Repost from my BMB - what do you wear to work?

sapphirebride06 · June 2013

I have WFH as a contract (independent worker) so I have been able to wear whatever - usually jeans and a cardigan, etc. But I am reviewing my closet for possible business casual or business professional and I have a lot to mix and match with but I'm curious what is your day to day work wear? I am thinking of buying a few more pairs of dress pants - something I can dress up or down.

I have cognac heels, nude heels, a pencil skirt, a brown of dress pants, grey pinstripe, black, solid grey (I hate them though, I have no idea why I hold onto them they are not comfortable) and then standard khakis, etc. I have cardigans and some pullover style shirts that can be dressed up or down.

In my shopping cart now I have black pants, navy pants, a navy pencil skirt, four more cardigans, a white button up in short sleeve, black heels - 2 3/4 inch and that's it for now. I'd like to find some more shirts to go under the cardigans. For work now I usually wear a solid color like black, white or grey under my cardigans, sometimes tanks that match.

Any suggestions would be great thanks! It has been several years since I had to consider this and I won't buy anything until I have a job offer and have visited the office to know what others wear, but this is general stuff that can be dressed up and down so I'm comfortable looking at what I have so far. Thanks!

MaggieF516 · June 2013

My office is business attire, so I generally wear a jacket. Some people wear cardigans, but I generally don't as I like the look for wearing a jacket better. I don't always wear a full matching suit though. I've updated my look a bit by wearing "skinnier" type pants to work. I do love the Express pants though, but the skinny type ones I wear are from the Gap (not sure that Express has any skinny dress pants).

My favorite thing to wear to work is a sheath dress. It is just easy in my opinion. I normally buy them from Calvin Klein as they seem to fit the best. I've always been into shirts (I'm not a shoe person but buy shirts when I'm out shopping LOL) and I do wear some with prints, some solid, etc. It is easy to update your look every year by buying some in in style cuts, colors, etc. I like color so generally don't do much black or gray. I would include some belts. In a business casual enviroment you may want to tuck in your shirts for a more professional look and it is nice to have some choices in neutral colors.

Nechie122 · June 2013

I wear a lot of dresses because I have a dress obsession. Not the most budget friendly but makes getting dressed very easy.

I also get a lot of use out of my black pencil skirts; whenever I have to go to a conference or business meeting, I throw them on with a gray jacket or blazer.

Finally, I get a fair amount of wear out of short sleeve or sleeveless "blouses," not necessarily button down but that sort of material, that I can wear on their own or under a cardigan or jacket.

sapphirebride06 · June 2013

I absolutely hate my legs, I just deleted the pencil skirt from my cart. I just don't like them - so I will likely stick to pants more. I have a few cafe capris from JCrew which are ankle length and will pair those with some heels or some flats that are printed, or fun colors to mix and match. I don't think a jacket will be necessary for this job but don't know yet. I have two suits - one black and one brown so I have that option if necessary I just don't want to have to use it except for interviews! This is Texas and it would be boiling! Not that it is an excuse but still. I have one pencil skirt - it's a deep blue almost navy so that will work and I have a skinny belt but would need more for tucking shirts in to my pants. I am looking for some shells - something that would work under the cardigans I have - maybe in silk for some dressiness so that would work with what I have in mind and a patent skinny belt. Thanks this helps!

*sparky* · June 2013

We are business casual.

Now that it is warm here, some people have gone way casual in my office, but for me summer usually means a simple short sleeved or cap sleeve dress and heels. I usually bring a cardigan as my office is freezing. Some days I may wear cropped pants or very light fabric dress pants and a short sleeved blouse.

In the winter I usually wear dress pants with heels and a cardigan or button up blouse on top. Lots of chunky jewelry. I agree with your plan to pick out some basics now and wait to see the office environment before going on a full shopping spree.

