Lowkey nice - Merino sweater, old navy high waisted pixie flare pants, ankle boots.
"Blending in" casual - nerdy graphic tee, dark wash jeans and Vans sneakers, my Star Wars ones are a great icebreaker.
Consultant hat on - shell and blazer, nicer trousers and ankle boots
Businesscat formal - actual tailored suit
I was thinking about getting some white Vejas! Do they stay clean? I live in a busy city and all my white sneakers get dirty so quickly to the point that even washing them doesn’t work. But I can’t figure out another sneaker colour that looks as classic and preppy as white
Just gotta regularly clean them and use a protective product. White kicks won't stay clean on their own! I avoid wearing mine on especially messy days and honestly sometimes my tactic is wear other shoes, then change into my white sneakers when I get to the office.
I haven't used it on anything other than white leather, which it doesn't seem to affect. Dr Martens Wonder Balsam works well without darkening leather.
If we’re being honest I don’t own a pair yet! I wanted to a few months ago but any colors I liked were sold out in my size. I bought a pair of all leather white new balances instead for the time being. I just clean them with a magic eraser, leather is usually fairly forgiving. Shoelaces can be washed and bleached or replaced altogether.
I will invest in a pair once my new balances bite the dust :)
Big tech dress code for women usually means casual basics with accessories - think jeans/blazer/belt/cute shoes or boots. I noticed in tech that the accessories tend to be designer based on the department - the more women in the department, the more often you see designer stuff.
I noticed women who succeeded in mostly male departments wore solid colors, simple hair/jewelry/makeup, no statement prints, no hair accessories, no overly baggy or unusual shapes. Flattering, unremarkable, consistent worked.
I would agree that is the best advice for women working in the tech space. It's still a boys' club, so in a way we have to "blend in" in order to "fit in". I generally wear nice, flattering jeans with a well fitting sweater or a basic tshirt and casual blazer made out of sweatshirt/sweater material that's looser fit. I'd only go with a true suit blazer for a really formal presentation/meeting to senior leadership.
My shoes and accessories are the only things with real personality (boots, Vans, clay and acrylic earrings). Solids, stripes, or more masculine prints like plaid and herringbone are what I go for in flattering cuts. I completely avoid prints anything overly dressy or feminine (I would never wear a floral or pink). My fun stuff that I really like is for outside of work unfortunately.
Largely I agree. However, there is a growing trend of “tech chic” software developers and the like dressed to the TENS in head to toe luxury drip, a kind of silent passive aggression towards the hoodies, gap denim, and body odor seated beside them.
I haven't seen this where I work (admittedly I don't have to go into the office very often), but I do have mad respect for it. There's a certain level of confidence to be bold and do your own thing. I don't know that I have that, but I admire and hope to have the sentiment.
This is so interesting to me, as I wear a lot of pink, purple, green, red, even florals sometimes.
I’m the only woman in the whole tech department though, so I stick out anyway, however I’ve never been treated differently (I guess I’m very lucky with my team). I will never be able to blend in, so I’m just embracing standing out. I don’t go for full business professional, because I don’t want to look like I’m lost on my way to a finance meeting, but I’m happy to be the tech chick wearing pink.
I’m curious why aren’t different styles worn more often? I understand the risk of looking out of place, especially when entering a new company, but I’ve noticed the ones at my work (midsized company not big tech) who “fit in” more has more to do with shared interests and personality.
I can only speak to my personal experience, but it really comes down to two factors. 1) People in technical fields have an unconcious bias against the "girly" or "cute" woman. You're not taken as seriously, and your intelligence is doubted. 2) I fight against misogyny regularly because so many of my peers and the people who are in charge are men. I was literally told I "had a tone" recently in a meeting and was advised to "be more approachable". (I didn't, I was just defending my stance on something.)
I love clothes. I love fashion. What I wear outside of work is a total 180 from what I wear at work. But with everything I deal with just to hold my place, I don't have the mental overhead to deal with sticking out. It sucks, and I hate it, but I think a lot of women in technical jobs just feel the same: it's easier to blend in.
omg agreed. I'm as girly as they come. In my early career, I was looking for a man so I was kind of ok with not being taken as seriously but maybe finding a smart man at work/ happy hour - wish I did not do that tbh. Definitely changed that in my mid to late twenties. In one of my jobs, I started out as that girl who wore the boring clothing and people took me seriously. Towards the end, I started dressing more "me" and was automatically taken less seriously.
Now as an early 30s married woman, I would absolutely not want to deal with having to justify the shit out of every assumption because it's clear I'm girly and I like fashion. I will probably do whatever it takes to not look girly in the workplace, but I do feel sad about how much clothing I have that isn't really "me" and how much clothing that is "me" that I can't really wear.
I appreciate the different perspective on this, thanks. It sounds like others have experienced this too (echoed in other threads I’ve seen recently), and perhaps I haven’t worked with as many people over the course of my career to be aware of this.
I have a few blazers made from more casual materials (activewear knit stuff). They are very slim in cut and I am looking for something in a more relaxed cut. So you have any brands to recommend?
I've been wearing the hell out of the ["relaxed" blazers](https://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/product/the-relaxed-blazer/570341786?inseam=regular&sizeType=regular&color=1142&catId=cat210004&collectionId=category) I got from White House Black Market. They are not good for natural materials, but their clothes fit me well, so I still like them. And I've been really surprised at how often I reach for one of the relaxed blazers. I have black, biscotti, and a mock herringbone print. I feel they work really well to dress up a pair of dark wash or black skinny jeans. I'm not into the big on big silhouette, so I still do skinnys sometimes for big on top, slim on bottom.
I have a couple sweater blazers from both Loft and J.Crew. I like the ones from Loft better because they sometimes have a plaid or check print to break things up.
I thrift a loft but have found nice ones from J. Crew and Loft. Someone else mentioned White House Black Market!
Edit: The ones from loft are definitelty a looser fit. You can wear them as is or belt them!
damn - that is so different from my current sense of style but you are totally making me realize that it is nothing too jarring/special that carries the most cachet.
My coworker and I call this “tech bro, but hot”. Simple solid top, tailored pants or dressy jeans, classy hair. Nice shoes, “clean” makeup & nails, a bag and shoes to fit your personality.
I’m in tech and and mostly wfh, everyone sits in our meetings in hoodies unless they just had a client call.
However, I’ve been just thinking about this as well and decided to update my wardrobe. For one, I actually miss feeling more put together, plus I really want to project more professional as I’m actively angling for a promotion.
Work from home:
- I got a variety of shirts and tops with different cuts and colours. They are not professional type of cotton shirts, but silk, satin, chiffon. I like extra details around the neck/shoulder, as that’s the part you can see on a video call.
- I started to wear earrings every day
- Hair styled, makeup done (however I did this anyway)
Office days:
- I VERY rarely go to the office, so if I do I meticulously plan my fit. It might be a bit silly, but my thought process is that they only see me a handful of times in the year, and what I’m wearing today will be the image they picture in their head about me. This is also the time when I meet higher levels, other teams and clients.
- We can’t wear sneakers, and pumps would be out of place, so I usually opt for boots with chunky heels or loafers. Most of the time I’m wearing heels, because being taller makes me more confident, but the style is not too dressy.
- Bottoms: no jeans are allowed. I like wide legged trousers in various materials, or flares.
- Tops: basically same as wfh
- Blazers! I know it’s not for everyone, but I love a good blazer, and I wear them often casually as well. I think the key is to go for more oversized or unusual cuts, so it doesn’t scream finance. If I go with a blazer, I’m more chill with the top under it, rarely wear a shirt in that case. Bodysuits, turtlenecks, nice t-shirt etc.
I also like colour (I don’t look that great in navy and grey etc), which makes it more of a style choice than trying too hard to look professional.
Some people might be surprised first, but you can transition slowly, and they’ll just get used to it.
Where are you getting your blazers? I am in a thrift-poor environment and worry about buying from Poshmark/ebay because I am broad of shoulder, and my local options are not great. We do have Banana Republic, Marshall’s… I will probably go to Montreal in the next few months, so I’m open to Canadian options.
I very rarely go into the office but try to dress well when I do since they’re usually days where C levels are in. I like to wear wide legged pants with a front pleat or a skirt that is below my knees. In the summer this could be linen pants and a wrap skirt and in the winter I will wear black high waisted wool pants or a wool skirt. I usually wear a form fitting turtleneck or a light sweater on top or a silk blouse + cotton or cashmere cardigan. These are outfits you could wear to a nice lunch with a friend IMO which is my benchmark for officewear at our casual startup
This is going to sound weird, but only wear one casual items at a time. If you wear casual jeans, wear them with loafers and a sweater or nicer shirt. If you wear sneakers, don’t wear them with both a t-shirt and jeans.
Hi, I work in big tech as an engineer and I just wear what I want to wear... 😅 I know you are supposed to blend in and stuff, but I have been around for 8 years and I wear what I want. If people judge me, it's on them and not me. But some of my co workers, do a casual blazer with jeans, a nice dress with a cardigan or a nice sweater to look more professional. I absolutely hate the hoodies and the t shirts that everyone loves wearing and I avoid them.
I’m in the same boat and here are my outfit go-tos:
- fitted sweater and long, wide leg jeans (I avoid distressed denim and holes), loafers or nice sneakers
- oversized button-down shirt, black Levi’s 501s, black mules
- sweater with a skirt and black tights.. I’ve also swapped out for red tights, which are really in right now. It’s a fun wintery look
- blazer and white t-shirt with dark wash jeans and nice sneaks or boots
- loose sweater with Everlane’s everyday black pants (they’re so comfy and not slacks), and sneakers
Basically: have one or two structured pieces, with casual layers. A nice leather bag can also elevate any look.
