Working 9 'til 5: 5 rules of office dressing from the Glamour team

Dolly Parton, patron saint of working women everywhere, was right - working 9-5, what a way to make a living? But more moreso, what a way to get dressed? The thing is, it’s never been easier, and also harder to get dressed for the office. The rules have relaxed - remember when casual Friday was a thing? But along with WFH, this has kind of made things harder. Or in the very least, you definitely want to buy pieces that will work as well for your weekly WIP as they do your weekend plans. 

Fortunately the most recent seasons —and the street style outside the shows—have provided the ultimate guide for office appropriate outfits that go well beyond the corporate guidelines. Think the slightly kinky pencil skirts at Schiaparelli, Anthony Vaccarello’s power shoulders at Saint Laurent, Michael Rider’s cigarette trousers at Celine and the way Chanel's Matthieu Blazy has elevated any 9-5 wardrobe’s ultimate foundation piece, the humble button-down shirt, into fashion catnip with his collaboration with one of the world’s oldest shirtmakers, Charvet.  The general consensus among the street style set meanwhile is that you need to master the art of balance—a button down shirt with a textured skirt, or a leather bomber with tailored trousers—to look pulled together but not too business-y.

Still, while the rules may have relaxed, new ones have come into play. For Remy Rippon, editor of Glamour Australia, having a formula is essential. So too finding harmony between officewear tropes and pieces with a little more give.

“It's generally wide leg pants, a baby tee and a jacket or cashmere jumper. Balancing traditional office pieces - blazers, tailored pants, button-up shirts - with slouchier silhouettes means I feel put together, without feeling too corporate. If I'm wearing a kitten heel, I'll opt for a baggy long-sleeve tee (comfort is key). If I'm wearing jeans, I'll dress them up with a blazer,” she says.

Having a uniform is a non-negotiable for Glamour Australia content editor Carla Traplin too. “I personally get a bit overwhelmed by choice when getting ready for work, so over the years I would say I’ve developed sort of a uniform. Most days you will catch me wearing a tailored pant, with a fitted t-shirt or cardigan of sort. And in winter I’ll always opt for a nice trench/coat,” she says. 

Sometimes going all-in is another way to find ease. For Glamour Australia content editor Karen Leong, a matching set can often be the answer.

But so too something unexpected - the point being that you shouldn’t save all your special pieces. They may well make that sales meeting all the more interesting.

“In the winter time, my unreal Fur Coat does all the heavy lifting for me. That, and my Vintage Prada Nappa leather bag which I inherited from my mother. I also consistently try to slide on a pump or a kitten heel at least twice a week—it gives me a weekly boost to get me out the door,” says Leong.

Rather than stick to conventional ‘workwear’ brands, Leong prefers to mix things up. 

“I love a mix of high-low, vintage designer pieces, and established Australian labels that understand 9-5 dressing to a tee. Camilla & Marc makes a wicked blazer my way, which involves angular shoulders and a tapered waistline,” she says.

“I love the basics from brands like All is a Gentle Spring, for their subtle corsetry in slate monochromes. And newcomers such as Itadaki Studios offer fun, structural pants that wouldn't look out of place when you're ducking in and out of meetings.”

If in doubt, Rippon says to lean on pieces that just won’t let you down. No matter where work is taking you on any particular day.

“My Henne pinstripe pants are one of the hardest working pieces in my closet,” she says. “They make any outfit look put-together and they’re super comfortable for travel days, too. I wear them on long haul flights because they’re honestly as comfortable as a pair of pyjamas. Plus they can go straight into the washing machine which saves on dry cleaning.”

For Rippon, having a handful of go-to labels is another way to feel ready for anything. One such brand? New Zealand based label Harris Tapper, which each season offers a twist on classics.

“I think they’ve nailed those pieces that are as appropriate for an office job as they are for weekends,” says Rippon. “All of their tailored pieces are beautifully executed. The cropped button down jacket has become a staple within the Glamour office (at last count, 5 people have it) because of its versatility. It looks just as great with a pair of Levi’s as it does silk or tailored trousers.”

Traplin believes Australian brands have a lot to offer when it comes to versatile pieces that have a little more oomph to them.

“I love a lot of Australian brands, Scanlan Theodore, Henne, With Consideration, Mode Mischief Studios …  I tend to search for brands who have a different take on the basics,” she says.

Ultimately, while dressing for the 9-5 may require a level of balance, an acknowledgement of ‘rules,’ for Leong the office can still be a place to express your own sense of style.

“Dress for yourself, even when you're clocked in!” she says

“It's a cardinal rule I live by, and I always try to incorporate some laissez-faire elements like coloured hosiery, a heeled statement shoe, and sculptural accents. I do my best work (and writing) when I feel elevated, in control, and ideally, a little glam.”

Dolly would surely agree.