We have all gone through the struggle of deciding what to wear to the office on a daily basis. Day after day, creating a look that exudes professionalism and makes you feel comfortable and stylish at the same time is a huge challenge. But fret not, we have it all sorted out for you.
In this guide, we will tell you how to build a professional wardrobe for women. Be it putting together a formal dress for women or creating a distinct look for yourself, there are a lot of options that you can explore from your existing fashion essentials as well as opt for a complete overhaul of your wardrobe.
Building a Professional Wardrobe
A professional wardrobe consists of all the formal dresses for women and other fashion essentials that you would require at work. It should include work wear for women and staples that you can mix and match to create limitless looks that are professional as well as stylish. It should ideally match your style, the culture of your office, and the dress code as defined by your office.
How Many Formal Dresses Do You Need
So, just how many formal dresses should you have in your professional wardrobe? This will depend on factors like the number of days in a week you go to the office, your job function and the kind of work you do, the dress code in your office, and how comfortable you are in repeating your looks.
You must have enough formal dresses to last at least two weeks without repeating. This doesn’t mean that you have 12 pieces of every workwear for women in your wardrobe. You can mix and match different pieces of clothing to create different looks for days at the end.
Workwear for Women – Hoard the Essentials
Every formal dress for women look has certain fashion essentials that are perfect for office wear. These include formal shirts/blouses, pants, a pair of formal shoes or flats, jackets/blazers or cardigans, and a formal dress.
You can have these essentials in different colours depending on the number of pieces you want to last two weeks. Ideally having 3 pairs of shoes, 7 blouses, 3 pants, 1 blazer or jacket, and 1 formal dress for women are enough. This will allow you to create different looks without noticeably repeating them.
Maximize What You Already Have
Creating a work wardrobe is not always about going shopping and piling up on clothes. If you really dig in and be creative, you can find a lot of suitable clothes from what you already have. Pairing an old shirt with a new pair of pants, or vice-versa can create a new office look for you. It quite often happens that clothes that we haven’t worn for a while add some charm when you wear them after a long gap.
Utilize this novelty factor and make the most of your old clothes to create new looks. A formal dress is not only about new, expensive clothes but thinking smart.
Add Accessories and Other Add-Ons
Accessories are great for turning casuals into professional-looking outfits. They are inexpensive and look great if used smartly. For example, if you add a red slim belt to an all-black or white outfit, it will completely transform your look. The same goes for a necklace.
Adding silver jewelry to your semi-traditional outfit will instantly make you look more elegant and stylish. Additionally, you can create your own signature style with accessories and make a style statement every time you step into your office.
Break Out from the Tried and Tested
Building a professional wardrobe shouldn’t always be around the latest trends and what is recommended and acceptable. You can break away from the tried and tested and create your own work wardrobe by choosing outfits and accessories that you feel the most comfortable in.
Be it a semi-traditional look by wearing contemporary sarees and flamboyant salwar kurtas or a more modern look complete with blazers, blouses, and pants, create a signature line that you maintain in all your looks. Having a signature style is great for standing out from the crowd and making a lasting impression. That is what fashion is essentially about.
Final Verdict
Choosing a formal dress for women or putting together work wear for women doesn’t have to be cumbersome and boring. It is actually quite an exciting proposition as you let your imagination go wild and create a look that is quintessentially yours. It is fun to mix and match things you already have or add some essentials to make a new look.
Whichever way you decide to go, the most important thing is to be comfortable in what you wear while adhering to the official norms or the dress code. This way, you are neither unfashionably boring nor too bold to be frowned upon in the office.