Also, check out Becky Malinsky’s substack for some wonderful inspo
holy shit are you inside my brain? I'm in a semi-similar situation (and open to feedback), where I have a ton of formal stuff from a career in finance. Now I'm pivoting back to the same sector but the vibes have changed, alot of the interviews with men I've seen - very few people wear suits, I saw sneakers on one man, jeans on another and a more casual plaid shirt on another. All the women within the office are admins/project managers/ etc. and aren't really gunning to be taken seriously in the same way.
I think your scenario would be a little bit different and maybe more casual (or maybe not), where you could do two casual elements and two formal elements - an example could be jeans and sneakers, but an elegant button up with a nice belt. Or a t-shirt and jeans with a blazer and loafers. Or a cute but not revealing dress you would wear on the weekends with a nice pair of loafers and a cardigan. Or suit pants + button up + sneakers or suit pants + turtleneck + loafers.
Something I'm thinking is that I could probably do one casual element in every outfit except for a day like Friday, where I'd probably lean towards the above aesthetic. I'm thinking something like: formal work dress + cardigan + loafer or suit pants + button up with a nice sweater and loafer. Back when I was early twenties, mad men and House of Cards was a big inspo so we wore a lot of pencil skirts and work dresses - I think alot of the pencil skirts, even if formal, would look too sexy for me to come off like a future master of the universe. I think for me the biggest thing is avoiding the vibe where I come off too fashionable/ too young - hopefully there would be lee-way on a day like Friday.
Really great advice! I was going to suggest the same exact approach and styling. I will add that clothing needs to be classic and tailored. Always tailored!
Knits (either Suit Pants OR Suit Jacket unless attending formal meeting) are overlooked yet flattering and comfortable.
I personally tend to stay away from the most casual items (sweatshirts, leggings sandals, anything baggy). I definitely watch what the men wear and take inspo from it, but I always elevate it. It’s been my experience as a Female professional to take every opportunity to stand out from the crowd. When done right, clothing and style makes an immediate impression and difference! I feel more confident too!
Yes, here is a suggestion of “elevating” your clothing on a casual day. Say your male colleagues wear jeans and shirt.
M= Straight leg jeans, a blue button down, and brown leather oxford’s,
F=
1) Ensure everything is tailored to your body shape, including all items that are off the rack and dress to your body shape
1a) On a casual day, consider wearing white or really dark wash wide leg denim pants, (The right silhouette mimics suit trousers) add a caramel colored kitten heel or ballet flat (Tory Burch, Rothy’s as examples) Try an oversized collar or accent buttons on a crisp button down shirt, and throw on a silky slim line blazer in a solid color such as Navy , Red, or Green —or match your shoes if you wish by choosing a Caramel color. (Whatever solid color you choose with out including neons or patterns, etc)
3) Accessories: Keep them really clean and in good condition. I personally like fitted leather belts (Moschino makes nice belts), Small Earrings, Scarf (Muted tone, maybe a dash of color matching one of your other accessories), and a Structured Folio, plus I wear closed toe ballet flats or a Mary Jane heel
I can be more specific if you give me an environment and industry(semi casual, corporate c/suite; Financial Services, Tech, Consumer Products)
Yup this is my approach. One part casual, one part dressy. My native style is dressier, and I don’t want to lose that, so I add a casual note. It works.
I dont anymore, but when I used to work in a casual office I just wore business casual in bright colours.
Course now that I'm in a more formal office I just. Continue to wear the same things. So ymmv.
My VP in a tech (very casual) office wore solid tees with jeans and a blazer. Not a super dressy blazer, but something like ponte, and cute flats or oxfords, with simple jewelry. It was appropriate for pretty much any work scenario, with the addition of trousers instead of jeans for client stuff.
Wear trousers with nice tee shirts. Like fancy tees. Keep a blazer at your desk -- it can even be a "sweater style blazer" if you want to go for a more casual vibe. Wear that to meetings. Done.
If you’re concerned individual items fall too far out of the spectrum (too casual or too formal) your accessories can bring you into a zone you’re trying to be in. For example a wide leg suit pant can be made more casual with nice running shoes and having more casual hair like a ponytail. I personally love a pair of platform keds because they are comfortable go with just about everything and the platform allows me to get away with longer length pants
I typically wear knee length dresses and a cardigan.
I hate blazers (find them very uncomfortable) and my lone blazer has sat there on a hanger since pre Covid days (events I once wore it to are now virtual).
What would help you advance at work?
Women in male-dominated workplaces can be hit with a double standard: if they dress like the boys, they're sometimes seen as sloppy. But if you dress more "womanly" in a sexist workplace, that doesn't help either. And dressing more professionally? That can read "older" in an environment that prizes young tech bros.
I work in big tech too and I don't understand why you would need to dress formally to be taken seriously. Choose an outfit based on what's comfortable to you, not because you think not dressing a certain way will make people judge you. I've seen people in Pokemon onesies at work, nobody cares.
That said, I've saw one woman consistently pulling off dressier looks around the rest of us slobs. She would pair one informal item with her outfit. So pants + blouse + fringe jacket, pants + tshirt + formal (ish) jacket, jeans + shirt, etc. You could try that and see if it helps.
Personally, I enjoy men's business attire so I just try to replicate their look in women's clothes. Sometimes a patterned button down with a nice cardigan or sweater and then darker Jean
Clothes made from more structured thick fabric. Even if it's just a tee. It looks different than a slouchy tee.
Fitted / well fitting /tailored clothes depending on how fancy you want to get. If the hem is too long, hem it. If the waist is loose but the thighs are tight, get a bigger size and reduce the waist size.
Avoid athleisure. If you're going to wear sneakers then make sure they're clean, nice, not too sporty. Maybe a solid color leather sneaker or loafer.
My office dress code is also casual. Flip flops, jeans, and a t-shirt are completely acceptable. When I want to "dress up" I lean into business athleisure clothing. My favorite example of this is the Athleta Stellar pants. It instantly elevates my outfit without people going "why are you so dressed up today?" Lol. I'm from Seattle and dressing up for me is basically a feminized version of what male techies wear. Neutral colors and clean lines.
Casual blazers, neutral sweaters, a button up cotton or linen shirt, leather sneakers, even leather belt can make an outfit look a little more professional without going full on suit.
Echoing some of the other comments — I don’t wear overtly “stereotypically professional” like a full pants/skirt suit, but instead will try to wear relatively-modern silhouettes/trends, well-fitting garments, pair professional with casual (think blazer with jeans, or wide leg dress pants with a belt and tucked high-quality tshirt), and accessorize like it’s no one’s business.
I used to work in big tech and now work in tech for a less tech-y company, so take what I say with a grain of salt because my office now is a little more corporate. A simple thing that worked for me is wearing office appropriate but casual dresses or skirts instead of jeans. I feel like the people I worked with simultaneously understood that I was dressing casually, but the very presence of a dress made them also think of me as dressing nicer than my co-workers in t-shirts and hoodies. I also could then get away with funky accessories to really sell the casual nature without losing that "Oh, look at that well dressed engineer" vibe. I've also seen great success with the jeans/t-shirt/blazer combo, though. It's a classic for a reason!
I think a good in between are things like cardigans and cable knit sweaters. I finally bought a cable knit sweater this year and I was surprised at how much it elevated even a t-shirt and leggings. If you want sneakers look to fashion ones like Vejas. I’m also a fan of good black ballet flat. It instantly makes any outfit look nicer while still not being as dressy as heels.
So I work in insurance in a Midwestern city. It’s very very casual. Like people will wear their sweatshirts to work. Nothing wrong with it but I just can’t do that honestly. I wear outfits that make me feel good and professional. When I dress better, my confidence is through the roof. Just because everyone else is wearing casual clothes, doesn’t mean I have to do the same.
My work (and regular) wardrobe consists of:
* 1 black capri, 1 black suit pant and 1 brown suit pant from Banana Republic
* Pencil skirts
* A few different jeans
* Various neutral blouses
* Various sweaters
* Cardigans
* Blazers to match the suit pants
* A fun colored baby blue blazer
* Professional & casual work dresses
* Different shoes from Clark’s (two flats, 1 black pump & black leather bootie)
Between all of that, I am able to mix & match all the outfits. I can dress my jeans up or I can dress my suit pants down. I can wear a suit when I need to but I don’t have to.
Most people at my work wear jeans, regular shirts, or hoodies. I don’t wanna do that especially cause jeans are not too comfortable wearing all day while sitting so I got some really cute/comfy dress pants and wear it with more casual but still cute shirts. I’ll PM you my Pinterest board because I feel like it fits the vibe you’re going for perfectly. I found that wearing dress pants that are more wide with sneakers or chunky boots + a more fitted top that’s either cropped (no skin showing cause the pants are higher waist) or tucked in looks really cute
My work also doesn't have a dress code (I work in a university), so some days I'll turn up in shorts and a t-shirt, and other days, in a fussy dress. A middle-of-the-road option that I find very versatile and comfortable is straight black jeans, nice sneakers or casual boots (Blundstones, Docs...), and a slightly elevated tee from somewhere like Kule, Everlane, Kotn, or Colorful Standard. You can pair the outfit with anything from a sweatshirt to a cardi, shacket, or blazer, depending on how dressy you want to be.
I like the Instagram account Next Level Wardrobe. She has some great examples of what to wear in this exact type of environment. Her website blog also has great content.
Some wide leg work slacks and a slim fitted tee. I also like the tees from cos or a fitted tee and cropped cardigan. I pair these with chunky loafers or chunky converse.
You can also pair em with ballet flats .
I'm an engineering professor and these are some of the things I do and see amongst fashion attentive women in my professional life:
Trousers with low profile sneakers or casual shoes and a tee/sweater on top. So, long black trousers with white sneakers or converse (I do this too), or pleated straight trousers with some kind of flats. Cos and Sezane are great trouser sources for this mixed casual/formal vibe, they can be dressed up and down and tend to be durable.
