8 workwear staples that will make getting dressed for the office easier

With the out-of-office season behind us, it’s a sensible time to do an audit of your workwear capsule and to make sure you have your workwear staples covered. Dress codes can vary considerably – you could quite literally arrive at work in gold sequin Miu Miu knickers with no fear of a “quiet word”, while in other, more corporate environments, wearing a bright colour could be deemed “a little bold.”

However, in most modern workplaces, a capsule of elevated basics is the most effective way of dressing for the nine-to-five, with an arsenal of pieces that are smart and polished, but also comfort-led and have a sense of ease. Boardroom bodycon (the kind that was basically its own character in The Apprentice) now feels a little dated, so instead of dressing like you’re an extra in The Good Wife or Suits, it pays to be a little more relaxed and unstructured.

Brands like The Row, Cos and Toteme have all reimagined standard-issue workwear staples, such as pinstripe tailoring, waistcoats and white button-down shirts, proving that functional, foundational pieces can be aspirational, too. Small design tweaks can really elevate simple basics into something you’d actually look forward to wearing at the weekend, whether that’s with luxurious fabrications or exaggerated silhouettes.

Below we have assembled a capsule of nine pieces that will make getting dressed for any office a little bit easier, whether you are looking for something to wear to a big job interview or simply to invest in a handful of easy-to-style items that will let you hit snooze for 10 more minutes. Upgrade your misshapen court shoes for a pair of polished flats or finally ditch that scruffy canvas bag for a luxurious leather tote – and remember that a blazer can add a powerful finish to any outfit.

The tailored trousers

& Other Stories- Barrel-Leg Trousers

French Connection- Pinstripe Tailored Wide Leg Trousers

COS- Pleated Cotton Barrel-Leg Trousers

The oversized tote bag

Jigsaw- Heckfield Suede Tote

Totême- Lounge Suede Tote Bag

The Row- Puzzle Fold Convertile Medium Leather Tote

Marks & Spencer- Suede Tote Bag

The polished loafers

& Other Stories- Penny Loafers

Dries Van Noten- Patent Crinkled-Leather Loafers

The Oxford shirt

COS- Tailored Pima Cotton Shirt

With Nothing Underneath – The Boyfriend Shirt

The well-crafted blazer

ME+EM- Intelligent Oversized Blazer

Ami- Double-Breasted Blazer

Posse – Pinstriped Blazer

Róhe – Double-Breasted Blazer

The midi-skirt

Marks and Spencers- Skirt

Jigsaw- Pleated Midi-Skirt

Soeur- Grey Mottled Wool Skirt

COS – Panelled Wool Midi-Skirt

The luxurious cardigan

COS- Merino Wool Cardigan

Lemaire- Asymmetric Wool Cardigan

Ferragamo- Draped Cashmere Cardigan

ARCH4 – Bea Cashmere Cardigan

Belt

Déhanche- Colette Suede Belt

ME+EM- Stripe Leather Belt

This article first appeared on Vogue.co.uk.

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