How to Always Look Stylish at Work - 10 Ways (2024)

03 Jan How to Always Look Stylish at Work – 10 Ways

This post may contain affiliate links. This means LLEGANCE may earn a small commission from purchases made through some of the links in this post.

Reading time: 6 minutes

I hear young professionals say this a lot: ”I can’t be bothered to dress up nicely for work. It’s just too much effort“.

Every time I hear this, I think:

What about your first impression?

Do you care about your professional appearance?

Don’t you want to seem classy, elegant and confident?

A lot of young professionals nowadays seem to think that dressing casual is okay in almost every setting.

When in fact, that is not the case. Especially at the office.

Appearance is more important than you think.

“The problem with appearance is that it translates to performance,” Nicole Williams, career expert at LinkedIn, tells Business Insider. “Even if your boss doesn’t think that they’re thinking any less of you, they will subconsciously think it.”

I mean, you do want to climb the corporate ladder, right?

As a young professional, you must dress the part if you want to advance your career fast, and impress your boss and your colleagues.

Here’s an article on 10 ways (+ 2 bonus) to style your outfits, so you can always look well dressed at work. (Number 7 is SO IMPORTANT!!)

# 1 Switch out your normal blouses for a patterned one.

Switching out your plain shirt for a feminine blouse with a pattern can transform your whole outfit.

The pattern in the blouse automatically elevates the outfit and makes it much more stylish, with very minimal effort.

Other pieces in your look can stay completely neutral, as it’ll allow your top to become the focal point of your ensemble.

Style this patterned blouse with a neutral pencil skirt or cigarette pants, and throw on a long blazer over top.

Additionally, when it comes to accessories at the office, less is more.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear any jewelry at all.

However, a dainty necklace and a nice watch is all you really need to polish off your look.

Your handbag for the office should also be structured and not too oversized.

If you’re one to wear the same bag every day, then a square beige purse may be your ideal office tote, as it’ll always match your clothing.

Concerning the shoes, a simple pair of leather loafers or a block heel will do the trick.

Shop a similar nude heel here and dress pants.

# 2 Wear a pop of color.

Often, people associate a corporate wardrobe with dark, neutral colors.

Although that may be the case for many office clothing pieces, it doesn’t always have to be.

For example, if you’re wearing a black and grey outfit, you can add a red scarf to brighten up the look.

If you wearing a black suit, then pairing it with a colorful blouse will also bring dimension and life to your outfit.

People love a nice pop of color. It’s not only fashionable, but makes for a great conversation starter.

Most corporate employees don’t think about adding color to their office look, so they are always amazed when someone else does.

Trust me, your pop of color will help you stand out amongst everyone you work with.

Get a similar jacket here.

Shop a similar skirt here.

Shop a similar heel here.

RELATED: 9 TIPS TOMAKE YOU LOOK STYLISH ANYWHERE YOU GO

# 3 Make the effort to wear a heel.

Hear me out on this one. A high heel for the office doesn’t necessarily imply that you’re obligated to wear a pump.

What I suggest you wear is a kitten heel, a block heel or a heeled ankle boot.

All three options are easy to find in stores and comfortable enough to wear all day.

The main reason why I recommend you wear a heel instead of a flat, is because a heel gives off a more polished look.

Not to mention, you’ll notice a positive change in the way you hold yourself, as heels have a way of boosting a woman’s confidence.

Who doesn’t want to feel more confident at the office, right?

Shop a similar bag, pant and heel.

# 4 Actually style your hair.

As much as this tip seems redundant and implied, I see A LOT of women that don’t take the time to style their hair every day.

More often than not, women come to work with their hair pulled back in the messiest ponytail, simply because they cannot be bothered to style their hair right.

If you struggle with styling your hair, go talk to a hairdresser, look up hair tutorial videos on YouTube and try out a few new hair products.

Do whatever you have to do to sort out what’s happening on top of your head.

Appearance at the office is everything, and styling your hair is part of presenting a professional look.

A few really simple hairstyles that are clean for the office include a low bun, a slicked back pin straight ponytail and a few delicate curls.

Shop a similar white blazer.

# 5 Add a sash or a belt to cinch your waist.

Sometimes, we women can feel insecure about our bodies. I get that. We’ve all been there.

However, when you’re feeling self-conscious, you end up buying clothing that is very baggy and that doesn’t flatter your figure the right way.

For all of those loose dresses and long baggy blouses, I want you to add a sash or a belt.

Remember, the waist is the smallest part of a woman’s body.

By adding a belt to your baggy clothes, you’re accentuation your small waist and doing yourself a huge favour.

Not to mention, adding a belt to a look provides versatility in your wardrobe and teaches you a new way of styling your clothing.