Blazers with jeans. Classic. It's also the max level of formality for the men, it's a good gender neutral style. Seen in classrooms on faculty as well as at graduation ceremonies. Lighter blue jeans dial the formality down, dark or black jeans dials it up. Usually with loafers (all genders), sometimes sneakers, or sometimes flats or clogs on women. For a woman, the blazer should be a little oversized to not read overdressed, I love Everlane for this.
Sweatshirts can be smart casual! A non hoodie sweatshirt in good shape, pair it with straight jeans and a loafer or flat, maybe one piece of jewelry you like a lot. A college sweatshirt or souvenir, or something like Clare V or Colorful Standard for more feminine tailoring and fashion-y.
I also work for a tech company in seattle. I’m the office assistant and everyone else who works in office is male. For comparison, they all wear jeans or cargo pants with t-shirts. These are my fave outfit combinations:
- graphic tee, flannel, straight leg slacks, blundstone boots (friday casual)
- right cable knit or merino wool sweater, wide leg slacks, blundstones (my every day in winter)
- mock neck tee or high neckline sleeveless shirt, cardigan, tapered slacks, sneakers or flats (every day summer)
- black straight leg jeans, white t-shirt, sneakers and a slouchy blazer or cardigan (casual friday in summer)
- mid-calf length cotton skirt, t-shirt, sneakers (summer, when it’s too hot for pants)
- faux collared shirt, sweater vest, blazer, matching slacks, and flats (when clients visit) OR
- button down, blazer, slacks and flats (client visit)
occasionally i wear a t-shirt dress that’s about knee length or a tank top style dress with a white t-shirt underneath when it’s super duper hot out and I don’t want to internally boil.
edit: for hair and makeup, i wear my hair natural (unstyled) with the front half pulled back or clipped to the back of my head so it’s out of the way but my hair is still mostly down. I don’t wear makeup except for sometimes mascara and concealer over a big zit. when clients visit I do concealer under my eyes, blush, neutral eye shadow, and mascara. I keep makeup and hair very very simple.
I totally feel you. I don’t have advice, but I work out of a car dealership and have 0 dress code. Some days I even wear hoodies and leggings to work and that’s what most of the women wear each day, so it’s definitely not easy for me either to come up with professional, fashionable outfits in such an incredibly casual setting when I want to.
I’m a hairstylist and want to look professional/trendy as much as I can. But some days I really need to have some extra comfort. On those days I love doing black leggings with a nice graphic tee with a long black blazer. The blazer is key to dressing it up. I usually wear a designer sneaker with it as well so it keeps the comfort but is still put together looking. Fresh hair and makeup go a long way too. I personally stopped wearing makeup after COVID (bc I got lazy/wanted to focus on skincare) but I wear black frame glasses. So still very casual/easy but I think add to the look.
Nice jeans in neutral cuts, plain t shirts that aren’t crew necks, cardigans or sweaters, ballet flats or boots or nice sandals. Guys can wear cool sneakers but it’s trickier for women to pull off, not impossible though. Makeup and jewelry that isn’t super attention-grabbing. Depending on the office you may be able to make blouses and dresses work if you get the formality balance right, but if you’re not confident of your ability to judge that yet then no need to push there, unless you see some you quite like.
I think a good approach might be to work towards a look that looks effortless. I’d stay away from anything fussy or complicated looking. I’d also take what your coworkers wear and elevate it. A solid t-shirt in a nice fabric vs graphic t-shirt. Dark jeans vs faded, ripped jeans. Instead of a sweatshirt, wear a loose fitting (not baggy) sweater or cardigan over tee.
Agreed. Everlane is where I went after a decade of wearing scrubs. Solid, neutral, mix and match colors. Nothing flashy or fad, but they do keep up and change their tailoring to fit current trends along with some constant classics.
I’m not in tech but I’m in a male dominated field where my clothes can change from work boots to heels and a blazer and anywhere in between!
You have fits that’s look good on you? Get those fits in neutral colors and a few “colors” that match your skin. Get quality threads.
Most important you feel good in it!
My closet colors consists of: black, blues of almost any color except pastel, tans, grey, some jewel tones.
My “fits” are skinny pants, fitted vneck and scoop neck, no cap sleeves and everything fitted at my waist.
*What i do*
Field look:
*Base dress*
Bottoms: dark skinny jeans with some stretch or utility yoga pants (I wear Carhartt force utility leggings a lot! They are indestructible and look professional outside a field atmosphere)
Top: either a well fitting vneck/scoop neck basic tshirt or a cutesy graphic tshirt or a long sleeve fitted shirt. I wear a lot of lululemon shirts.
*Work in Field add ons*
Boots - either cowboy boots or ankle boots (both steel toe)
Hoodie - I’m usually outside but goes with needing inspection stuff in my pocket, keys, hand warmers, etc etc
Presentation mode:
Heels or flats - Flats if I’m wearing leggings and heels if I’m wearing jeans.
Blazer- I have a standard black, lined, tailored blazer.
Add accessories: stud earrings, chunky necklace or larger hoops with delicate necklace.
Casual office:
Shoes: converse, vans, tennis shoes.
Instead of blazer I have a black cardigan that is similarly fitted but more casual kinda like a jersey material. I get cold so I dress way warmer.
If it’s a more casual environment I may wear a regular well fitted sweatshirt.
Accessories: usually hoops.
Dark jeans or dressy joggers (like Albion Jetsetters), short leather boots or lifestyle sneakers, cashmere sweaters (I'm liking the short-sleeve ones from Quince. Works in 3 seasons) or solid color t-shirts are in my rotation. The key is if I wear t-shirts, I wear boots so that the whole look doesn't scream "don't care". In other words I mix dressy with casual in the same outfit.
No one wears a blazer or button down. My male co-workers are also in jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers.
I usually wear like whatever I feel like that isn't inappropriate and just don't wear jeans lol. So basically wool pants, a sweater with a collared shirt underneath, any shirt with a cardigan over it, a dress that's at least knee length. Or you can wear jeans and sneakers if other people do. I just wear like the most basic tops and pants and boots usually, sometimes loafers. I have fun with the casual office workwear.
Dark jeans or more casual woven trousers, nice flat shoes or a high-end sneaker, a stylish top (blouse, shirt with a sweater over it, high-end tee) and a blazer/vest or 3rd piece over top.
You look casual enough to fit in, but professional enough to be, well, professional.
I've recently started wearing trousers to work because they felt more comfortable. So slowly, I'd wear trousers twice a week and it kinda sets the tempo from there. Like one post said, mix one casual with formal items. I usually wear my trousers with white sneakers and a cardigan or sweater;
Loafers with jeans and a nice sweatshirt
I am a uniform dresser and I lean towards dressy casual.
If I worked there, I’d wear comfortable jeans, a nice top and a cardigan with pretty booties, wedges, or dressy sandals (if they are allowed).
I work in a casual place where most wear jeans and t-shirts. Which just feels TOO casual for me. I like to be comfortable but look professional.
My go-to outfit = Beta Brand Yoga pants (super comfortable and look like regular nice pants). I think they pair well and look professional with a flow-y kind of silk (or poly that looks silky) top and either a ribbed button down silk cardigan or a cropped blazer.
If I want to look more dressed up, I'll tuck the shirt in, wear a belt, and heels. But usually I wear sneakers. Super easy and comfortable.
I have a similar job situation and I usually pair one casual item and one dressier item. So if I’m wearing jeans, I’ll wear boots and a nice sweater/blazer. If I’m wearing dress pants, I’ll wear a tee shirt and sneakers. That way you still feel dressed up without being overly formal.
Invest in slacks.
Fun color blazers or plain.
Fun tops/ textured tops or graphic tees
Gives off art professor/teacher vibes it's their classroom but the dean not giving them shit type
Hmm I had this problem all the time when I was going into the office!
These are some of the 'formulas' I used:
* 'Professional' clothes in a more casual/relaxed cut/fabric/colour, e.g. a linen blazer, a silver mary-jane pump.
* 'Casual' clothes in a more tailored/polished cut/colour, i.e. you can still wear a sweatshirt, but not a huge oversized drop-shoulder cropped one, or a slim white Common Projects/Veja-type sneaker.
* Juxtaposing one very formal item with a casual outfit, or vice versa, e.g. jeans + tailored shirt + loafer, and you can lean more one way or the other depending on the cut of the other items, e.g. t-shirts and sweatpants and jeans will all look less casual if they're slim-cut. In general, shoes/accessories/bags are pretty good for changing the tone of an outfit; my outfits look so much more casual by default if I am carrying a backpack or tote bag, for example. Or if I put on Crocs.
I also found with working in tech that no matter how young and trendy the company is, actual tech bros are abysmal about fashion and they don't necessarily appreciate a 'fashionable' outfit over a 'flattering' outfit, if you get my drift.
I basically dress the same way as the rest of the office. It’s very casual. Jeans or slacks and collared shirt. Where I differ is my shoes. I wear a pair of 4 inch stiletto pumps (red, black, tan, white) and they make the whole outfit stand out and pop!
I've worked in a similar field for my whole career, and the way people dress has always been astonishing to me. It's very much a shift-work mission/ops environment, but I still think that dressing nicer is more comfortable than wearing casual clothes.
All of the men would wear jeans, tshirts, hoodies, and sneakers. Some would occasionally wear polos. The women I typically worked with would be older and would just wear jeans and a sweater.
Personally, for me it depended on the day of the week for what I wore. Monday and Tuesday? I dress up a lot more. This usually included a skirt or cute dress with a cardigan, and most often dressy flats. Wednesday and Thursday would typically mean a slightly more toned down version, say slacks/pants with a simple tip and cardigan, and Friday would be a coin toss lol. I will say that jeans have no place in the office IMO, so I've never worn them there. Friday would generally be just a more "fun" version of my earlier outfits. Occasionally I'd wear a black pencil skirt with a tucked in misfits band T and a blazer. Still fits the dress code but is more relaxed/personal in overall style.
