Struggling Over What to Wear to The Office? 21 Chic Work Essentials that Make It 10x Easier

It's all about polished comfort.

Last Updated on January 27, 2023

Are you struggling with the concept of a back-to-work wardrobe or even just work clothes in general? You’re not alone.

Office attire can be a tricky one, for starters every office is different – is it the formal business suited and booted type or is it more of a business casual vibe or is it just downright casual?

What makes it even harder to navigate is the fact that workwear has evolved so much in recent years. During the pandemic our work from home uniforms were pretty much sweats 24/7 so it’s hard to imagine going back to a fully formal world.

On top of all this, we have to deal with the unpredictable here in the UK. You never know what you’re going to get – one minute it could be a lovely bright sunny morning and then without any warning, rain showers set in to ruin just about any outfit.

This can unfortunately mean a hell of a lot of outfit planning in the mornings. Wool coat or rain coat? Boots or trainers? Umbrella or no umbrella? And exactly how many layers are too many layers?

The good news is, we’re here to help. To save you the stress, we’ve found 21 chic work outfit essentials for 2023 no matter what type of office you’re in.

The new era of office dressing is all about polished comfort. You still want to look professional but you no longer need to be doing it in tight dresses and 4 inch heels.

Think comfy wide leg trousers, roll-neck and cable knit jumpers, crisp white shirts and the all-important power blazer that can change just about any outfit from casual to formal in seconds.

There’s no need to buy a whole new wardrobe either, you’ll be much better served by selecting a few key pieces that you can interchange with the rest of your wardrobe. Keep things classic and you can’t go wrong.

Keep scrolling as we’ve found some gems that will brighten up even the darkest days – here’s our roundup of 21 chic work outfit essentials for every office.

Wear Next may receive a small commission if you click a link from one of our articles onto a retail website and make a purchase.

For fashion advice and chit-chat, join our Facebook group What To Wear Next or follow us on Instagram.