Upgrade Your Business Attire

If you’re anything like me, when you think of business attire, your mind might go to the black slacks, Ann Taylor blouse, or knee-length pencil skirt your mom rocks at work. While this absolutely works for some, others may feel uninspired by mainstream business clothes that don’t quite line up with their style. 

I personally have felt inhibited by the seemingly slim options for self-expression within the realm of looking professional, and I’ve worked on finding outfits I love that also fall within the region of work-appropriate. I’ve compiled my three favorite tips for making business attire work for you. 

Tip One: Identify What You Like and Upgrade It

My first tip is to identify the silhouettes you like to wear and then find options that mirror that but are more business-appropriate. This way, you conserve your style in the fit of your clothes and also end up with a look that a CEO wouldn’t blink twice at.

For me, a baggy sweatpant, crop top, and chunky sneaker trio never fails in my daily life. Obviously I can’t wear sweatpants in a professional environment, but that doesn’t mean I have to sacrifice my go-to silhouette entirely.

To upgrade this outfit, I went out and found some black leather jogger-cut pants that scream, “I know what I’m doing,” but also don’t sacrifice the baggy, casual cut I love. This replaces my sweatpants, making it so I’m comfortable and office-appropriate at the same time. 

For the other pieces in the outfit, I swapped my crop top for a form-fitting, simple blouse that I tucked into my pants. This way my stomach isn’t showing, but I’m still going with the baggy pants and tight top combination. To replace my chunky sneakers, I opted for a pair of platform mules that are just as comfortable and keep the clunky look I like, but wouldn’t be questioned in an office environment. 

With these simple swaps, I successfully took a staple outfit for me and made it business-appropriate. By having a starting outfit that reflects your style, you can make changes that create a similar, but more professional, look.

Tip Two: Don’t Be Afraid of Patterns or Colors

In a sea of black and gray suits on the market, it can be easy to fall into the cycle of picking neutral looks. While black and gray will always be classy, for me, it can be hard to feel like myself when I dress exactly like everyone around me. Combinations of patterns and colors in my business wardrobe have become essential to showing off my style.

Adding color to your look can take you from looking like everyone else to being the envy of all the fashionistas in the room. A light dusty blue or pink is a classic choice and looks great in a matching pant and blazer set. From there, you can choose any undershirt you want, and the look will be made. Add a matching shoe, and you look put-together while still standing out from the crowd. My favorite way to add color into a look is to wear a statement, brightly-colored shoe, keeping the rest of the look simple.

Even if a neutral color palette is your preference, you can still upgrade your look and convey your style with a few simple tweaks on what neutrals you choose. Black is classic for extra formal events, but swapping that for a warm tan shade shows that you put thought and effort into your outfit. A tan fitted suit, white shirt, and any color shoes are a classic option to express your style even if you lean towards neutrals. 

Another way to spice up your business attire is to throw a pattern into your look. Adding a simple pop of print can take your outfit from simple to stunning just by swapping out one piece of your look. 

With patterns, there are a number of ways you can go. A patterned pant, jacket, or blazer are usually the easiest to find, and when paired with simple pieces that match with the color scheme of the patterned piece, look elevated and fresh. Since business attire is usually made out of non-stretch materials, you might even already have some patterned pants in your closet that would work in an office setting. 

Adding these pops of color or pattern are a simple way to express your personality while still being office-appropriate. Keep your eye out for current trends, because following those while keeping your own style will make your outfits stand out even more. 

Tip Three: Take What You Have and Make it Work

This last tip is something that’s been especially helpful for me on a college student budget. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing you have to buy a whole separate wardrobe for business events, but that’s really not the case. You almost definitely already have pieces that can be styled in a way that is business-chic. 

Key items to look for in your closet are shirts that cover your stomach, pants that are non-stretch and fit well, jackets that function as blazers, and skirts that reach a length you deem appropriate for the office. If you have these, no matter what they look like, they can likely be styled into a business look.

For example, I have a patterned blue and white skirt that I usually wear casually with a tank top and sandals, but I recently styled it for a job interview. I put tights under it, added a simple white top (another convertible piece), put on a simple blazer, and chose black boots for my shoes. This upgraded the skirt from casual to business-wear and made it entirely appropriate for my interview. 

Another example is a long sleeve black shirt I have that doesn’t cover my entire stomach, but I was still able to wear it in a business casual setting. I paired it with a very high rise pant, which made the shirt appropriate for the office, and added a blazer and funky shoes. 

All of these tips have helped me to not only kill the outfit game in business settings, but also to express my personal style while still following dress code. And remember that any outfit will work for you if you rock it with confidence!