Over the past year and a half, many of us have grown used to a life of loungewear. The coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic have caused governments around the world to implement social distancing and social isolation rules, which have generally advised that we only leave our homes if absolutely essential (say, for food or medication). With more and more of us working from home, looking after the kids from home and having nowhere else to spend time, many of us have adopted a much more comfortable array of clothes. From tracksuits to leggings to pyjamas. However, as vaccines are rolled out across the world, more and more of us are preparing for a return to the office. Whether you’re looking forward to this or not, chances are you’ll find that you do need to refresh your work wardrobe. Here are a few essentials that you should invest in!
Footwear
Let’s start from the bottom with footwear. Right now, many of us are walking around the house barefoot, with socks on or in slippers. But you’re going to have to get used to proper shoes again when you head back to work. When it comes to office footwear, the best piece of advice you can take is to get something sturdy and comfortable. Generally this means flats. You may want a pair of quality boots from traditional English boot makers for those rainy days and some comfortable slip on ballet pumps for the drier days. Most people opt for neutral colours that will match multiple outfits, such as black, navy or brown.
Day to Day Office Wear
If you’re heading into work for a casual, usual work day, you should be able to reach for a few office staples. These include some well fitted trousers, a pencil skirt, a knee length work dress and a selection of blouses or shirts. If the office is a bit chilly with central heating, you may want to have some smart jumpers, jackets or blazers at hand too. Again, neutral colours tend to be preferable, with white blouses, black or navy trousers and skirts and black or navy jackets proving the most popular options.
Meetings
If you have an important meeting in your calendar, you may want to put a little more thought into what you wear when attending it. Why? Well, you’re going to want to appear your best. First impressions can make a huge difference and looking smart and professional can help you to seal the deal on whatever outcome you want from the meeting. So, have a trouser suit or skirt suit ready and waiting for these kinds of special occasions. It’s also good to bear in mind that our brains often associate certain colours with certain emotions. To be on the safe side, as with most office wear, it’s best to opt for relatively neutral colours. Black, white, grey, navy… muted shades and black tend to look great without bringing up negative associations. On the day, it’s also worth taking a spare outfit along with you. You never know when you might spill coffee down yourself or when a bird might mess on you.
Sure, choosing workwear can feel difficult at times. But hopefully, some of the advice above will help you along the way!
