Autumn brings with it a ‘taking care of business’ mentality. The falling leaves and crisp air of September make us think of our ‘back to school’ academic years - and of course the twilight of summer means the end of long-distance travels and the reluctant packing up of our bikinis and sarongs.
For those of us who aren’t lucky enough to pursue a digital nomadic existence, and an endless summer, heading back into offices means there is one thing is on our wishlist: refreshed workwear. If you thought the pandemic would mean that the need for office-appropriate outfits was gone, think again. According to the Office for National Statistics, the percentage of people working exclusively from home has fallen from 22 per cent to 14 per cent.
Although summer is still (just about) upon us, we can still look forward to cable knits, cosy cashmeres and sumptuous autumn-appropriate textures such as corduroys and luxe velvets. Our favourite influencers and street style icons offer plenty of inspiration in that department, combining style and functionality.
Here are the office outfits we are pining after this season...
The Midi Skirt
Giovanna Battaglia (Christian Vierig)
Style icon Giovanna Battaglia wearing an olive knit and Fendi skirt outside MaxMara during Milan Fashion Week in 2017. A statement midi skirt is anything but frumpy and essential for a modest-leaning workplace. The shorter the days, the longer the hemlines.
The Jeans
Kelsey Merritt (Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin)
Crisp straight leg jeans (without rips of course), can work in more relaxed office environments. Team it with ballet flats and structured outerwear for a sharp look that's meeting-ready.
The Skirt Suit
Elsa Hosk (Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin)
The key to reducing the formality of a skirt suit is in the footwear. Pair it with some weird-girl Mary Janes, and opt for surprising colour palettes such as pastels or cream. Jackie-O would be proud.
The Knit Co-Ord
Lisa Aiken (Edward Berthelot)
A cosy co-ord, paired with hardware in the form of jewellery is feminine yet has an ultra-sophisticated edge. Dress is down with trainers or flats in the summer and dress it up with heeled boots for winter.
The Tweed Blazer
Julia Haghjoo (Raimonda Kulikauskiene)
The tweed jacket, made famous by Coco Chanel, is a perennial classic. Paring a classic tweed with a striped blouse and coordinating flared trousers turns its from prim and proper to cool-girl in an instant, and is still of course elegant enough for work.
The Suit
A Milan Fashion Week guest (Edward Berthelot)
Update your tailoring with refreshing patterns; styled with a white shirt and luxe accessories, such as tonal coordinating shoes, will ensure the outfit is workplace appropriate while not compromising on personal style.
The Luxe Knit
A Fashion Week guest (Edward Berthelot)
Who says jumpers are too schlubby for work? A brown oversized turtleneck matched with tonal separates, creates a streamlined look. Make sure your knits are bobble free with a garment shaver.
The Heeled Mule
An on-trend favourite among Y2K lovers and Gen Z dressers, the open-toe heeled mule is both class and sass wrapped up in a single shoe silhouette.
The Oversized Blazer
Alexandra Pereira (Edward Berthelot)
As far as fashion girlies are concerned, bigger is better when it comes to blazers. When wearing it for the office wide leg trousers are comfortable, yet chic and a thin knit or shirt underneath always works well. If your industry is less formal, you can team with high-tops or retro walks to leave a sharp yet casual impression.
The White Shirt
Emilie Joseph (Edward Berthelot)
Is any item in our wardrobes as classic and versatile as a white shirt? Its ability to transform even the most casual of trousers (such as Emilie Joseph's Adidas joggers) into an ideal fit for the office is astounding. When wearing with casual, up the style game in dressy shoes or courts.
The Statement Blouse
Leonie Hanne (Edward Berthelot)
Donning a silky lustrous blouse with sleeves, is probably an easy way to ensure a polished look. Wear it with matching tonal ladylike separates or dress it down with casual trousers.
The Loafer
Loafers are a back-to-work shoewear staple. Practical yet punkish in equal measure, the silhouette comes in a range of styles and colourways. Our favourite? Patent wine red and classic black palettes.
The Waistcoat
Tired of dull tailoring? A suave waistcoat is the key to a luxe workwear wardrobe. Wear it as it is or layer over a crispy white shirt for maximum impact.
The Cardigan
Take note from Miu Miu's ever-popular slew of covetable cardigans and add one to your snug yet stylish in-office archive.
The Pinstripe Shirt
What's that you ask? Oh, it's boyfriend material. In fact, it's much more. The humble pinstripe shirt is an ideal blend of boyish charm and timeless allure, perfect for pairing with a sleek suit.
The Denim Maxi
Denim has officially entered the boardroom. Longline skirts crafted from dark wash denim are the ultimate must-haves for those who love a touch of modest Noughties appeal.
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