What to Wear if You’re Being Summoned to Return to the Office
- Missy Carlin
- Jul 17, 2024
- 6 min read
Your glittering corporate culture awaits. Might as well have some pretty clothes to spark joy
@ Nancy Meyers: Please cast me as Hallie and Annie if you ever re-make The Parent Trap. Check out this back-to-back!
Have you built your current lifestyle around working from home since 2020 but now are being asked (ahem, required) by your employer to return to the office? Girl, SAME. Did you also have one or two babies within that time and your wardrobe has completely changed and you’re now being forced to figure out what to wear to the office?? Same.
I have a lot I could say about my feelings about return-to office mandates but am choosing to be non-controversial here and focus on just one of the more trivial dilemmas these mandates are making employees (me) face. And this dilemma is that sine 2020 my wardrobe has been on a roller coaster ride. From sitting at home for weeks on end social distancing, to being pregnant twice and post-partum twice all while primarily working from home, my wardrobe just doesn’t know who it is anymore!
I’ve managed to maintain a wardrobe of a few acceptable office-ready outfits for when I have sparingly gone into the office, and for when I’m on important Microsoft Teams meetings that may require a fancier top than normal to show I mean business. I’ve also had some work trips that forced some more corporate-friendly clothing purchases. But now that I’ll be spending more time in the office I need to invest in some additional pieces so that not having anything to wear is not adding to the stress of going into the office (like my 1 hour plus commute!)
Here’s how I’m rebuilding a work-friendly wardrobe which also doubles as emotional support because I love clothes and dressing up as a mom to two toddlers can sometimes just feel really good!
My recommendations for a stylish corporate mom wardrobe in 2024
Invest in quality basics
I feel like everyone is saying this these days but I have been focusing on purchasing higher quality clothes at as reasonable prices as possible, knowing that quality will cost a bit more but the clothes will last longer. One example is investing in nice basic t-shirts that can be dressed up or down. The Clean-Cut shirt from COS comes in great colors and is very structured and high quality cotton. I have it in three colors--if I find something I love, I buy it in all the colors because who knows when the next time will be I find something so great? And if it's not broke, don't fix it.
Wearing the COS Clean Cut shirt in khaki color and lovin' it apparently!
I would say my personal style preference is timeless Parisian with a twist. I like classic silhouettes and neutral colors with pops of green and leopard print and stripes and florals. Thinking about whether a clothing item will stand the test of time and isn't overly trendy will also help build a wardrobe that lasts.
Another quality, classic piece I recommend are Anthropologie's Maeve Colette wide leg pants. I am in a very committed relationship with these pants and have them in several colors, fabrics and patterns that I talk more about in my post about the best post-partum pants. As a millennial who was all about the skinny pants silhouette, these pants helped me to embrace and love the wide leg pants style.
Invest in some statement blouses
A nice blouse with some flair goes a long way and can be paired with simple pants and shoes– making it an easy outfit. In my experience, however, it is not easy to find statement blouses that are beautiful and quality and at low price points, so statement blouses tend to be investment piece for me.
Sezane Pierro Shirt in Trianon Print | Mare Mare Short-Sleeve Swing Top | Anthropologie Ruffled V-Neck Popover Blouse
Buy pieces with mix-and-match potential
Purchase clothing that you can pair with things you already have. If you buy something that doesn’t make sense with the rest of your clothes you may end up with a skirt that doesn’t leave your closet because you don’t have anything that matches it.
This camel color pleated skirt from J.Crew is a great piece to mix and match because of its neutral color and classic silhouette
Lean into the Casual part of Business Casual
Now this may just be in the midwest, so comment below if you disagree, but I think that COVID-19 changed expectations for how ‘dressed up’ people need to be in the office. We seem to have collectively agreed that we can lighten up a bit about what we wear to the office because hey, at least we made it there.
Chic soccer coach or marketing manager??
Would you wear this to the office?
Some examples for leaning into casual include wearing athleisure pieces like these Athleta Brooklyn ankle pants which are super comfortable but also structured. And chic sneakers like Adidas Gazelles are definitely acceptable when paired with nice pants and even dresses. These types of wardrobe pieces will also play double duty as things you can wear on the weekends as play clothes!
Don’t put white pants on in the morning then immediately cuddle a toddler who was just eating gobs of peanut butter for breakfast
Based on true events
Ideas & Inspiration: What to Wear Back to the Office
Since it is the middle of summer here in the Midwest, these outfits reflect the fact that most days are grossly humid outside, so there aren’t a lot of layers to them. HOWEVER, because corporate office buildings are usually freezing cold for whatever reason, may I recommend carrying a nice layer like this so that you aren’t shivering in your cubicle?
I never thought I could be a white pants girlie until...
Madewell Darcy Mule (I'm wearing an older version but very similar!)
Keeping it basic + statement necklace
Breezy pants + stubbornly-wrinkled-but-still-beautiful-blue-blouse
Blue or cerulean?
Athleta Brooklyn Heights High Rise Pleated Wide Leg Pant (so comfortable. so breezy. so chic. also great for travel)
Dora-the-chic-explorer featuring AMAZING Target pearl sandals
When I was introduced to the Dagne Dover backpack for putting my overly heavy laptop in the second part of my life began. So practical instead of an over the shoulder bag and is my favorite green color.
Collared black shirt (the one I'm wearing is 2 years old but linked a similar silhouette!)
Dagne Dover Dakota Backpack in Dark Moss
A New Day Pearl Slide Sandals (so cute. so comfy. Don't sleep on the Target shoes section!)
Neutral with a print & feminine top
Black Sandals (the ones I'm wearing are old Madewell but linked an adorable pair I may need to purchase myself)
Simple, elegant dresses = Instant outfits
Black Sandals (the ones I'm wearing are old Madewell but linked an adorable pair I may need to purchase myself)
Mixing it up a bit with a vibrant statement blouse
Sezane Florie Sandals in Polished Pistachio (I purchased these at a Sézane pop-up in Milan when I was there for work and they were much cheaper than these are showing up to be online! Guess you need to book a ticket to Milan to get the lower price...)
That's all for now! I hope I've given you some inspiration for making going back into the office a bit more tolerable and fun. If nothing else, it gives me a reason to dress up and feel fancy for the day which let's face it, doesn't happen often!
Do you have to go back to the office after working from home for YEARS? What are your favorite things to wear?? Share in the comments below!
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