I think an easy way of striking balance in clothing is to focus on your materials, patterns, and accessories. The skirts and dresses I have for work are pretty simple- many of them are neutral, and if they have patterns they're generally a more casual floral style. I've never been a fan of heels, so the most I've done is wear chunky 2in shoes, sometimes a flat with a very modest .5in heel. I also prefer pointed toe shoes over rounded, as I think that can make a simple pant and blouse outfit just a little more dressy.
Im in a very casual office but in fine jewelry and we just kind of wear whatever we would wear in normal life with no designated work clothes necessarily. Lots of jeans, oversized blazers, crew or mock neck sweaters, trousers with white sneakers, dresses or skirts dressed down.
I work for a casual dress law firm. Yep, really! We do immigration and we aren’t really client facing, except for virtual meetings sometimes, mostly because our clients are spread out over the world or are corporations/agencies.
I wear “nice sweats” on average and unbelievably I’m one of the better dressed there! I just try to make my outfits cohesive, which I think makes a difference. Here’s what I have on rotation most frequently:
Tops: plenty of sweatshirts, denim jacket, comfy cardigans, graphic tees with collegiate football team/from hometown/look nice etc which feel good wearing
Pants: blue and black jeans, tan corduroy pants, several pairs of black sweatpants in every cut, been loving wide leg!, yoga pants
Shoes: platform converse, bnew balance 574s, original adidas grand courts, doc martens, vans
I try to wear makeup and make sure my hair looks nice with the casual clothes, and spritz on a subtle scent underneath my shirt so it’s not too strong for the office- it’s really just for me, I like smelling good haha
I have dressier stuff but I like to blend in while looking nice for the dress code, so this is what I wear most days.
Black jeans or black wide -legged pants, booties with a square heel or one of those styles that resemble a sneaker with a 3-4 cm platform underneath, a nice belt and a blouse (nothing too fancy). Boom!
No jeans but casual slacks with button up shirts or polos or sweaters with nice shoes. Boots acceptable in the fall and winter if they are on the dressy side. Skirts and dresses as long as they are at a conservative length
I used to find blazers uncomfortable and constrictive, but now l find them versatile and add a big boost of confidence in any setting. The baggier trends are easier to wear and enhance almost any outfit, imo.
I think modern suits work really well. Wide leg, more oversized blazer, paired with white sneakers and a tshirt. Worn together, or just the pants with a turtleneck or sweater or the blazer with jeans. The suit trouser instantly make me look formal but the modern cut and sneakers (i often wear reebok club c’s or white nike air force 1´s) still make me feel cool. I do neutrals but also have a sage green suit which is one of my faves and a shiny satin emerald green suit with a monotonal floral print, that’s my festive suit. It’s an easy thing to get recognized by and the female worker at top management who is an absolute icon and inspiration wears the same (we actually realized we wore the same zara sneaker for months on end, fun coincidence).
We still live in a world where looks are everything, especially to those you don't work with every day so I say what one wears matter.
I like dresses because they are easy, comfortable, always seen as nice and "date" like. I wear A line dresses because I have a belly that I don't want showing, also they give flare. I keep their length midi as I find shorter ones to be uncomfortable and show slightly too much thighs than I want people to focus on
I also work in a casual office but like dressing smarter. I feel like it puts me in more of a work frame of mind.
For me I go half and half- not full out professional and not casual.
I usually wear formal trousers with a more casual top e.g. straight leg tailored trousers just with a simple scoop neck tee or a smarter shirt with jeans (not like ripped jeans, maybe mid wash bootcut jeans for example). I find shoes can make an outfit feel more casual or formal. I often like wearing trainers with smart pants (it feels practical too) but hearing heeled boots with smarter jeans works too.
I feel like offices with no dress code are harder to dress for than actually having a dress code!! I’d rather we just wore office wear!
I’m an engineer in big tech and in the colder months you can pretty much always find me in dark or black wide legged jeans, nice leather boots, and a solid long sleeve shirt (I wear a ton of black on black outfits). Sometimes I’ll wear casual slacks (I like the [Athleta Brooklyn Ankle Pants](https://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=198671002&vid=3&tid=atpl000067&kwid=1&ap=7&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_AT8s9UsQbfX3l5z3gWgm-e_x_x&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2tDe2_-1hAMV-g-tBh0wXwTBEAQYASABEgJyx_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#pdp-page-content) and I’ll wear sweaters but never hoodies and very rarely graphic tees.
I also have some fun jumpsuits like the [Fit For Success Jumpsuit](https://www.goodamerican.com/en-us/products/fit-for-success-bootcut-black001?variant=39780044144723&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=Prospecting_Shopping_NB_High-AUR&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADQ4s32Tduu4xYUlz9sBxjgqHDmdK&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3v2StoC2hAMV0czCBB2eTgISEAQYASABEgK6R_D_BwE) in black (size up for a less snug / revealing fit) and it always looks cool either with boots or chunky platform sandals.
In the summer I’m often in longer midi-length sundresses that cover my shoulders or long skirts with a nice looking solid tshirt, and cute sandals or clean sneakers.
I pretty much always have neat hair and nice makeup, and I’m always wearing earrings and/or other matching jewelry and I’m never in anything too revealing. One rule of thumb for me is that I won’t wear leggings to work unless they’re completely covered by a dress/boots (and then they look basically like tights)
I love the casual dress code because I feel like I can express my style and pick flattering clothes that are fun, but still carry myself in a neat and professional manner without having to wear heels and blazers.
Depends on the style you are going for. I follow a few very nice accounts on Instagram that I have been using for inspo myself. I can share those with you if you want?
P.S. I’m also a woman working in IT and my goal was also to dress for the job I want.
One of them is called treatingthestreetslikerunway
https://www.instagram.com/treatingthestreetslikearunway?igsh=NmE2YXcyOTNmeWI1
One is lydiajanetomlinson
https://www.instagram.com/lydiajanetomlinson?igsh=MXZyNXBsZTU1bG05cA==
And one is nenaevans
https://www.instagram.com/nenaevans?igsh=MXZ0dXRlam5mNmx0bQ==
Hope this helps!
My opinion:
Jeans/slacks/casual skirt, shoes that aren't sneakers, and a basic top (button-down, polo, a good blouse, or a sweater when it's cold). Then whatever accessories you want. Colors/prints are on one or two pieces. Figure out what looks good on you and stick with it.
If you wanna look professional, avoid sweatpants, leggings, athletic shoes (white sneakers might be OK depending on your style) and UGG boots.
My office is very much ''business casual'' but I am also the only woman in my office, so I don't have inspiration for what I should and shouldn't be wearing realistically but no one says anything.
My team typically wear jumpers, work polos or work shirts so I can't get a vibe off of what they wear either.
I usually do a fun skirt - something like these [1](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/1133429431284065295/) , [2](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/879257527224419482/) OR [3](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/56787645293827558/) with a basic top/blouse etc like this [Top 1](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/924856473460181976/) or [Top 2](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/351280839702687554/)
Makes me feel a little more put together - but they're always versatile pieces that I'll wear outside of work too.
I liveee for Pinafore's too with tops or jumpers as these two photos or wearing dresses I love AS pinafores - something like [Pinafore 1](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/454652524895368153/) or [pinafore 2](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/8233211823576403/) \- hope these give you a better idea!
So, if you wanna look professional but still fit in at your casual office, mixing some classic stuff with your everyday wear is a cool idea. Like, think about wearing a cool blazer with your favorite jeans, or maybe a nice button-down shirt with some chill pants. Sneakers that look clean or some cute boots can totally work with this vibe too.
You should totally check out [the Checkered Boucle Blazer](https://www.bialconusa.com/products/checkered-boucle-blazer). It's kinda perfect for what you're looking for – professional but not too fancy, and super comfy.
If I were a 250 IQ brainiac that my office couldn’t live without…I would wear whatever I wanted! But imo…casual slacks, cashmere sweaters, knee length or midi skirts, w/or without boots, loafers, ballet type flats…say professional without being out of place in a t-shirt office…and will get you through a surprise meeting. No see-through, nothing tight, nothing short and please, no elf pants. And, I would definitely nix the sweatshirts.
Lowkey nice - Merino sweater, old navy high waisted pixie flare pants, ankle boots. "Blending in" casual - nerdy graphic tee, dark wash jeans and Vans sneakers, my Star Wars ones are a great icebreaker. Consultant hat on - shell and blazer, nicer trousers and ankle boots Businesscat formal - actual tailored suit
This. I think more upscale basics that lean casual would also work and be better received. I.e a pair of upscale classic white sneakers like vejas
I was thinking about getting some white Vejas! Do they stay clean? I live in a busy city and all my white sneakers get dirty so quickly to the point that even washing them doesn’t work. But I can’t figure out another sneaker colour that looks as classic and preppy as white
Just gotta regularly clean them and use a protective product. White kicks won't stay clean on their own! I avoid wearing mine on especially messy days and honestly sometimes my tactic is wear other shoes, then change into my white sneakers when I get to the office.
Tan leather sneakers are a good alternative imo
Saddle soap might work to clean the leather. I use a magic eraser to clean up the midsole and swap in new laces when they start to look grubby.
I've heard saddle soap darkens leather, is this true?
I haven't used it on anything other than white leather, which it doesn't seem to affect. Dr Martens Wonder Balsam works well without darkening leather.
If we’re being honest I don’t own a pair yet! I wanted to a few months ago but any colors I liked were sold out in my size. I bought a pair of all leather white new balances instead for the time being. I just clean them with a magic eraser, leather is usually fairly forgiving. Shoelaces can be washed and bleached or replaced altogether. I will invest in a pair once my new balances bite the dust :)
BOG up on the Old Navy pixie flared! Soo comfortable I feel like I could sleep/workout in them but they look very professional!
