Last month I had the pleasure of working MM.LaFleur’s pop-up shops as a stylist for the second time this year. MM.LaFleur is a brand based out of New York that provides classic, chic, and COMFORTABLE workwear and styling services for professional women who want to look good at work without too much hassle. These successful ladies have a lot going on and often prefer to not spend loads of time on their daily work looks.
During my time working Texas pop-ups, I was able to speak to professional women working in various fields and I got to know their wants, desires, and concerns when it comes to work attire. They are lawyers and engineers. They work in finance and marketing. They may work in different fields, fields where dress codes might vary slightly from one another, but there are some commonalities in what they look for when choosing work wear. They want clothes that are comfortable, true to their style, and of course professional.
With those concerns in mind I’ve decided to share some tips on how to look your best at work for those working in business casual to more conservative business environments. But you certainly do not have to work in an office or business setting to benefit from these tips! Most of these tips are key styling tips I would give to anyone in general looking to elevate their style game. Alright, let’s get into it.
5 Tips To Looking Your Best At Work
#1 Choose interesting cuts and silhouettes to add style to work basics
What kind of piece comes to mind when you think professional wear? Blazers, pencil skirts, smart tailored dresses, right? At first glance this list of garments may read rather dry but you don’t have to look basic in your work basics! Look for interesting cuts and silhouettes when shopping for these workwear stables. Examples: geometric necklines on tops and dress and long blazers
Shirt: MM.LaFleur's Lagrade 2.0 | Skirt: MM.LaFleur's Greenpoint
#2 Subtle details go a long way
When it comes to workwear subtle details go a long way. This is especially true if you work in a more conservative environment and you’re worried about your clothes making undesired waves. Everything from understated design elements like sleeves details (think different sleeve opening, buttons, etc..) to the way a material folds can bring elevated style to a piece. The delicate ball point blue pinstripes on the shirt in the pick above and a fun but elegant twist to the classic button-up.
#3 If it’s not comfortable don’t buy it – You’re not going to wear it!
Sure, everyone has sacrificed a bit of comfort for the sake of fashion, like that time I wore a pair of black stilettos to my cousin’s wedding that rendered me immobile for 24hrs post-wedding…but for most work isn’t the time to make a comfort sacrifices to the fashion gods. You don’t want to be tugging at your stiff and itchy shirt in the middle of a presentation or be stuck in ill-fitting pants all day. While you might wear an itchy/tight/scratchy piece once, you’re far less likely to return to if when reaching for it you’re flooded with memories of how uncomfortable you felt all day the last time you wore it.
Dress: MM's the Rachel | Scarf: The Statement Scarf
#4 Use accessories & shoes to add a bit of flair to conservative looks
Just because you can’t be as experimental with your work clothing as you are with your weekend wear doesn’t mean you can’t show off your personality! Accessories and shoes are a great way to inject some of your personal style into your outfits especially in environments where your dress code might not leave much room for variety in the type of garments you wear. Instead of wearing, say, some black pumps, I accessorized this simple but classic sheath dress with a scarf and white loafers to create a look truer to my personal style. The result is a polished professional look that doesn’t sacrifice individuality.
#5 Whatever you wear, wear it with confidence
This is perhaps the most important tip of all. The more you embrace your body the more you’ll get to know it and the easier it will be for you to learn how to accentuate your best features. Because trust me, no matter your body type, you have features worth highlighting! [Keep an eye out on the blog as I’ll plan continuously sharing tips to help you look your best & develop your style.] I’ve worked with many women who I think look fabulous in a certain piece but who, for example, can’t get over how their co-workers might perceive them. In the end, it doesn’t matter what I think. What matters is how they feel. So, as mentioned in tip #3 regarding physical comfortability, don’t buy anything you don’t feel comfortable in. However, if you truly love something don’t let your own completely hypothetical thoughts about what other people’s opinions might be deter you from rocking a piece you feel drawn to. After all, nothing looks better than confidence.
So, there you have it! Those are my tips for looking your best at work.
Remember, a conservative or restrictive dress code doesn’t mean you need to totally forgo any personal sense of style. Use those restrictions as a fun challenge and watch how your sense of style actually grows!
Have any workwear tips of your own? Share them with me in the comments!
Beijos!
-Yvonne
PS: Here's a quick tip reference image for pinning!
