THE WORK WEEK 02

Tuesday: Work Wear Staples Explained I Corporate styling, personality styling and fashion editorial styling

Welcome back to The Work Week, a five-part-series where we try to bring a little light to a topic everyone with an office job needs: Work Wear.

There’ll be a post each day of the Work Week:

Monday: Onboarding Day (Explaining Work Wear and the Issues Around it)
(read it here in case you missed it)

Tuesday: The Work Wear Staples Explained
Wednesday*: Five Style Formulas For Your Summer Work Wardrobe
Thursday*: Inspiration and Style Notes on Workwear
Friday**: Work Wear Workbook (How To Work With Your Own Wardrobe)

*These posts will be free for 48 hours.
**This will be a paid-subscriber-only workbook.

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INTRODUCTION: WORK WEAR STAPLES FOR BEGINNERS

Today, it’s all about Work Wear Staples. It’s the essentials of the corporate work wardrobe. If you have read yesterday’s newsletter, you have seen the issues around workwear for many people and have learned about the styling spectrum from corporate to fashion.

Today’s post will cover the essentials and will give examples for each spectrum. If you have found yourself in the ‘Don’t Know Where To Start’ / Beginners Group yesterday, this one is especially for you.

Remember, your solution was to build a capsule work wear wardrobe, and this is your starting point! Again: You don’t need much.

Already panicky because you see your personality waving goodbye at you? Don’t worry, we will cover all three styling options today: Corporate, personality and fashion editorial!

And in case you forgot: We’re doing the basics here! It’s the starter set, it’s the easy formulas and … *circling laser pointer of the presenter at the title* staples. We’re also only covering three staples (shirts, bottoms and shoes), so we don’t get overwhelmed. Then, we’re looking at styling these essentials. Because the meal doesn’t get cooked if you only buy ingredients, right?

BRAND GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS

If you need places to shop for your work wear wardrobe gaps or you draw style inspiration from editorial styling in online stores, these can be your go-tos (they are mine at least). A quick disclaimer: The price ranges might be subjective and please remember that second hand is always an option, too.

Note: If you’re in the workwear game for longer, you will find very good stuff at the sub lines, like Uniqlo C, Zara ZW collection and Massimo Dutti Studio. Rohé is great, too.

01. THE SHIRT

The shirt is a real classic and here’s how you transfer it from corporate (left) to fashion editorial (right): Adding details, switching out materials and going for more oversized silhouettes (or, in case of the birch-colored top, for different silhouettes). And if you’re thinking that this first overview is quite … boring - please be patient, we’ll come to styling shirts in a second.

Corporate (= classic shirts):

1. Uniqlo Rayon Shirt in blue or classic white for Beginners and very corporate dressers, Personality people and Fashionistas would (later) opt for linen options and will go into the men’s section and shop the more oversized version. Add a black pair of suit pants with this and a really good loafer, and you’re good to go.

2. Anine Bing Essie shirt - an investment, but a really good classic. There are options at Uniqlo and Zara, and really good options at COS, too, if you don’t want to spend that much.

Personality (= added details):

3. This Lilysilk blouse can be styled multiple ways and the color adds personality, too.

4. This Selected Femme short-sleeve blouse is adding personality with its fitted waist and the small ribbon on the front. Even more personality is added with a pair of wide leg pants or a silky midi skirt, and a statement shoe.

Fashion editorial (= extra or oversized):

5. If you breathe fashion but need to dress in a corporate environment, this silky blouse is for you.

6. The Frankie Shop oversized shirts are a go-to staple for anyone who wants to go to work in style.

The Fashion Corporate Girlie would add wide leg trousers, or a silky maxi skirt with either of these options. And she would absolutely go for almond-toe shoes with this.

Please find styling examples here:

1 2 3 4 5 6

As for my personal wishlist - if I had to dress in a more corporate environment than I have to do now - these would be my picks: Rohé has this really chic blouse with a detail, & Other Stories has great options with puffy sleeves, and I like this ribbon blouse best. This one from COS seems like a really great summer shirt, too.