Shop a similar skirt and blouse.

RELATED: STYLING TIPS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

# 6 Replace your cardigan with a blazer.

Although I do love a good oversized cardigan, cardigans in general do not tend to have their place at the office.

They are normally overly slouchy and too relaxed for the corporate environment.

Not to mention, certain cardigans can look outdated and unflattering.

Stick to what works best: blazers.

If you’re into trendy pieces, then you could wear a long, fitted blazer.

If not, a classic tailored blazer will do the trick.

Just make sure your blazer is tailored properly at the waist, that the shoulders aren’t too large and that the sleeves aren’t too long.

There’s nothing worse than a really great blazer that doesn’t fit someone quite right.

Shop a similar blazer here.

# 7 Make sure to refresh your wardrobe.

This is SO important (emphasis on the “so”).

Too often I see people wearing old, stretched out, faded clothing at the office.

Moreover, it is extremely unprofessional and does not show your coworkers that you take care of your appearance.

I get that it’s easy to let ourselves go when we get comfortable in the same workplace, but that doesn’t mean it gives you leverage for wearing anything sloppy at the office.

It is important to remember no one has 100% job stability.

You never know who your boss could be or who you can end up wanting to work for.

Be sure to always be dressed appropriately, as 1st impressions mean everything.

Click to shop a similar bag and shoes.

# 8 Get your clothing tailored.

Wearing baggy clothing to work that doesn’t fit you properly isn’t professional.

If you lose weight and your pants are too loose, go get them tailored.

It’s important to wear clothing that flatters your body seamlessly.

Trust me, the extra tailoring cost is worth your while, as you’ll feel more comfortable wearing clothing that fits you right, than clothing that doesn’t.

Click to shop similar shoes, bag and dress pants.

# 9 Carry a fashionable structured bag.

Old, worn out, slouchy bags have no place at the office.

Instead, get yourself a structured bag in a neutral color, such as beige or black.

Additionally, it’s professional, versatile and will match all of your outfits.

If you carry a backpack to the office, replace it with a briefcase-inspired bag that is large enough to fit your required material.

School bags and slouchy bags are not the nicest bags to carry to the office, and provide you an opportunity to step it up and buy something more appropriate for a young professional.

Click to shop a similar handbag, white coat, sweater and heeled boots.

# 10 Wear one neutral item as your base.

This is the simplest way to always look fashionable at the office.

You should start with a neutral base that will act as your blank canvas for the rest of your work outfit.

For example, you can choose a neutral pair of navy blue trousers as your base.

From there, you can build upon the look by adding a patterned blouse, a neutral blazer and a matching pair of heels.

Finish off the look with a simple necklace, watch and bracelet.

Lastly, don’t forget to grab your structured bag before you rush out the door.

Evidently, each outfit will be different.

Additionally, much like the picture above, you can also choose your blouse to be the neutral item in your outfit, and add complimentary pieces with a pattern to finish the look.

Click to shop a similar bag.

RELATED: LOOK LIKE YOU MAKE 6 FIGURES

Bonus # 11: Paint your nails on Sunday for the week.

This is a little added bonus for your office attire. The more polished you appear, the better it reflects on you.

As well, you don’t necessarily have to pay to get a manicure weekly, but taking the time on Sunday to give yourself a simple manicure isn’t a bad idea.

Not only will it pamper you, but it’ll help you look even more put-together for the week.

Some of my favourite colors for the office include light pinks and beiges.

Occasionally, I will wear a dark grey or wine color nail polish as well.

As long as the color is tame and uniform, you shouldn’t have a problem.

Shop a similar nail colour.

Bonus # 12: Wear trousers with everything.

When in doubt, a good pair of flared trousers will never fail you.

They are flattering, comfortable and come in a million colors.

Moreover, get yourself a couple basic colors for the office, such as black, white or grey, and you’ll be able to pair them with a large variety of your blouses.

Trousers are totally foolproof and one of my personal favourite office clothing pieces.

Shop similar heels and dress pants.

RELATED: 5 WORK OUTFIT IDEAS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

Conclusion

In this article, I’ve shown you 12 different ways to look more fashionable at the office.

Also, too many people have trouble getting dressed appropriately for work, so this guide outlines everything you can improve for a more polished office appearance.

You should be one of the most stylish women at the office after this article.

Not to mention, you’ll be increasing your chances of getting a raise, as your appearance is a direct reflection of your performance. Who doesn’t want more money right?

Did you find any of these fashion tips helpful? Comment below which one you loved most!

PS: For more corporate fashion advice, join the LLEGANCE Facebook group. You can post pictures of your outfits, ask for fashion advice and more!

Pictures from Pinterest.

LLEGANCE uses affiliate links.