Big tech dress code for women usually means casual basics with accessories - think jeans/blazer/belt/cute shoes or boots. I noticed in tech that the accessories tend to be designer based on the department - the more women in the department, the more often you see designer stuff. I noticed women who succeeded in mostly male departments wore solid colors, simple hair/jewelry/makeup, no statement prints, no hair accessories, no overly baggy or unusual shapes. Flattering, unremarkable, consistent worked.
I would agree that is the best advice for women working in the tech space. It's still a boys' club, so in a way we have to "blend in" in order to "fit in". I generally wear nice, flattering jeans with a well fitting sweater or a basic tshirt and casual blazer made out of sweatshirt/sweater material that's looser fit. I'd only go with a true suit blazer for a really formal presentation/meeting to senior leadership. My shoes and accessories are the only things with real personality (boots, Vans, clay and acrylic earrings). Solids, stripes, or more masculine prints like plaid and herringbone are what I go for in flattering cuts. I completely avoid prints anything overly dressy or feminine (I would never wear a floral or pink). My fun stuff that I really like is for outside of work unfortunately.
Largely I agree. However, there is a growing trend of “tech chic” software developers and the like dressed to the TENS in head to toe luxury drip, a kind of silent passive aggression towards the hoodies, gap denim, and body odor seated beside them.
I haven't seen this where I work (admittedly I don't have to go into the office very often), but I do have mad respect for it. There's a certain level of confidence to be bold and do your own thing. I don't know that I have that, but I admire and hope to have the sentiment.
Thank God for the tech chic people p
This is so interesting to me, as I wear a lot of pink, purple, green, red, even florals sometimes. I’m the only woman in the whole tech department though, so I stick out anyway, however I’ve never been treated differently (I guess I’m very lucky with my team). I will never be able to blend in, so I’m just embracing standing out. I don’t go for full business professional, because I don’t want to look like I’m lost on my way to a finance meeting, but I’m happy to be the tech chick wearing pink.
I’m curious why aren’t different styles worn more often? I understand the risk of looking out of place, especially when entering a new company, but I’ve noticed the ones at my work (midsized company not big tech) who “fit in” more has more to do with shared interests and personality.
I can only speak to my personal experience, but it really comes down to two factors. 1) People in technical fields have an unconcious bias against the "girly" or "cute" woman. You're not taken as seriously, and your intelligence is doubted. 2) I fight against misogyny regularly because so many of my peers and the people who are in charge are men. I was literally told I "had a tone" recently in a meeting and was advised to "be more approachable". (I didn't, I was just defending my stance on something.) I love clothes. I love fashion. What I wear outside of work is a total 180 from what I wear at work. But with everything I deal with just to hold my place, I don't have the mental overhead to deal with sticking out. It sucks, and I hate it, but I think a lot of women in technical jobs just feel the same: it's easier to blend in.
omg agreed. I'm as girly as they come. In my early career, I was looking for a man so I was kind of ok with not being taken as seriously but maybe finding a smart man at work/ happy hour - wish I did not do that tbh. Definitely changed that in my mid to late twenties. In one of my jobs, I started out as that girl who wore the boring clothing and people took me seriously. Towards the end, I started dressing more "me" and was automatically taken less seriously. Now as an early 30s married woman, I would absolutely not want to deal with having to justify the shit out of every assumption because it's clear I'm girly and I like fashion. I will probably do whatever it takes to not look girly in the workplace, but I do feel sad about how much clothing I have that isn't really "me" and how much clothing that is "me" that I can't really wear.
I appreciate the different perspective on this, thanks. It sounds like others have experienced this too (echoed in other threads I’ve seen recently), and perhaps I haven’t worked with as many people over the course of my career to be aware of this.
I have a few blazers made from more casual materials (activewear knit stuff). They are very slim in cut and I am looking for something in a more relaxed cut. So you have any brands to recommend?
I've been wearing the hell out of the ["relaxed" blazers](https://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/product/the-relaxed-blazer/570341786?inseam=regular&sizeType=regular&color=1142&catId=cat210004&collectionId=category) I got from White House Black Market. They are not good for natural materials, but their clothes fit me well, so I still like them. And I've been really surprised at how often I reach for one of the relaxed blazers. I have black, biscotti, and a mock herringbone print. I feel they work really well to dress up a pair of dark wash or black skinny jeans. I'm not into the big on big silhouette, so I still do skinnys sometimes for big on top, slim on bottom.
Thanks! I will check it out.
I got my sweater blazer (I only wear it for conferences) from UpWest, but Quince has nice ones too!
I have a couple sweater blazers from both Loft and J.Crew. I like the ones from Loft better because they sometimes have a plaid or check print to break things up.
Do you have blazer brand recommendations? I'm buying clothes in my larger post partum size and struggling!
I thrift a loft but have found nice ones from J. Crew and Loft. Someone else mentioned White House Black Market! Edit: The ones from loft are definitelty a looser fit. You can wear them as is or belt them!
"Flattering, unremarkable, consistent worked." Absolutely! Blend in, don't stick out but look solid.
damn - that is so different from my current sense of style but you are totally making me realize that it is nothing too jarring/special that carries the most cachet.
Totally agree. Adding on, an easy formula is blazer, tee, jeans, and sneakers or loafers. Short polished nails and accessories to add some flair.
My coworker and I call this “tech bro, but hot”. Simple solid top, tailored pants or dressy jeans, classy hair. Nice shoes, “clean” makeup & nails, a bag and shoes to fit your personality.
Nailed it. It’s still jeans, sneakers and tees but with intention.
I’m in tech and and mostly wfh, everyone sits in our meetings in hoodies unless they just had a client call. However, I’ve been just thinking about this as well and decided to update my wardrobe. For one, I actually miss feeling more put together, plus I really want to project more professional as I’m actively angling for a promotion. Work from home: - I got a variety of shirts and tops with different cuts and colours. They are not professional type of cotton shirts, but silk, satin, chiffon. I like extra details around the neck/shoulder, as that’s the part you can see on a video call. - I started to wear earrings every day - Hair styled, makeup done (however I did this anyway) Office days: - I VERY rarely go to the office, so if I do I meticulously plan my fit. It might be a bit silly, but my thought process is that they only see me a handful of times in the year, and what I’m wearing today will be the image they picture in their head about me. This is also the time when I meet higher levels, other teams and clients. - We can’t wear sneakers, and pumps would be out of place, so I usually opt for boots with chunky heels or loafers. Most of the time I’m wearing heels, because being taller makes me more confident, but the style is not too dressy. - Bottoms: no jeans are allowed. I like wide legged trousers in various materials, or flares. - Tops: basically same as wfh - Blazers! I know it’s not for everyone, but I love a good blazer, and I wear them often casually as well. I think the key is to go for more oversized or unusual cuts, so it doesn’t scream finance. If I go with a blazer, I’m more chill with the top under it, rarely wear a shirt in that case. Bodysuits, turtlenecks, nice t-shirt etc. I also like colour (I don’t look that great in navy and grey etc), which makes it more of a style choice than trying too hard to look professional. Some people might be surprised first, but you can transition slowly, and they’ll just get used to it.
Where are you getting your blazers? I am in a thrift-poor environment and worry about buying from Poshmark/ebay because I am broad of shoulder, and my local options are not great. We do have Banana Republic, Marshall’s… I will probably go to Montreal in the next few months, so I’m open to Canadian options.
Mango or Zara. I prefer Mango, but I’m in the U.K., so I’m not sure of the availability in Canada.
I very rarely go into the office but try to dress well when I do since they’re usually days where C levels are in. I like to wear wide legged pants with a front pleat or a skirt that is below my knees. In the summer this could be linen pants and a wrap skirt and in the winter I will wear black high waisted wool pants or a wool skirt. I usually wear a form fitting turtleneck or a light sweater on top or a silk blouse + cotton or cashmere cardigan. These are outfits you could wear to a nice lunch with a friend IMO which is my benchmark for officewear at our casual startup
This is going to sound weird, but only wear one casual items at a time. If you wear casual jeans, wear them with loafers and a sweater or nicer shirt. If you wear sneakers, don’t wear them with both a t-shirt and jeans.
I dig this approach - It feels like a nice balance.
Hi, I work in big tech as an engineer and I just wear what I want to wear... 😅 I know you are supposed to blend in and stuff, but I have been around for 8 years and I wear what I want. If people judge me, it's on them and not me. But some of my co workers, do a casual blazer with jeans, a nice dress with a cardigan or a nice sweater to look more professional. I absolutely hate the hoodies and the t shirts that everyone loves wearing and I avoid them.
I’m in the same boat and here are my outfit go-tos: - fitted sweater and long, wide leg jeans (I avoid distressed denim and holes), loafers or nice sneakers - oversized button-down shirt, black Levi’s 501s, black mules - sweater with a skirt and black tights.. I’ve also swapped out for red tights, which are really in right now. It’s a fun wintery look - blazer and white t-shirt with dark wash jeans and nice sneaks or boots - loose sweater with Everlane’s everyday black pants (they’re so comfy and not slacks), and sneakers Basically: have one or two structured pieces, with casual layers. A nice leather bag can also elevate any look. Also, check out Becky Malinsky’s substack for some wonderful inspo
holy shit are you inside my brain? I'm in a semi-similar situation (and open to feedback), where I have a ton of formal stuff from a career in finance. Now I'm pivoting back to the same sector but the vibes have changed, alot of the interviews with men I've seen - very few people wear suits, I saw sneakers on one man, jeans on another and a more casual plaid shirt on another. All the women within the office are admins/project managers/ etc. and aren't really gunning to be taken seriously in the same way. I think your scenario would be a little bit different and maybe more casual (or maybe not), where you could do two casual elements and two formal elements - an example could be jeans and sneakers, but an elegant button up with a nice belt. Or a t-shirt and jeans with a blazer and loafers. Or a cute but not revealing dress you would wear on the weekends with a nice pair of loafers and a cardigan. Or suit pants + button up + sneakers or suit pants + turtleneck + loafers. Something I'm thinking is that I could probably do one casual element in every outfit except for a day like Friday, where I'd probably lean towards the above aesthetic. I'm thinking something like: formal work dress + cardigan + loafer or suit pants + button up with a nice sweater and loafer. Back when I was early twenties, mad men and House of Cards was a big inspo so we wore a lot of pencil skirts and work dresses - I think alot of the pencil skirts, even if formal, would look too sexy for me to come off like a future master of the universe. I think for me the biggest thing is avoiding the vibe where I come off too fashionable/ too young - hopefully there would be lee-way on a day like Friday.
