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Summer has officially reached peak heat, thus prompting the daily question of what to wear to work that is both chic and cool at the same time.The goal is to strike the ideal balance of sophistication and stylishness in the perfect pleated trouser, ultra-crisp white shirting, and seriously sleek skirts. But by way of labels like Toteme, Proenza Schouler, and Cos, who create luxurious pieces of trendy professional clothes, there are several smart tricks to try when shopping for the best office clothes for women.
Vogue’s Summer Workwear Wish List:
- The Nine-to-Five Dress: Tory Burch scoop-neck dress, $528
- The Seriously Smart Suit Vest: Theory cotton vest, $445
- The (Lightweight) Tailoring You Can Trust: Everlane The Linen Oversized Blazer, $178
- The Wear-Anywhere Trousers: Favorite Daughter Favorite wide-leg pants, $218
- The Cool, But Crisp Shirt: Vince cotton-poplin shirt, $295
- The Sleek Skirt: Tibi denim midiskirt, $445
- The Office-Ready Denim: Agolde ‘90s Pinch jeans, $198
- The Fashion Flats: The Row Boheme canvas Mary Janes, $990
- The Office-Appropriate Sneakers: Loewe Flow Runner shell and suede trainers, $790
- The Chic Carryall: Cuyana tall Easy tote, $268
- The Everyday Treasure: Mejuri Easy medium hoops, $248
If you’re planning to embark on a workwear-friendly wardrobe overhaul, shirting is a solid starting point. Look for soft materials to launch your way back into something resembling desk-side polish—we love the classic styles from Anine Bing and Vince. For those of us who are ready to embrace some form of structure, a trusty blazer is the definition of understated elegance. Luckily, lightweight versions, like Everlane’s bright white offering to Zara’s linen version, are cool enough on even the longest of commutes. Meanwhile, Beare Park’s menswear-inspired staple is one to make a part of your power suit equation, especially when paired with a tailored-to-perfection trouser from Vince. The midiskirt silhouette is a must-have in any office wardrobe rotation—and styles from Staud, Esse Studios, and Cos are masterfully minimal. Jean skirts from Khaite and Tibi are also topping our summer shopping list.
When looking for office-appropriate sneakers to wear with an editor-approved dress or even with denim—yes, you can wear jeans to the office—look to Loewe and Adidas for the perfect pair. On the preppier side, luxe loafers from Toteme and Weejuns are classics for a reason. Not a loafer lover? Sweet ballet flats and Mary Janes are a fashionable alternative. As for the eye-catching jewelry that will have your coworkers lining up at your desk to see what’s what? Simple and dainty pieces from Lie Studio and Mejuri have what it takes.
Here are Vogue’s 11 favorite office clothes for women that are as stylish as they are smart.
The Nine-to-Five Dress
When striving for everyday elegance, a dress delivers maximum style with minimal effort. Midi dresses, in particular, are especially editor-approved, like those from Cos, Tory Burch, and Bite Studios. Sleek shirtdresses are another work wardrobe nonnegotiable, whether you choose striped styles from J.Crew and Massimo Dutti or Proenza Schouler’s khaki version. At the Vogue HQ, we’re styling ours with anything-but-basic black sandals, fashionable flip-flops, and even the occasional sneaker.
Seriously Smart Suit Vests
Our summer shopping tip? Invest in the suit vest. This season the style staple is reimagined in chic, flattering silhouettes, cementing any look to polished perfection. With endless stylistic opportunities, wear yours atop a tailored trouser or a clean-lined midiskirt for a masterfully minimal result.
(Lightweight)Tailoring You Can Trust
Blazers can smarten up even the simplest of looks. For example, the off-white herringbone detail on Anine Bing’s double-breasted blazer adds a feminine touch to the otherwise classic menswear style. The Frankie Shop’s oversized black blazer is a classic amongst the Vogue editor group for a reason: Its roomy shape is a more modern approach to the blazers you might already have in your closet. Meanwhile, Everlane’s quietly luxurious linen offering is cool—and not to mention very chic.
Wear-Anywhere Trousers
If you’ve yet to find the perfect pair of trousers, let Vogue’s selection be your first port of call. When it comes to a solid wardrobe foundation, there are few things more versatile and reliable than tailored black pants. Find yours from Vince. Pleated pants from The Row and By Malene Birger are more of a relaxed fit for, say, a casual Friday. Meanwhile, Max Mara’s pinstripe pick is a seasonless star; and Favorite Daughter’s bright white pair is a summertime standout.
Cool, But Crisp Shirting
White shirts will forever be a classic wardrobe staple like these from Anine Bing and Vince, but why not try a trendy color like a zingy striped blue from Rag & Bone or a pop of pink from Remain Birger Christensen and The Frankie Shop? Camilla and Marc’s blue button-up is a favorite amongst this editor group, to be worn done up for polished perfection or undone over a white tee for casual coolness.
Sleek Skirts
Sleek skirts are another fashionable foundation to invest in this summer. Always reliable, floaty styles from Staud, Esse Studios, and Toteme pair well with timeless tanks and tees to crisp overshirts. Jean skirts continue to trend amongst our favorite brands, like those from Tibi and Khaite. Make the midi (or maxi) skirt the centerpiece of your summer wardrobe, styling it with a barely-there sandal or chic carryall.
Office-Ready Denim
When styled correctly, a delightful pair of denim can abide by nearly all office dress codes, whether casual or corporate. Look for options with subtle tailoring, like these offerings from Agolde and Citizens of Humanity, or in a more sophisticated dark wash, like the below from Tibi and Dries Van Noten. Meanwhile, white jeans from The Row and Levi’s are a summertime staple.
Fashion Flats
No office outfit is complete without a shiny pair of shoes, and a fashionable pair of flats are undeniably the chicest choice. You can never go wrong with the classics—like these menswear-inspired loafers from Weejuns and Toteme. For the trendy professional, Mary Janes from Aeyde, Reformation, and Mango are the sweetest style, while ballet flats from Everlane are very much Vogue verified.
Office-Appropriate Sneakers
Office-appropriate sneakers that pack the same punch of formality and function as a preppy loafer or ballet flat are hard to come by. White sneakers will forever be a closet hero, which makes these from Loewe, Novesta, and Thousand Fell clear winners. And because a pair of Adidas Sambas’ belong in every summer wardrobe, this off-white pair is both smart and stylish. Other workwear mainstays include trainers from The Row and Veja.
Chic Carryalls
The best work bags and totes should always have one major thing in common: function and style. When searching for your own, ask yourself: Is it durable enough to lug from work to play and roomy enough to fit all of your workwear essentials like a laptop, portable coffee mug, or notepad? Thankfully, work bags from Cuyana, Longchamp, and DeMellier fit that bill. Trendier options like these from Gucci and Dragon Diffusion may be slightly less practical but are incredibly eye-catching. Sweet like summer, Loeffler Randall’s raffia tote transitions from beach to desk seamlessly.
Everyday Treasures
If your work schedule still includes some work-from-home Zoom calls, these everyday treasures are sure to stand out on the screen. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also include them in your in-office jewelry rotation, though. Simple and dainty pieces from Lie Studio and Mejuri have what it takes to catch your coworkers’ eyes, and these silver drop earrings from Bottega Veneta have the celebrity seal of approval.