QueSrah · June 2013

My office is on the casual side of business attire. In winter I wear mostly dress pants with a button down and cardigan, or skirt, sweater or button down + sweater, and tights. In summer I wear mainly dresses (I'm "getting away" with a knit, patterned dress today) or skirts with a nicer t-shirt with a cardigan. It sounds like you have a good start on basics. I would aim to have 5 skirts or pants that you feel comfortable in to start with. Maybe add in some extra button down shirts if you end up somewhere more formal. Consider a blazer for an occasional dressy meeting, since you don't have a suit. Maybe you can find something tastefully colorful that would go with bottoms of various colors.

CrazyLife3 · June 2013

I second and third the love for business dresses. They are so easy. I buy them almost exclusively from JCrew along with pencil skirts and Jackets, suiting and dress pants. I sometimes wear a full suit but I often wear seperates. I love Theory brand from nordstroms for Suiting or Seperates also. They fit so good. Pricey though so see if you can get them on sale. I buy heels at Nordstrom. I spend a lot of money on good shoes because they really do last longer. I spend a lot on business attire because it is a must for me, average 500 per month. If you don't want to spend a lot check out some of the suiting at JCPenney, the worthington brand has some nice looking things for a little lower price point.

sapphirebride06 · June 2013

QueSrah:
My office is on the casual side of business attire. In winter I wear mostly dress pants with a button down and cardigan, or skirt, sweater or button down + sweater, and tights. In summer I wear mainly dresses (I'm "getting away" with a knit, patterned dress today) or skirts with a nicer t-shirt with a cardigan. It sounds like you have a good start on basics. I would aim to have 5 skirts or pants that you feel comfortable in to start with. Maybe add in some extra button down shirts if you end up somewhere more formal. Consider a blazer for an occasional dressy meeting, since you don't have a suit. Maybe you can find something tastefully colorful that would go with bottoms of various colors.

I hate button downs because I have big boobs so I feel like if they fit my boobs they will be too big everywhere else. I do have two suits, sorry I didn't make that clear so I have two jackets - one is brown and one is black and both fit and are tailored, etc.

DFico21 · June 2013

I also have a large chest and find I have to buy a size large button down shirt and have it taken in. I try to get them on sale then with alterations I end up the same price. Our office is business casual. Winter I wear dress pants, button down shirts, cardigan sets and sweaters. Summer is also dress pants in lighter weight fabrics, dresses with sandals(no hose, woo, hoo!) and short sleeved tops in all fabrics. I am currenlty 6+ months pregnant with insane swollen feet, I am wearing flip flops as okay-ed by my boss since 1. I don't see clients and 2. none of my other shoes fit.

sapphirebride06 · June 2013

CrazyLife3:
I second and third the love for business dresses. They are so easy. I buy them almost exclusively from JCrew along with pencil skirts and Jackets, suiting and dress pants. I sometimes wear a full suit but I often wear seperates. I love Theory brand from nordstroms for Suiting or Seperates also. They fit so good. Pricey though so see if you can get them on sale. I buy heels at Nordstrom. I spend a lot of money on good shoes because they really do last longer. I spend a lot on business attire because it is a must for me, average 500 per month. If you don't want to spend a lot check out some of the suiting at JCPenney, the worthington brand has some nice looking things for a little lower price point.

I don't mind spending the money on quality pieces. I love JCrew and just spent $$ on some TB heels and I have some Cole Haan as well so I know good shoes are worth the money! And same with clothes - I like quality basic pieces that I can mix and match with lower end pieces that are maybe for fashionable that won't be next season so I like the high low end mix and feel like I have a good handle on that. I have two suits and I hope this job doesn't need jackets or blazers but I will probably use JCrew or Ann Taylor since both are convenient and local for me to use if I need them.

I'm going to do my phone interview today and depending on how that goes I will raid my closet afterwards to get an idea of what I have and what I need. I hate buying three pairs of the same color and style of pants. I want to stretch what I have but I know I need to purchase some stuff so I want a good mixture!

Netty_3 · June 2013

I'm business casual...it's typically dress pants, I do dark colors a lot, but black, grey, and tan...I have cardigans as well. I also wear skirts, and now with the nice weather more dresses with cardigans. I have a great pair of black wedges I love for this season...during the winter I have many pairs of boots I love. I wear jeans on Fridays with a nice shirt...sometimes with a jacket.

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Repost from my BMB - what do you wear to work?

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