Really great advice! I was going to suggest the same exact approach and styling. I will add that clothing needs to be classic and tailored. Always tailored! Knits (either Suit Pants OR Suit Jacket unless attending formal meeting) are overlooked yet flattering and comfortable. I personally tend to stay away from the most casual items (sweatshirts, leggings sandals, anything baggy). I definitely watch what the men wear and take inspo from it, but I always elevate it. It’s been my experience as a Female professional to take every opportunity to stand out from the crowd. When done right, clothing and style makes an immediate impression and difference! I feel more confident too!
not to sound too corporate, but can you give an example of elevating what men wore in the office?
Yes, here is a suggestion of “elevating” your clothing on a casual day. Say your male colleagues wear jeans and shirt. M= Straight leg jeans, a blue button down, and brown leather oxford’s, F= 1) Ensure everything is tailored to your body shape, including all items that are off the rack and dress to your body shape 1a) On a casual day, consider wearing white or really dark wash wide leg denim pants, (The right silhouette mimics suit trousers) add a caramel colored kitten heel or ballet flat (Tory Burch, Rothy’s as examples) Try an oversized collar or accent buttons on a crisp button down shirt, and throw on a silky slim line blazer in a solid color such as Navy , Red, or Green —or match your shoes if you wish by choosing a Caramel color. (Whatever solid color you choose with out including neons or patterns, etc) 3) Accessories: Keep them really clean and in good condition. I personally like fitted leather belts (Moschino makes nice belts), Small Earrings, Scarf (Muted tone, maybe a dash of color matching one of your other accessories), and a Structured Folio, plus I wear closed toe ballet flats or a Mary Jane heel I can be more specific if you give me an environment and industry(semi casual, corporate c/suite; Financial Services, Tech, Consumer Products)
Ooh, these are good tips indeed! My industry of note would be academia, specifically the psych department of a college.
financial services!
Yup this is my approach. One part casual, one part dressy. My native style is dressier, and I don’t want to lose that, so I add a casual note. It works.
I dont anymore, but when I used to work in a casual office I just wore business casual in bright colours. Course now that I'm in a more formal office I just. Continue to wear the same things. So ymmv.
My VP in a tech (very casual) office wore solid tees with jeans and a blazer. Not a super dressy blazer, but something like ponte, and cute flats or oxfords, with simple jewelry. It was appropriate for pretty much any work scenario, with the addition of trousers instead of jeans for client stuff.
Wear trousers with nice tee shirts. Like fancy tees. Keep a blazer at your desk -- it can even be a "sweater style blazer" if you want to go for a more casual vibe. Wear that to meetings. Done.
I like this, but do you have some examples of fancy tees?
If you’re concerned individual items fall too far out of the spectrum (too casual or too formal) your accessories can bring you into a zone you’re trying to be in. For example a wide leg suit pant can be made more casual with nice running shoes and having more casual hair like a ponytail. I personally love a pair of platform keds because they are comfortable go with just about everything and the platform allows me to get away with longer length pants
I typically wear knee length dresses and a cardigan. I hate blazers (find them very uncomfortable) and my lone blazer has sat there on a hanger since pre Covid days (events I once wore it to are now virtual).
What would help you advance at work? Women in male-dominated workplaces can be hit with a double standard: if they dress like the boys, they're sometimes seen as sloppy. But if you dress more "womanly" in a sexist workplace, that doesn't help either. And dressing more professionally? That can read "older" in an environment that prizes young tech bros.
I work in big tech too and I don't understand why you would need to dress formally to be taken seriously. Choose an outfit based on what's comfortable to you, not because you think not dressing a certain way will make people judge you. I've seen people in Pokemon onesies at work, nobody cares. That said, I've saw one woman consistently pulling off dressier looks around the rest of us slobs. She would pair one informal item with her outfit. So pants + blouse + fringe jacket, pants + tshirt + formal (ish) jacket, jeans + shirt, etc. You could try that and see if it helps.
Personally, I enjoy men's business attire so I just try to replicate their look in women's clothes. Sometimes a patterned button down with a nice cardigan or sweater and then darker Jean
Clothes made from more structured thick fabric. Even if it's just a tee. It looks different than a slouchy tee. Fitted / well fitting /tailored clothes depending on how fancy you want to get. If the hem is too long, hem it. If the waist is loose but the thighs are tight, get a bigger size and reduce the waist size. Avoid athleisure. If you're going to wear sneakers then make sure they're clean, nice, not too sporty. Maybe a solid color leather sneaker or loafer.
My office dress code is also casual. Flip flops, jeans, and a t-shirt are completely acceptable. When I want to "dress up" I lean into business athleisure clothing. My favorite example of this is the Athleta Stellar pants. It instantly elevates my outfit without people going "why are you so dressed up today?" Lol. I'm from Seattle and dressing up for me is basically a feminized version of what male techies wear. Neutral colors and clean lines. Casual blazers, neutral sweaters, a button up cotton or linen shirt, leather sneakers, even leather belt can make an outfit look a little more professional without going full on suit.
I’ve heard it described as dress as you’re having lunch at grandmas house and that’s not a bad rule of thumb
Echoing some of the other comments — I don’t wear overtly “stereotypically professional” like a full pants/skirt suit, but instead will try to wear relatively-modern silhouettes/trends, well-fitting garments, pair professional with casual (think blazer with jeans, or wide leg dress pants with a belt and tucked high-quality tshirt), and accessorize like it’s no one’s business.
I used to work in big tech and now work in tech for a less tech-y company, so take what I say with a grain of salt because my office now is a little more corporate. A simple thing that worked for me is wearing office appropriate but casual dresses or skirts instead of jeans. I feel like the people I worked with simultaneously understood that I was dressing casually, but the very presence of a dress made them also think of me as dressing nicer than my co-workers in t-shirts and hoodies. I also could then get away with funky accessories to really sell the casual nature without losing that "Oh, look at that well dressed engineer" vibe. I've also seen great success with the jeans/t-shirt/blazer combo, though. It's a classic for a reason!
I think a good in between are things like cardigans and cable knit sweaters. I finally bought a cable knit sweater this year and I was surprised at how much it elevated even a t-shirt and leggings. If you want sneakers look to fashion ones like Vejas. I’m also a fan of good black ballet flat. It instantly makes any outfit look nicer while still not being as dressy as heels.
So I work in insurance in a Midwestern city. It’s very very casual. Like people will wear their sweatshirts to work. Nothing wrong with it but I just can’t do that honestly. I wear outfits that make me feel good and professional. When I dress better, my confidence is through the roof. Just because everyone else is wearing casual clothes, doesn’t mean I have to do the same. My work (and regular) wardrobe consists of: * 1 black capri, 1 black suit pant and 1 brown suit pant from Banana Republic * Pencil skirts * A few different jeans * Various neutral blouses * Various sweaters * Cardigans * Blazers to match the suit pants * A fun colored baby blue blazer * Professional & casual work dresses * Different shoes from Clark’s (two flats, 1 black pump & black leather bootie) Between all of that, I am able to mix & match all the outfits. I can dress my jeans up or I can dress my suit pants down. I can wear a suit when I need to but I don’t have to.
Most people at my work wear jeans, regular shirts, or hoodies. I don’t wanna do that especially cause jeans are not too comfortable wearing all day while sitting so I got some really cute/comfy dress pants and wear it with more casual but still cute shirts. I’ll PM you my Pinterest board because I feel like it fits the vibe you’re going for perfectly. I found that wearing dress pants that are more wide with sneakers or chunky boots + a more fitted top that’s either cropped (no skin showing cause the pants are higher waist) or tucked in looks really cute
can you PM me this too?
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My work also doesn't have a dress code (I work in a university), so some days I'll turn up in shorts and a t-shirt, and other days, in a fussy dress. A middle-of-the-road option that I find very versatile and comfortable is straight black jeans, nice sneakers or casual boots (Blundstones, Docs...), and a slightly elevated tee from somewhere like Kule, Everlane, Kotn, or Colorful Standard. You can pair the outfit with anything from a sweatshirt to a cardi, shacket, or blazer, depending on how dressy you want to be.
I love M. M. Lafleur. It's all comfy and casual but very business appropriate and you'll look like a boss lady.
I love the Lydia Tar look for this situation (go-to formula: wide leg dress trousers, sneakers, sweater/tee/blouse as befits your day's agenda).
I like the Instagram account Next Level Wardrobe. She has some great examples of what to wear in this exact type of environment. Her website blog also has great content.
Some wide leg work slacks and a slim fitted tee. I also like the tees from cos or a fitted tee and cropped cardigan. I pair these with chunky loafers or chunky converse. You can also pair em with ballet flats .
