Back to the Office Style

This week, I had to return to the office for the first time in over two and a half years. Which meant having a wear a REAL outfit and an office-appropriate one at that. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t work in pyjamas all day working from home, I never have, BUT I do have a tendency to dress up on top and wear leggings or sweat pants, just to stay a bit comfy. Fortunately, I knew I would occasionally being going back to the office starting this fall, so I had reviewed my wardrobe to make sure it was office-ready. 

 

While I haven’t been adding much office-wear to my wardrobe since the pandemic began, I did pick up a pair of wide leg black trousers in late summer that I knew would be perfect for the office and also work for just about any other occasion that required me to dress up. The Yasmin Wide Leg Pants from Dynamite have become a my favourite wardrobe addition in a long time because they look elegant and are super soft. These high-waist pants look amazing with heels (which is how I styled them this week) to create a long ling that makes it look like you have legs for days. But they also look equally good with flats, slightly pooled at the feet (just like we wore all our pants in the late 90s – I can’t believe everything old is new again). I went with my normal pant size – 6 and they’re perfect, with just a bit of stretch to make them comfortable when you’re sitting at a boardroom table all day like I was this week.

For this particular look, I paired them with one of my favourite sweaters of all time, the Cotton-Wool Blend Teddy Sweater from J. Crew Factory. I have had this one for years and it’s held up so well. My only regret is that I didn’t pick up more colours before the J. Crew Factory in Edmonton closed down during the pandemic (sigh). This is the perfect crew-neck sweater – it’s not too form-fitting, but not so loose that it looks sloppy. It also works perfectly with jeans, dress pants, and even skirts. I’ve worn it in every season too. Basically, it’s the perfect closet staple and I highly recommend it.

 For shoes, I went with the Pointed-Toe Chunky Heels from Vivaia, a sustainable footwear company I recently discovered. These stretchy and ultra comfortable heels are made of recycled plastic bottles and feature a cushioned foot bed that makes wearing heels all day super easy. I was drawn to the bow-topped heels because they were a great play on a basic style and I love that the bow is detachable so you can wear them multiple ways. Vivaia also features flats, sneakers, booties, and boots and if you’re looking for practical but stylish shoes, I highly recommend them. Texture-knit shoes are definitely having a moment right now, so I’ve also linked a pair of budget-friendly flats in the Shop the Post section. 

Finally, I was SO EXCITED when I saw that Marc Jacobs has relaunched his iconic Marc by Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo Bag! It was one of my favourite handbags for years and I love that they’ve brought it back. My olive version is no longer available, but the classic brown or black are just as perfect. I’ve been carrying mine again non-stop. 

 

All in all, this look was easy to put together, which I needed after years of not really having to think about my outfits (or having enough time before I had to get out the door to really think about them) and it’s definitely one I’ll be repeating. Office style doesn’t have to be stuffy – it can still be comfortable, and I think this outfit really illustrates that. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.