Office Wardrobe Essentials for Women

Appropriate office attire is a constantly evolving target varying significantly by company culture. Knowing what to wear at the office can become harder to figure out than a Chinese puzzle (even I’m not really sure what this is, I just hear people talk about how hard Chinese puzzles are all the time). Below is a guide of basic items that women can stock their closet with regardless of which organization or what fashion trends they are part of.

• Blazer: Blazers are just awesome. I went from owning one suit-like jacket to having a whole row of blazers after only a few years into my professional career. Blazers instantly amp up your professional presence when thrown over an appropriate outfit or snazz up your casual gear. Often I pair casual dresses with a blazer and end up business casual.
• Comfortable Heels: Heels suck, especially if you’re a flip flop kind of girl like me. Heels do help with your office presence due to the added height subtly directing more attention towards you. That’s why it’s important to get at least one pair of comfortable heels. Shop for neutral colors (black, tan, beige, taupe, navy, brown) with a heel height of 1.5”-3.5.”
• Bag/Purse: A bag or purse large enough to hold a portfolio or laptop is a necessity. Whether going to an interview, work, or networking event, having something large enough to hold your items is helpful and keeps your hands free to hold a coffee while opening the door. I tote around a backpack with a wallet clutch to use when going out for lunch.
• Stockings/Pantyhose/Tights: Whether or not this is part of normal office attire depends on where you work. More conservative cultures may still require wearing some of these stretchy things. Even if your company doesn’t require or prefer stockings, some neutral colored stockings come in handy especially when it’s cold outside.
• The Basics: Keep at least one of each and slowly add as you have time and money: dress, slacks, shirt, button-down, a-line skirt. Remember this is a professional environment so stay away from clothes that are too tight, short, or low-cut. Stick to solid colors (stay away from neon…) or classic patterns (hounds tooth, polka dots, flowers, not animal usually). Also do a walking and sit test of your outfits. Clothes have an odd tendency to pinch and fold when you’re not standing in front of a mirror smoothing out the bunching.
• Coworker Appropriate Casual Wear: At some point of your career you will need to spend time with coworkers outside the office: happy hour, employee event, conference networking. You may not be ‘on the clock’ anymore, but maintaining a semi-professional presence is important. Have clothes on hand that are not quite as stuffy as office wear, but not as casual as when going out with friends or couch potatoing at home. Think nice dress or jeans and a shirt.
• Hair tie: Short hair, long hair, mid-length hair. Sometimes you just want to get your hair out of your face or you need a last minute rubber band like device to wrap around the highlighters at your desk. I keep a few in my wallet.
• Watch/time keeping device: Be on time or early. Don’t keep people too long. Short and sweet, have a watch or other time keeping device.
• Jewelry: I am by no means a girly girl (well, I guess a lot more now than I was), but jewelry is an easy way to accentuate your outfit at the office without buying a new wardrobe. I use jewelry to add color to my otherwise black, black, and more black outfits. Keep the pieces simple and classy.
• Blazer +1 (to leave at the office or in the car in case of emergency): Blazers! You’re probably thinking, but you listed that earlier! Yes, I sure did. This should show you how essential these things are to your wardrobe. Keep an extra blazer at the office or in the car or both, you never know when you suddenly have to meet with the executives or when you will spill tomato basil soup all over you.

Collect these pieces as a normal part of your life, a blazer here, a blazer there, a blazer everywhere…just kidding…but opting for one of these pieces instead of the new shoes you were about to buy will pay off. Trying to buy all of these items just before you need the items will be costly and stressful. Take your time, look for sales. Personally, I opt for when stores have semi-annual clearance and take an additional 30-70% off of clearance items.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the blogger and are not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas or the Federal Reserve System.