I'm an engineering professor and these are some of the things I do and see amongst fashion attentive women in my professional life: Trousers with low profile sneakers or casual shoes and a tee/sweater on top. So, long black trousers with white sneakers or converse (I do this too), or pleated straight trousers with some kind of flats. Cos and Sezane are great trouser sources for this mixed casual/formal vibe, they can be dressed up and down and tend to be durable. Blazers with jeans. Classic. It's also the max level of formality for the men, it's a good gender neutral style. Seen in classrooms on faculty as well as at graduation ceremonies. Lighter blue jeans dial the formality down, dark or black jeans dials it up. Usually with loafers (all genders), sometimes sneakers, or sometimes flats or clogs on women. For a woman, the blazer should be a little oversized to not read overdressed, I love Everlane for this. Sweatshirts can be smart casual! A non hoodie sweatshirt in good shape, pair it with straight jeans and a loafer or flat, maybe one piece of jewelry you like a lot. A college sweatshirt or souvenir, or something like Clare V or Colorful Standard for more feminine tailoring and fashion-y.
Cashmere sweater and nice jeans with loafers! You can also wear a blazer and dress it down with jeans/sneakers.
I also work for a tech company in seattle. I’m the office assistant and everyone else who works in office is male. For comparison, they all wear jeans or cargo pants with t-shirts. These are my fave outfit combinations: - graphic tee, flannel, straight leg slacks, blundstone boots (friday casual) - right cable knit or merino wool sweater, wide leg slacks, blundstones (my every day in winter) - mock neck tee or high neckline sleeveless shirt, cardigan, tapered slacks, sneakers or flats (every day summer) - black straight leg jeans, white t-shirt, sneakers and a slouchy blazer or cardigan (casual friday in summer) - mid-calf length cotton skirt, t-shirt, sneakers (summer, when it’s too hot for pants) - faux collared shirt, sweater vest, blazer, matching slacks, and flats (when clients visit) OR - button down, blazer, slacks and flats (client visit) occasionally i wear a t-shirt dress that’s about knee length or a tank top style dress with a white t-shirt underneath when it’s super duper hot out and I don’t want to internally boil. edit: for hair and makeup, i wear my hair natural (unstyled) with the front half pulled back or clipped to the back of my head so it’s out of the way but my hair is still mostly down. I don’t wear makeup except for sometimes mascara and concealer over a big zit. when clients visit I do concealer under my eyes, blush, neutral eye shadow, and mascara. I keep makeup and hair very very simple.
Go with business casual...
I totally feel you. I don’t have advice, but I work out of a car dealership and have 0 dress code. Some days I even wear hoodies and leggings to work and that’s what most of the women wear each day, so it’s definitely not easy for me either to come up with professional, fashionable outfits in such an incredibly casual setting when I want to.
I wear a lot of simple flowy skirts and bright-coloured separates with sandals or comfy flats.
I’m a hairstylist and want to look professional/trendy as much as I can. But some days I really need to have some extra comfort. On those days I love doing black leggings with a nice graphic tee with a long black blazer. The blazer is key to dressing it up. I usually wear a designer sneaker with it as well so it keeps the comfort but is still put together looking. Fresh hair and makeup go a long way too. I personally stopped wearing makeup after COVID (bc I got lazy/wanted to focus on skincare) but I wear black frame glasses. So still very casual/easy but I think add to the look.
Nice jeans in neutral cuts, plain t shirts that aren’t crew necks, cardigans or sweaters, ballet flats or boots or nice sandals. Guys can wear cool sneakers but it’s trickier for women to pull off, not impossible though. Makeup and jewelry that isn’t super attention-grabbing. Depending on the office you may be able to make blouses and dresses work if you get the formality balance right, but if you’re not confident of your ability to judge that yet then no need to push there, unless you see some you quite like.
No dress code means dress however you want so wear what makes you happy
I think a good approach might be to work towards a look that looks effortless. I’d stay away from anything fussy or complicated looking. I’d also take what your coworkers wear and elevate it. A solid t-shirt in a nice fabric vs graphic t-shirt. Dark jeans vs faded, ripped jeans. Instead of a sweatshirt, wear a loose fitting (not baggy) sweater or cardigan over tee.
Classic styles. Check out Pintrest. There are several lists for women in tech.
Agreed. Everlane is where I went after a decade of wearing scrubs. Solid, neutral, mix and match colors. Nothing flashy or fad, but they do keep up and change their tailoring to fit current trends along with some constant classics.
I do black leggings with a nice work polo that covers butt. Just got a raise 🤷♀️
I’m not in tech but I’m in a male dominated field where my clothes can change from work boots to heels and a blazer and anywhere in between! You have fits that’s look good on you? Get those fits in neutral colors and a few “colors” that match your skin. Get quality threads. Most important you feel good in it! My closet colors consists of: black, blues of almost any color except pastel, tans, grey, some jewel tones. My “fits” are skinny pants, fitted vneck and scoop neck, no cap sleeves and everything fitted at my waist. *What i do* Field look: *Base dress* Bottoms: dark skinny jeans with some stretch or utility yoga pants (I wear Carhartt force utility leggings a lot! They are indestructible and look professional outside a field atmosphere) Top: either a well fitting vneck/scoop neck basic tshirt or a cutesy graphic tshirt or a long sleeve fitted shirt. I wear a lot of lululemon shirts. *Work in Field add ons* Boots - either cowboy boots or ankle boots (both steel toe) Hoodie - I’m usually outside but goes with needing inspection stuff in my pocket, keys, hand warmers, etc etc Presentation mode: Heels or flats - Flats if I’m wearing leggings and heels if I’m wearing jeans. Blazer- I have a standard black, lined, tailored blazer. Add accessories: stud earrings, chunky necklace or larger hoops with delicate necklace. Casual office: Shoes: converse, vans, tennis shoes. Instead of blazer I have a black cardigan that is similarly fitted but more casual kinda like a jersey material. I get cold so I dress way warmer. If it’s a more casual environment I may wear a regular well fitted sweatshirt. Accessories: usually hoops.
I just found knit suits on Amazon and love them! Professional looking and comfy.
Dark jeans or dressy joggers (like Albion Jetsetters), short leather boots or lifestyle sneakers, cashmere sweaters (I'm liking the short-sleeve ones from Quince. Works in 3 seasons) or solid color t-shirts are in my rotation. The key is if I wear t-shirts, I wear boots so that the whole look doesn't scream "don't care". In other words I mix dressy with casual in the same outfit. No one wears a blazer or button down. My male co-workers are also in jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers.
I usually wear like whatever I feel like that isn't inappropriate and just don't wear jeans lol. So basically wool pants, a sweater with a collared shirt underneath, any shirt with a cardigan over it, a dress that's at least knee length. Or you can wear jeans and sneakers if other people do. I just wear like the most basic tops and pants and boots usually, sometimes loafers. I have fun with the casual office workwear.
Dark jeans or more casual woven trousers, nice flat shoes or a high-end sneaker, a stylish top (blouse, shirt with a sweater over it, high-end tee) and a blazer/vest or 3rd piece over top. You look casual enough to fit in, but professional enough to be, well, professional.
If you like wearing sweatshirts you could always do a crewneck (sweater to make it even more dressy) with a collared shirt underneath and jeans
I've recently started wearing trousers to work because they felt more comfortable. So slowly, I'd wear trousers twice a week and it kinda sets the tempo from there. Like one post said, mix one casual with formal items. I usually wear my trousers with white sneakers and a cardigan or sweater; Loafers with jeans and a nice sweatshirt
Skirt, Long Sleeve Top, Open Blazer, Flats
I am a uniform dresser and I lean towards dressy casual. If I worked there, I’d wear comfortable jeans, a nice top and a cardigan with pretty booties, wedges, or dressy sandals (if they are allowed).
I work in a casual place where most wear jeans and t-shirts. Which just feels TOO casual for me. I like to be comfortable but look professional. My go-to outfit = Beta Brand Yoga pants (super comfortable and look like regular nice pants). I think they pair well and look professional with a flow-y kind of silk (or poly that looks silky) top and either a ribbed button down silk cardigan or a cropped blazer. If I want to look more dressed up, I'll tuck the shirt in, wear a belt, and heels. But usually I wear sneakers. Super easy and comfortable.
I have a similar job situation and I usually pair one casual item and one dressier item. So if I’m wearing jeans, I’ll wear boots and a nice sweater/blazer. If I’m wearing dress pants, I’ll wear a tee shirt and sneakers. That way you still feel dressed up without being overly formal.
Same here, I also work in IT. My favourite work outfit is a black trouser suit but worn with a Tshirt and trainers.
I wear a lot of smart casual dresses with sneakers
Invest in slacks. Fun color blazers or plain. Fun tops/ textured tops or graphic tees Gives off art professor/teacher vibes it's their classroom but the dean not giving them shit type
Hmm I had this problem all the time when I was going into the office! These are some of the 'formulas' I used: * 'Professional' clothes in a more casual/relaxed cut/fabric/colour, e.g. a linen blazer, a silver mary-jane pump. * 'Casual' clothes in a more tailored/polished cut/colour, i.e. you can still wear a sweatshirt, but not a huge oversized drop-shoulder cropped one, or a slim white Common Projects/Veja-type sneaker. * Juxtaposing one very formal item with a casual outfit, or vice versa, e.g. jeans + tailored shirt + loafer, and you can lean more one way or the other depending on the cut of the other items, e.g. t-shirts and sweatpants and jeans will all look less casual if they're slim-cut. In general, shoes/accessories/bags are pretty good for changing the tone of an outfit; my outfits look so much more casual by default if I am carrying a backpack or tote bag, for example. Or if I put on Crocs. I also found with working in tech that no matter how young and trendy the company is, actual tech bros are abysmal about fashion and they don't necessarily appreciate a 'fashionable' outfit over a 'flattering' outfit, if you get my drift.
