The Best Work Clothes For Women, Regardless of Your Dress Code
The best work clothes for women should be easy to find, given how many brands cater specifically to the working womanâbut clearly, itâs not quite so simple. Unless you have a strict uniform, figuring out what to wear to work can quite quickly become the bane of your morning routine. Luckily, though, we have plenty of fresh fashion trends to provide some inspiration, since sharp workwear is (seriously!) one of the biggest looks weâve been seeing.
Basics like fitted blazers, crisp button-downs, pleated trousers, and slim loafers will never let you down. But beyond those staples, it helps to fully understand your officeâs dress codeâi.e., boardroom smart or casual chicâbefore investing in other hero pieces. (Work dresses are perfect for the former, while elevated jeans will ace the latter.) Youâre welcome to stick to relatively muted colors, which go with everything, but thereâs plenty of room for pops of color in your shirting, knitwear, and accessories. Hey, why not make work as fun as possible?
Thereâs no need to buy a whole new wardrobe when it comes to the best work clothes for women; fill in your blank spots and itâll be nearly impossible to go wrong.
The best work clothes for women, at a glanceThe Crisp Shirt: Siliteelon Fitted Button-Down Shirt, $23The Fitted Blazer: Banana Republic Slim Refined Blazer, $200The Work Pants: Everlane Draper Pleated Pants, $128The Feminine Blouse: Boden Feminine Cotton Blouse, $98The Trench: The Drop Noa Trench Coat, $62The Slingbacks: Steve Madden Kittie Heels, $100The Office Sweater: Lillusory Striped Cardigan, $32The Fun Knit: Aligne Emmet Knitted Polo, $120The Designer Tote: Tory Burch Romy Tote, $5681. The button-downWhile this dressed-up staple might be stolen from the boys, we prefer the way women style it. Gone are the stretchy chinos and sneaker-dress shoe hybrids; you can make these picks your own by tucking them into roomy trousers, preppy pleated skirts, or tailored jeans. Let the collar poke out of crewneck sweaters or throw on a necktie.
Siliteelon Fitted Button-Down Shirt
J.Crew Garçon Shirt with Bows
2. The blazerBlazers are no exception to jacket trends, but you can never go wrong with a classic fitted option. Resist the urge to go oversized, at least if you donât yet own a blazer; youâll get much more office mileage out of a slimmer pick, and you can always add to your collection later.
Banana Republic Slim Refined Blazer
Abercrombie & Fitch Classic Suiting Blazer
3. The trousersWeâre of the thinking here at Glamour that trousers are the perfect all-occasion pants, even when youâre not in the office. They look good with any and all footwearâtrusty sneakers, leather loafers, and kitten heels includedâand add a dressed-up polish to ensembles that could use a little refinement. Go with wide-leg pants for your first pair, since theyâre more comfortable for sitting and flow beautifully as youâre walking around.
Favorite Daughter Nora Wide-Leg Pants
Everlane Draper Pleated Pants
4. The blouseA blouse is the easiest way to make your look a little more precious; instantly, youâll appear (and feel) sweeter. Better yet, theyâre just about effortless, given that they pair nicely with everything from wool trousers to denim midi-skirts. While we went with solid colors here, thereâs no reason to avoid louder hues and patterns if they speak more to your personal style.
Boden Feminine Cotton Blouse
J.Crew Removable Tie-Neck Button-Up Shirt
Need we explain the magic of a smart, zero-effort dress? Itâs a godsend for offices that lean more formal. Keep your pick feeling fresh by switching up the styling with belts, sculptural jewelry, silk scarves, and tights.
J.Crew Corner-Office Dress
M.M.LaFleur Ashley Dress
6. The flatsAll the polish of heels, minus the tripping hazardâthatâs why we love ballet flats. Theyâre beyond easy to pair with any of the bottoms in this edit, and they can either blend in or stand out, depending on the color you choose. Weâre big fans of these two refined pairs.
Madewell Greta Ballet Flats
Franco Sarto Vana Flats
7. The trenchTrench coats are about as close as it gets to the ideal all-weather layers; for most of the year, theyâre long and windproof enough to keep you warm. But the real draw is that theyâre universally chicâstyled with any of the staples here, they only add to the chic working woman vibes.
The Drop Noa Trench Coat
H&M Double-Breasted Trench Coat
8. The toteThe reality of many modern workplaces is lugging a laptop wherever you goâbut at least itâs an opportunity to invest in a cute bag. These picks can fit most laptops, plus books, water bottles, packed lunches, and whatever else makes your commute more bearable. While they might look expensive, the cost per wear will work out to mere pennies.
Kate Spade Suite Large Work Tote
Tory Burch Romy Tote
9. The cardiganWhether youâre facing transitional weather or youâre stuck in an office with overactive AC, the office sweater is sacrosanct. We prefer crewneck cardigans, which strike the right balance between warmth and style. You can leave these picks at your desk, but we suspect youâll find yourself bringing them home on the weekendsâtheyâre that cute.
Reformation Clara Cashmere Crew Cardigan
Lillusory Striped Cardigan
10. The skirtWeâve found itâs easiest to style satin midi-skirts for work. Theyâre easy and elegant, lending a smart edge to button-downs and blazers.
Banana Republic Satin Long Midi-Skirt
Modegal Satin High Waist Midi Skirt
11. The loafersIf you donât already have a pair of loafers to wear to work, drop everything and invest in some ASAP. Theyâre as easy to wear as sneakers and instantly make any outfit feel put-together; they can even justify outfits that verge on too casual. Loafers do it all, and weâre grateful.
G.H. Bass Whitney Easy Weejuns Penny Loafers
Gucci Horsebit 1953 Loafers
12. The shirtdressThe appeal of the shirtdress is twofold: On top of being polished and office-appropriate, itâs also a great fallback for when you canât figure out what else to wear. These picks require no additional styling to look incredible; just throw on your favorite earrings and any old pair of shoes and youâre good to go. Easy!
Exquise Tobie Button-Front Pleated Shirtdress
Tuckernuck Chloe Dress
13. The heelsPumps can skew a little too formal, while sandals can feel too casual. But slingback kitten heels check all the boxes for work: easy to walk in, able to elevate any outfit, interesting enough to avoid anonymity. These two styles will look incredible peeking out of trouser jeans or styled with simple dresses.
Tony Bianco Charlie Slingback Pumps
Steve Madden Kittie Bone Patent Heels
14. The jeansNot every office environment will welcome jeans, but both of these cuts will pass the vibe check in more casual settings. (Those J.Crew stunners might even fly in fully corporate environments, at least styled with a nice blouse and heels.) The key here is keeping the rest of your look elevatedâa blazer, belt, and ballet flats will work wonders.
J.Crew Sailor Denim Trousers
Leviâs 724 High-Rise Straight Jeans
15. The poloRemember what we said about finding fun wherever you can? These colorful polos are office-appropriate and inject some personality into your wardrobe. Style them with satin skirts or pleated trousers in black or cream.
Aligne Emmet Knitted Polo
Tory Burch Jacquard Polo
16. The finishing touchesWhile the era of statement necklaces for the office is over, at least for now, jewelry can make all the difference when youâre trying to let your personal style shine through. Pearl earrings and gold ponytail cuffs will inject some playful femininity into your office wardrobe, which, for better or worse, usually tends to lean masculine.
Mejuri Bold Pearl Drop Earrings
Lelet Dome Pony Cuff
