full of different textures, I do recommend sticking to the same color. Mixing colors may break the cohesion and look a little off. Too much is, well, too much. I opted for black as I think it looks great with these textured looks, but have a play!
I even wore this outfit (with a different pair of boots) to a work conference in the States and it was a hit. I was stopped multiple times for compliments. 10/10, would recommend.
Office Wear – Beige Suit:
I am a huge fan of pantsuits for the office. It very much gives off the ‘boss-babe’ vibes and I feel like I am the CEO. Manifestation, you know? While a crisp black suit is timeless, switch it up. You may already know that I love me a good colored suit, especially for conferences as I mentioned in a previous post here, but lately I have been gravitating more towards this beige number. And for fall? Perfection.
For some reason, I never see a woman in a beige suit. I see a red suit more than I do a beige one! I have questions, ladies. I like to pair mine with white as you can see above, but you could easily switch it to brown, black, a lighter beige… You know, neutrals. 😉 To me, it keeps the fall season office wear light and fun. There is no need to start dipping into our never-ending piles of black, grey, and navy. Just disregard the black purse – I was in London for only three nights and wanted to pack light, so I only brought one purse which was not the best choice for this fit to my earlier point about the trick to mixing neutrals, which was not done here.
A Touch of Rock For The Office:
As a lover of all things rock ‘n roll, you know I have to sneak in some bits and pieces of rocker style, even at the office. I often do this through my jewelry or outerwear, but I will let you in on my little secret for having a bit of sneaky edge in your actual fits.
Allsaints. That is my secret. If you aren’t familiar, Allsaints is a British brand that many of us rockers are obsessed with. I first heard about this brand after learning that some of the boys in Bullet For My Valentine, one of my favorite OG bands, wear their leather jackets. Then, I learned Lzzy Hale of Halestorm does as well. So, naturally, I ordered one myself and the rest is history. Aside from the obvious leather jacket that you will see further down the list, I find their clothes quite edgy, but without being obvious.
I recently purchased the blouse above and I am obsessed. It is 100% silk, so very soft and comfortable which is great and all, but can we talk about the pattern? Blood red and dark purple flowers against a midnight black background. If Morticia Addams worked in corporate, she’d be rocking this, for sure. I about lost it when I got this in the mail. The color combo and flower choice is such a subtle nod to rocker style without being in your face. And they have lots of different types of apparel with the same vibe, too.
Some other brands I highly recommend for that chic corporate rocker look would be Zadig & Voltaire and Rag & Bone. The best part? All three of them do proper office wear, too!
Black Is The New Black:
Basic? Never. Classic? Always. Of course I had to mention a classic black fit for fall office wear. Personally, I try and avoid wearing all black in the summers because of the heat, so the second the leaves start to turn and the breeze starts to chill, the black comes out to play.
Something new I have been playing with that I plan to continue for the fall is a three-piece suit. I mean, I never see men pull out the three-piece suit unless it is for a black tie event, so I will do it for them on a normal Thursday and look great doing it. I often pair the vest with a cropped blazer for an extra feminine touch, but a long blazer will do just fine. Let(s be honest here, women look better in vests than men do.
Another way to make your black suit stand out among a sea of others is the materials. A quality suit speaks for itself. Designer may be the first thought here, but you don’t need to spend lots of money to look expensive and well put together. Go for the mid-range brands and the second hand market. The large majority of the time, these items are brand new or close, and the prices are often 80-90% cheaper.
Throughout my work-related travels, I discovered many new brands abroad that do workwear well. The prices are mid-range, but the quality can square up with some of my luxury pieces. I want to give a shoutout to Aritzia in Canada along with Witchery and Nude Lucy in Australia. I plan to do a large purchase from them every year and pay the shipping and customs fees because they are THAT good.
Office Wear – A Tailored Dress:
This style of dress is about as ‘office siren’ as I will get at my corporate job. It is sleeveless and button down. This means sitting down can be… Tricky. I wear a bodysuit under to avoid any mishaps. However, this looks SO GOOD. It is a go-to dress when I have client presentations. Think Balmain-level sophistication and tailoring. Plus, this dress can very easily go from day to night which is lovely for after-work drinks or a dinner with the other half.
This is the shortest dress I wear to work and I always wear black or nude tights to keep it work appropriate. I also like to pair leather jackets with this dress as my outerwear layer to add a bit of edge and break up the very formal, sophisticated look of this dress. The photo does not reflect it, but it is actually navy and has a thin, vertical striped pattern. Something about a pinstripe, when done well, truly elevates a look.
I can guarantee you that this dress will be worn again and again this fall. Get yourself a sharp, tailored dress for this fall season!
Final Thoughts:
I truly hope that you felt inspired by some of my tried and true office wear outfits for fall. Corporate jobs may not be overly exciting, so make sure to compensate with a killer fit that won’t get you called into the HR office. The saying ‘dress for the job you want, not the job you have’ holds very true, trust me.
Play around with textures, layering, neutrals (or colors!), and make sure to add your own personal style in it. Whether that be rocker like yours truly, soft girl, artsy, add it in! There are always fun little ways to add your personality to your look and have fun with your outfits every day. And besides, who doesn’t love getting compliments about your outfit from colleagues? Let us slay, one office at a time.
Outfits:
I tried my best to link the exact items when possible, but sometimes they are out of stock or season. If that is the case, I will always link something similar. If you have a question on a specific item, feel free to send me a message on Instagram here.
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Stay Chaotic,
Tess
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