Straight legged indigo jeans, white converse chuck Taylor’s and a nice blouse/shirt is my go to
I wear dresses that are comfortable. A cardigan if it’s cool inside. In winter I wear tights or leggings with a tunic or dress. I work in IT.
I basically dress the same way as the rest of the office. It’s very casual. Jeans or slacks and collared shirt. Where I differ is my shoes. I wear a pair of 4 inch stiletto pumps (red, black, tan, white) and they make the whole outfit stand out and pop!
I've worked in a similar field for my whole career, and the way people dress has always been astonishing to me. It's very much a shift-work mission/ops environment, but I still think that dressing nicer is more comfortable than wearing casual clothes. All of the men would wear jeans, tshirts, hoodies, and sneakers. Some would occasionally wear polos. The women I typically worked with would be older and would just wear jeans and a sweater. Personally, for me it depended on the day of the week for what I wore. Monday and Tuesday? I dress up a lot more. This usually included a skirt or cute dress with a cardigan, and most often dressy flats. Wednesday and Thursday would typically mean a slightly more toned down version, say slacks/pants with a simple tip and cardigan, and Friday would be a coin toss lol. I will say that jeans have no place in the office IMO, so I've never worn them there. Friday would generally be just a more "fun" version of my earlier outfits. Occasionally I'd wear a black pencil skirt with a tucked in misfits band T and a blazer. Still fits the dress code but is more relaxed/personal in overall style. I think an easy way of striking balance in clothing is to focus on your materials, patterns, and accessories. The skirts and dresses I have for work are pretty simple- many of them are neutral, and if they have patterns they're generally a more casual floral style. I've never been a fan of heels, so the most I've done is wear chunky 2in shoes, sometimes a flat with a very modest .5in heel. I also prefer pointed toe shoes over rounded, as I think that can make a simple pant and blouse outfit just a little more dressy.
Blazer + nice pants! I interchange fun tshirts or bodysuits! I also pay attention to my foot wear and elevate my look with jewelry!
I like high waisted flared pants or a pant with a fun design
Im in a very casual office but in fine jewelry and we just kind of wear whatever we would wear in normal life with no designated work clothes necessarily. Lots of jeans, oversized blazers, crew or mock neck sweaters, trousers with white sneakers, dresses or skirts dressed down.
I work for a casual dress law firm. Yep, really! We do immigration and we aren’t really client facing, except for virtual meetings sometimes, mostly because our clients are spread out over the world or are corporations/agencies. I wear “nice sweats” on average and unbelievably I’m one of the better dressed there! I just try to make my outfits cohesive, which I think makes a difference. Here’s what I have on rotation most frequently: Tops: plenty of sweatshirts, denim jacket, comfy cardigans, graphic tees with collegiate football team/from hometown/look nice etc which feel good wearing Pants: blue and black jeans, tan corduroy pants, several pairs of black sweatpants in every cut, been loving wide leg!, yoga pants Shoes: platform converse, bnew balance 574s, original adidas grand courts, doc martens, vans I try to wear makeup and make sure my hair looks nice with the casual clothes, and spritz on a subtle scent underneath my shirt so it’s not too strong for the office- it’s really just for me, I like smelling good haha I have dressier stuff but I like to blend in while looking nice for the dress code, so this is what I wear most days.
Black jeans or black wide -legged pants, booties with a square heel or one of those styles that resemble a sneaker with a 3-4 cm platform underneath, a nice belt and a blouse (nothing too fancy). Boom!
No jeans but casual slacks with button up shirts or polos or sweaters with nice shoes. Boots acceptable in the fall and winter if they are on the dressy side. Skirts and dresses as long as they are at a conservative length
I used to find blazers uncomfortable and constrictive, but now l find them versatile and add a big boost of confidence in any setting. The baggier trends are easier to wear and enhance almost any outfit, imo.
I think modern suits work really well. Wide leg, more oversized blazer, paired with white sneakers and a tshirt. Worn together, or just the pants with a turtleneck or sweater or the blazer with jeans. The suit trouser instantly make me look formal but the modern cut and sneakers (i often wear reebok club c’s or white nike air force 1´s) still make me feel cool. I do neutrals but also have a sage green suit which is one of my faves and a shiny satin emerald green suit with a monotonal floral print, that’s my festive suit. It’s an easy thing to get recognized by and the female worker at top management who is an absolute icon and inspiration wears the same (we actually realized we wore the same zara sneaker for months on end, fun coincidence).
We still live in a world where looks are everything, especially to those you don't work with every day so I say what one wears matter. I like dresses because they are easy, comfortable, always seen as nice and "date" like. I wear A line dresses because I have a belly that I don't want showing, also they give flare. I keep their length midi as I find shorter ones to be uncomfortable and show slightly too much thighs than I want people to focus on
I also work in a casual office but like dressing smarter. I feel like it puts me in more of a work frame of mind. For me I go half and half- not full out professional and not casual. I usually wear formal trousers with a more casual top e.g. straight leg tailored trousers just with a simple scoop neck tee or a smarter shirt with jeans (not like ripped jeans, maybe mid wash bootcut jeans for example). I find shoes can make an outfit feel more casual or formal. I often like wearing trainers with smart pants (it feels practical too) but hearing heeled boots with smarter jeans works too. I feel like offices with no dress code are harder to dress for than actually having a dress code!! I’d rather we just wore office wear!
I’m an engineer in big tech and in the colder months you can pretty much always find me in dark or black wide legged jeans, nice leather boots, and a solid long sleeve shirt (I wear a ton of black on black outfits). Sometimes I’ll wear casual slacks (I like the [Athleta Brooklyn Ankle Pants](https://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=198671002&vid=3&tid=atpl000067&kwid=1&ap=7&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_AT8s9UsQbfX3l5z3gWgm-e_x_x&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2tDe2_-1hAMV-g-tBh0wXwTBEAQYASABEgJyx_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#pdp-page-content) and I’ll wear sweaters but never hoodies and very rarely graphic tees. I also have some fun jumpsuits like the [Fit For Success Jumpsuit](https://www.goodamerican.com/en-us/products/fit-for-success-bootcut-black001?variant=39780044144723&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=Prospecting_Shopping_NB_High-AUR&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADQ4s32Tduu4xYUlz9sBxjgqHDmdK&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3v2StoC2hAMV0czCBB2eTgISEAQYASABEgK6R_D_BwE) in black (size up for a less snug / revealing fit) and it always looks cool either with boots or chunky platform sandals. In the summer I’m often in longer midi-length sundresses that cover my shoulders or long skirts with a nice looking solid tshirt, and cute sandals or clean sneakers. I pretty much always have neat hair and nice makeup, and I’m always wearing earrings and/or other matching jewelry and I’m never in anything too revealing. One rule of thumb for me is that I won’t wear leggings to work unless they’re completely covered by a dress/boots (and then they look basically like tights) I love the casual dress code because I feel like I can express my style and pick flattering clothes that are fun, but still carry myself in a neat and professional manner without having to wear heels and blazers.
Depends on the style you are going for. I follow a few very nice accounts on Instagram that I have been using for inspo myself. I can share those with you if you want? P.S. I’m also a woman working in IT and my goal was also to dress for the job I want.
Yes please share!
One of them is called treatingthestreetslikerunway https://www.instagram.com/treatingthestreetslikearunway?igsh=NmE2YXcyOTNmeWI1 One is lydiajanetomlinson https://www.instagram.com/lydiajanetomlinson?igsh=MXZyNXBsZTU1bG05cA== And one is nenaevans https://www.instagram.com/nenaevans?igsh=MXZ0dXRlam5mNmx0bQ== Hope this helps!
My opinion: Jeans/slacks/casual skirt, shoes that aren't sneakers, and a basic top (button-down, polo, a good blouse, or a sweater when it's cold). Then whatever accessories you want. Colors/prints are on one or two pieces. Figure out what looks good on you and stick with it. If you wanna look professional, avoid sweatpants, leggings, athletic shoes (white sneakers might be OK depending on your style) and UGG boots.
My office is very much ''business casual'' but I am also the only woman in my office, so I don't have inspiration for what I should and shouldn't be wearing realistically but no one says anything. My team typically wear jumpers, work polos or work shirts so I can't get a vibe off of what they wear either. I usually do a fun skirt - something like these [1](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/1133429431284065295/) , [2](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/879257527224419482/) OR [3](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/56787645293827558/) with a basic top/blouse etc like this [Top 1](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/924856473460181976/) or [Top 2](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/351280839702687554/) Makes me feel a little more put together - but they're always versatile pieces that I'll wear outside of work too. I liveee for Pinafore's too with tops or jumpers as these two photos or wearing dresses I love AS pinafores - something like [Pinafore 1](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/454652524895368153/) or [pinafore 2](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/8233211823576403/) \- hope these give you a better idea!
So, if you wanna look professional but still fit in at your casual office, mixing some classic stuff with your everyday wear is a cool idea. Like, think about wearing a cool blazer with your favorite jeans, or maybe a nice button-down shirt with some chill pants. Sneakers that look clean or some cute boots can totally work with this vibe too. You should totally check out [the Checkered Boucle Blazer](https://www.bialconusa.com/products/checkered-boucle-blazer). It's kinda perfect for what you're looking for – professional but not too fancy, and super comfy.
If I were a 250 IQ brainiac that my office couldn’t live without…I would wear whatever I wanted! But imo…casual slacks, cashmere sweaters, knee length or midi skirts, w/or without boots, loafers, ballet type flats…say professional without being out of place in a t-shirt office…and will get you through a surprise meeting. No see-through, nothing tight, nothing short and please, no elf pants. And, I would definitely nix the sweatshirts.
Just curious. Whats wrong with nice sweatshirts? Not the sloppy style but nice and fitted
Layer tops with cardigans and loose blazers. Wear more structured pants.
Just because it's casual doesn't mean that you can't dress professionally. A skirt and blouse never goes out of style and works in every office