12 Workwear Pieces That Don’t Feel Buttoned-Up
Consider this a more polished business casual
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Personality and comfort are two new priorities when it comes to getting dressed for the office. Today’s workplace isn’t as stuffy as offices of decades ago, and dress codes are much more relaxed. For the most part, plenty of us are free to wear whatever we want, within some reasonable confines.
But unless your office is your living room couch, you probably want something a little more polished than worked-in leggings to suit up in. Michele Rutigliano, cofounder of sustainable brand WE-AR4, a treasure trove of top-notch nine-to-five designs, offers Bazaar her thoughts on keeping workplace attire relaxed but still refined. “WE-AR4 is all about ‘drama in the details’ to give any RTW piece personality,” Rutigliano says. “We are creating modern workwear with an exaggerated cuff, double collars, an unexpected hood, or the mixing of materials. We hope to give customers options where their personality can shine through and they still feel comfortable in the workplace.”
Oversize blazers, super-breezy trousers, and even statement sneakers fit the mold here. When you’re thinking through curating a capsule for the workweek, try playing with juxtapositions and contrasting pieces to create looks that are effortlessly stylish. “I love the tension between masculine and feminine, casual and polished,” Rutigliano says. “I always wear a hoodie-and-blazer combo, or soft suiting with a sneaker. Adding one element of casual to a polished look gives attitude to a tired workwear look.”
Ahead, 10 items with just the right amount of attitude to get you started.
WE-AR4’s sustainable ethos translates into luxury fabrics rescued from the cutting floor of fashion houses and turned into wardrobe essentials that don’t take themselves too seriously, like this hooded blazer.
Trade the pencil skirt for the bottoms you really want to wear: vintage jeans. This wide-leg style from DL1961 is crafted from sturdy and comfort-stretch denim. They are soft to the touch and won’t stretch out after you’ve sat in front of a computer all day.
When the day calls for ladylike flair—or on those days when buttons, seams, and hard pants make you want to scream—reach for this dreamy midi, cut from supersoft cady fabric. Leave it to Victoria Beckham to make a simplified tee-shaped dress the poshest piece in your closet.
It’s trench season again. But rather than add another traditional take on the rainy-day staple to your wardrobe, why not think outside the box? J.W. Anderson’s sophisticated twist on the classic plays up the collar and embellishes the belt, adding panache to everything it’s worn over, from sundresses and jumpsuits to trousers and denim.
Every capsule workwear wardrobe will most likely include a crisp white button-up. And trust us, the perfect white shirt is a must. But the smooth, relaxed fabric and neutral, goes-with-everything tone of this COS top is really calling our name.
Inject your all-black basics with a jewel tone that works for every season and every palette. A classic piece from Alaïa, the arbiter of structure and style, this bodysuit is casual yet elegant. It’s a statement but also versatile. It is exactly the kind of piece that can elevate every pair of jeans, trousers, and joggers you throw on over it.
One and done—it’s a boss sartorial move that’s not only smart, it’s also effortless. And this zip-up Aviator jumpsuit featuring a blouson upper, a cinched waistline, and airy pant legs is as polished as it gets.
Tailoring is an artform. Ensuring the bottom of your trousers only slightly brush the tops of your shoes? A skill! But sometimes you just want baggy, breezy, billowy britches that feel like a dream to float from meeting to meeting in. These Didi trous are your dream come true.
Mesh ballet flats, embellished sneakers, and the polarizing kitten heel are some of the biggest spring 2024 shoe trends. But perhaps none are better than the loafer. Treat yourself with this Bottega pump, made all the comfier with a stacked heel and wide toe.
These days, it’s all about the carryall—not the briefcase. And the Olsens, of course, know carryalls. They also know that the more relaxed and worn-in your carryall looks, the chicer it really is. So don’t think twice about throwing your computer, journal, water bottle, and commute snack into this Park tote. The dings will only add to its cred.
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DeAnna Janes is a freelance writer and editor for a number of sites, including Harper’s BAZAAR, Tasting Table, Fast Company and Brit + Co, and is a passionate supporter of animal causes, copy savant, movie dork and reckless connoisseur of all holidays. A native Texan living in NYC since 2005, Janes has a degree in journalism from Texas A&M and got her start in media at US Weekly before moving on to O Magazine, and eventually becoming the entertainment editor of the once-loved, now-shuttered DailyCandy. She’s based on the Upper West Side.
