5 Back To The Office Essentials
A couple weeks ago I received the sweetest note from a reader who shared that she is headed back to office soon and needs a little wardrobe refresh. Since I don’t work in a typical office setting, I dropped a note in my private Properly Fitting Bra Club Facebook group to see what they’re shopping for and / or are looking for as they head back to the office. I got some great ideas there (per usual) and hope this post serves as inspiration if you’re in need. Whether you work in a typical office setting or not, I hope you’re able to get some ideas or suggestions — all are welcome around here! In case you missed it, strongly encourage you to check out my recent business casual outfit guide. It dives into more suggestions and outfit ideas.
If you’re still working from home, be sure to check out my work from home essentials!
classic tote bag
I have always been in need of a great tote bag, especially when I was traveling so often. I still carry one around, it’s just easy and functional. It’s important that I use something that is sturdy, holds my laptop and looks nice. I’ve put together a list of my favorite go-to brands that have held up really well over the years, if you’re in the market for a new bag. My favorite part about these brands (aside from their excellent quality) is that most offer customizations so you can add your initials to them.
A FEW OF MY GO-TO BRANDS FOR CLASSIC, QUALITY TOTE BAGS
CUYANA | FOSSIL | LEATHEROLOGY | MADEWELL | TORY BURCH
JACKET (XL)
ON THE LEFT: DRESS (XL) | SANDAL | BRACELET | EARRINGS
ON THE RIGHT: BLACK JEANS (32R) | TEE (XL) | SNAKE SANDAL | PURSE
CHIC LIGHTWEIGHT LAYER
One of the most popular / frequent requests has been a lightweight layer that is office friendly enough to accommodate intense air conditioning but is also cute enough to wear for a date night and functional enough to travel in… So I designed it! I’m so excited to have designed such a versatile piece that can be worn in a wide range of scenarios. Available in two colors (shown above), I hope this is the solution to this request.
JACKET (XL)
ON THE LEFT: DRESS (XL) | SANDAL | BRACELET | EARRINGS
ON THE RIGHT: BLACK JEANS (32R) | TEE (XL) | SNAKE SANDAL | PURSE
OTHER LIGHT LAYERING OPTIONS:
comfortable work pants
The struggle of going back to real pants / jeans is REAL. There’s no shame in having to purchase a new size / style that fits you better now. For years I’ve talked about the magic of Spanx’s Perfect Black Pant Collection. They are hands down, my favorite professional pant ever and available up to 3X (petite and tall lengths too). They are pull on, come in a wide variety of styles and have just the right amount of control / support to wear all day long. CARALYN10 should still work for a discount, if interested. I have had luck with a few other brands, shown below!
A FEW MORE OF MY GO-TO BRANDS FOR WORK PANTS:
J.CREW | LARK & RO | SPANX | TALBOTS
THROW ON AND GO DRESSES
In these warmer months, dresses and jumpsuits become my uniform. They’re just so easy and paired with the right undergarments, you’re good to throw that one thing on and go! Keep in mind different work settings can have different levels of appropriateness (the dress shown at the top of this post ran a little bit shorter than I would’ve liked for a more professional setting). I’ve shared some of my favorite destinations below for shopping work friendly dresses.
AMAZON (MY CURATED LIST OF DRESSES) | ANN TAYLOR | ELOQUII | H&M | J CREW | LARK & RO | LOFT | MADEWELL | TARGET
CLOCKWISE: TAN LOAFER | CAP TOE HEEL | SIMILAR SLIDE ON MULE | SNEAKER
FUNCTIONAL (BUT STILL FASHIONABLE) SHOES
I lost my tolerance for uncomfortable shoes year ago but the pandemic definitely solidified that. I previously shared some of my favorite fall / spring transitional shoes on this post but wanted to revisit. I’ve been wearing a whole lot of slippers over the past year and these tootsies are ready for some (comfortable) action. As a size 11 shoe, I was never picky about where to shop (I was just grateful to find my size) but now there are more options than ever and I certainly have my favorite brands / places to shop.
DSW | JCREW | MADEWELL | NATURALIZER | ROTHY’S | SAM EDELMAN | SARAH FLINT | STAPLES BY THE DROP
I hope this post was helpful and gave you a good starting point on some back to work wardrobe staples! Feel free to leave any other additions or suggestions in a comment below. Thanks so much for reading and allowing me to be your go-to gal! xx CMK