There are two timeless struggles when it comes to work attire: (1) how to have fun with fashion when the office dress code requires pantyhose and (2) how to look sharp—but not too stand-out-from-the-crowd—when you’re not ready to ruffle any HR feathers. Four local style experts* helped us tackle both issues in ways that work for creative and conservative offices alike.
Conservative Office
Here’s how to play it up:
- Tie on a silk knit tie.
- Play with jewelry! Layer necklaces instead of wearing a single strand.
- Stick with dark shades, but try them in leather and cashmere.
- Shades of green are a fail-safe way to add more color to your closet.
- Choose deep oxblood instead of black for lace-ups.
- Peak lapels are more fashionable than the traditional notch.
- Modernize your suit. Look for a shorter jacket and flat-front pants.
- Stack different hues of the same shade.
Here’s how to play it safe:
- Follow the lead of office leadership. Wear what they wear.
- Dresses should cover your arms. Add a jacket if they don’t.
- Navy blue and charcoal belong in every closet.
- Never show toe (even in July).
- Your shoes should match your belt.
Creative Office
Here’s how to play it up:
- Gents: Tote electronics and office papers in a leather folio.
- A crop top isn’t out of the question if your pants completely cover your midriff.
- Trade that button-up for a pop-over or piqué polo.
- Flat mules = the fashion girl’s loafer.
- Untucked shirts are tempting for guys. Don’t give in.
- All-white ensembles in contrasting textures feel powerful and chic.
Here’s how to play it safe:
- Try sport coats in Glen plaid and windowpane patterns.
- Chambray = the business-casual version of French blue.
- A cutaway collar is a subtlety that only fashion fiends will notice.
- Nougat and blush brighten things up for women.
- Fitted to the ankle with a bit of stretch, DL1961’s Margaux jeans are Julia Farr’s pick for workplace denim.
- When in doubt on outerwear, go with a belted jacket that hits at mid-calf.
*Our experts : Julia Farr, former lawyer and owner of Julia Farr boutique in Friendship Heights; Read Wall, owner of the local classic American menswear brand Read Wall; Andrea Zacharias, DC head of sales for Trunk Club; and Curtis Spaulding, assistant general manager and 11-year veteran of Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Store in Chevy Chase DC.
This article appears in our April 2016 issue of Washingtonian.
Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and writes about weddings, fashion, and shopping. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others. She is a Georgetown University graduate, lives in Columbia Heights, and you can find her on Instagram at @washbridegroom and @sarahzlot.
