Having enough office outfit ideas when you don't have to adhere to a uniform is about as tricky as a dress code gets. How smart is too smart? How casual is too casual? Are jeans okay for every day of the week, or are they really still for Dress Down Fridays only? So. Many. Questions. So. Little. Time.
Even in the most progressive of workplaces, it can still be frowned upon to turn up looking like a complete scruff. But when you do have the freedom to choose, it's hard to know where to turn. Especially when you've slept through your alarm and your closet is artfully strewn on the floor. Our 30 office outfit ideas (and adjoining handy tips) should do the trick.
Annabel Rosendahl got the brown memo—did you? These chic tonal, textural pieces all add up to create a really head-turning look without being loud. You can get started with just a tan bag in the mix.
Carmen, the founder of Chronicles of Her, knows exactly how to do the high-low mix: A neat vintage blazer and quilted bag are good friends with a motif tee and crystal earrings.
Ada throws out the rulebook in this mix 'n' match suit. Her orange jacket is from ASOS while the pink trousers have been bought from H&M.
Beatrice has found a very good way to dress up light-wash denim: with a sculptural blazer, smart ankle boots and a roll-neck. Also, she's carrying that new Jaquemus bag we all want—it's called the Praia and it's £520.
Grece's strict colour palette and dramatic wide-leg trousers do all the talking, so essentially this look is quite simple to pull together.
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Roll necks and midi skirts—the perfect outfit for a work day when you're bored of trousers. Lisa Aiken adds a playful twist to her office attire with colour-pop boots.
Gala's pastel coat from Mansur Gavriel is the optimum outerwear choice if your on-the-clock uniform needs to adhere to a muted colour palette. The cherry bag from Susan Alexandra is beyond cute, but perhaps not every office would "get" it.
Maja Wyh makes the case for minimalism—her loose navy and black layers are cinched at the waist and complemented by slouchy boots. We love this simple-but-effective combination.
Jeanette shows that "trend" items can work for the office, too—see how she neutralises her pink strides with her sharp checked blazer and white blouse.
Desperate to wear your summer dress but don't want pnemonia? We hear you. That's why we're offering up this roll-neck and 20-denier tights solution from Irina Lakicevic.
Related: 8 Items You Need to Stay Warm and Look Chic in Your Inevitably Freezing Office
You're looking at the chicest way to wear separates ever (courtesy of Evangelie from Style Heroine) as well as seeing the Céline clutch everyone's suddenly after.
Tamu's classic trench coat and windowpane checked trousers have been taken to the next level with her natty layering techniques.
Marie's culottes receive a 2018 update in the form of a bright cardigan and white boots. Note the purposefully mismatched combination here; it makes a work-appropriate look more relaxed.
Even the smallest details—like contrast top-stitching—can make simple, tailored pieces look far more directional than you'd imagine. Maria Alia's H&M shirt is the perfect example.
If you're ever unsure as to whether jeans can look smart enough for the office, reference this pic. Aria's retro blouse and indigo flares definitely look the part—just add a chic car coat.
Related: Winter 2018 Fashion Trends: The Only Looks You Need to Know
Who says you have to have a suit that matches? Combine different prints and texture like Darja here with her Hofman jacket and Baum Und Pferdgarten trousers, then pair with simple accessories to allow you to get out of the house on time.
Julia's eschewing the more popular trouser suit formula in favour of this bookish skirt suit—it may not be the easy go-to for everyone, but it will start conversations.
If you work somewhere with a relatively relaxed dress code, we'd love to suggest this jeans, belted blazer and pointed Chelsea boot trio created by Freddie Harrel.
Invest in a knitted skirt and jumper co-ord for an outfit that takes approximately two minutes to plan and will keep that pesky winter chill at bay.
Talking of making a suit interesting, why not pair yours with a printed tee? This look will work just as well for client meetings as it will for post-work drinks.
Related: This Has to Be 2019's Biggest Skirt Success Story
Leather trousers can be suitable for work, just ask Roberta Benteler here—with a tucked-in sweater and sleek mules, she looks ready for action.
Erica Davies always inspires us to crack out a printed midi dress—her floral Other Stories number has inspired us to invest in one of these.
The solution to everything: checked blazers and earrings. Tine Andrea knows it. You know it.
Maria Bernad has almost repurposed a school uniform idea here with her checked skirt, sweater and beret. It's the boots and grown-up handbag that really ramp it up.
Alexis of Style Memos always wears the kind of pared-back pieces you can use day-in, day-out and never get bored of—take this trench with a subtle knotted sleeve, for example.
Related: Trust Me—These 5 Ankle-Boot Trends Will Be Everywhere You Look in 2024
Another midi skirt look, only this time it looks suitably sophisticated with a cosy cable knit. Style with sunnies and ankle boots (perhaps not of western guise) or a little extra oomph.
Printed chiffon blouses, midi skirts and dresses really can work for the office—just ground them with black opaques and boots.
A frilled skirt can always be tempered by an oversized knit—Em of A Style Album has the right idea with this monochromatic look.
Give a knitted dress instant gloss by wearing it with a long double-breasted coat, then finish with a beret and booties. If, like Karina, your frock features a split, try adding a pair of 2018's top tights.
Make the right impression from the moment you step in the office with a gorgeous wrap coat—Diletta's Mango Comitted coat is as chic as they come.
Now you've got the inspiration to hand, it's time to start curating your winter work capsule wardrobe...
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