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It’s Monday morning and time for work! You open your wardrobe and look at the uninspiring collection of bland clothes you have for the office. If only there was a way to make your outfits more appealing and stylish while still being work-appropriate!
This is a common occurrence for women in professional roles - to dress suitably for work, while trying to add a little style and intrigue to our outfits. Below, I want to show you that this is possible with a range of tips on creating casual work outfits for women!
Always Consider Dress Code Guidelines
Most workplaces have a dress code and it’s important that you try and adhere to this to avoid unnecessary stress.
However, the key to creating casual work outfits for women is to look at what garments fit within that dress code and how you can get the most out of any limitations imposed. For example, jeans can be classed as business casual but this is something many people wouldn’t consider.
If in doubt, speak to your manager for advice and tell them what casual elements you would like to incorporate into your attire.
Mix and Match to Keep Outfits Fresh
Instead of wearing the same shirt and trouser combination every day, mix and match outfits! If you have a large collection of designer blouses, dresses, and bottoms, don’t look at the items in a vacuum. Instead, lay them out on your bed and look at how you could match them.
Maybe that blouse would look great with a skirt or jeans? Or maybe you could wear that button-down shirt with a blazer? By mixing and matching you can keep your outfits fresh!
Don’t Overlook Comfort
Part of creating casual work outfits is to increase your comfort too as casual attire is often more comfortable than stiff, professional workwear. If you are sitting for long periods at a desk you want to create casual outfits that allow for easy temperature control.
Alternatively, perhaps your role is active and you need to create casual outfits that allow for freedom of movement. Think about how and where you work, and adjust your dress code accordingly so that you look great while feeling comfortable.
Accessorize to Add Contrast
The best way to make casual work outfits for women stand out is to accessorize. Typically, things like jewellery and bags don’t break any office dress codes and they add contrast and intrigue to your work outfits.
Kit out your blouse or shirt with jewellery like bracelets and necklaces and carry an over-the-shoulder bag which looks stylish but also doubles as a handy bag to carry your work items in!
Keep a Selection of Blouses and Shirts
In the shirt vs. blouse comparison both are actually incredible for casual work outfits and should be key components of your wardrobe. Having two or three of each in a range of colours allows you to try out the mix-and-match tip I listed earlier.
Blouses and shirts come in a huge range of styles and many are casual but still appropriate for workwear so don’t simply go for block colors or muted tones. Sure, have a couple of white or light color garments, but don’t be afraid to use bold colors for your tops too.
Don’t be Afraid to Push Dress Code Boundaries
I mentioned above that office dress codes are important and you should adhere to them to avoid any issues. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t try and stretch the boundaries or even push management to adopt new dress codes and become more forward-thinking.
Start small by wearing jeans as part of a business casual outfit and see what reception you get. Oftentimes with dress codes, there is ample room for change, but no one thinks to ever test the waters and try something new!
Create a Different Outfit Style for Each Day of the Week
A simple thing you can do for your casual work outfits is to use a different style or theme for each day of the week. This gives you creative freedom and allows your inspiration to shine through.
For example, perhaps Monday can be your dress day where you pick a shirt dress or a full dress to wear and accessorize. Tuesday could then be blouse and skirt day, followed by Wednesday button-up shirt and trousers! This helps keep your outfits fresh while giving you a clear framework to stay organized.
Work Outfits Don’t Have to Be Boring!
I hope you now have some style inspiration and ideas for casual work outfits for women. We spend so much of our time working that it makes sense to invest in a varied and stylish wardrobe so you can look and feel incredible at the office.
Remember that workwear doesn’t have to be boring and you can incorporate various casual elements into your outfits while still dressing professionally.
