Wear to Work by MM.LaFleur; Image: Courtesy
tFS: What should women do before buying workwear?
SL and TH: Before hitting the stores, there are three basic (and important!) steps every woman should take.
- Envision your ideal work wardrobe. Step back for a minute and think about how you want to look and feel at work. Create a Pinterest board, or identify women in the world who you think are “doing it right.” Once you have a clear vision for how you’d like to look, you’ll be much better equipped to make savvy decisions while shopping.
- Edit your current closet. Create a designated section in your closet for work-appropriate clothes, and be ruthless about weeding out anything that isn’t. If it’s ill-fitting, stained, frayed or worn beyond repair, do yourself a favor and toss it.
- Budget like a boss. Once you’ve taken stock of your current wardrobe, it’s time to fill in the gaps. Decide how much you’re ready to spend on workwear — we recommend spending no more than 5 to 10 percent of your monthly take-home income. If your take-home is $2,500 per month, that leaves you with $250 a month or $750 a season. Now, it’s just a question of figuring out where that money would be best spent to fill out your ultimate work wardrobe.
tFS: Let’s talk colors: Are there any bad colors to wear to work?
SL and TH: Every workplace is different, but as a general rule, it makes sense to stick to neutral colors when you’re building the foundation of your work wardrobe. You can’t go wrong with black, but navy is a nice alternative that is just as powerful and flattering. Depending on your skin tone, you should experiment with shades of gray, ivory, beige and olive. When it comes to color, we love hues that are a bit subdued and unexpected; burgundy instead of fire-engine red, or a hunter rather than a bright kelly green. A moderate splash of reptile or leopard print (heels or a belt) can also read as a neutral. Just beware the head-to-toe jungle cat look.
tFS: What’s the one wardrobe item everyone should own?
SL and TH: That’s easy: A versatile dress. Because it’s an outfit in and of itself, you don’t have to waste brain space figuring out how to style it. The best type of dress is one that can be dressed up or down, so you can wear it comfortably throughout the workday, but still feel stylish when you show up to an event after work. It should be in a color that is flattering and confidence-boosting, which is why black is a great go-to.
tFS: Many successful men wear the same daily uniform, from Mark Zuckerberg to Karl Lagerfeld. Women seem to have a harder time getting away with it. What’s your advice?
SL and TH: Just one of the many challenges women face in the workplace! On one hand, women’s wardrobes are more scrutinized than men’s — both in the media and in day-to-day life. And on the other, it’s often assumed that women want to spend time coming up with creative outfits every day. Some might, but some certainly don’t.
There are, however, a number of women who are effectively blazing the trail when it comes to wearing a daily uniform. Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes wears a black turtleneck every day. Advertising creative Matilda Kahl recently wrote a great piece called Why I Wear the Exact Same Thing to Work Every Day.
Those are extreme examples of the daily uniform, but women like [Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund] Christine Lagarde and [Vogue Editor-in-Chief] Anna Wintour, who could wear anything, also stick to a consistent silhouette and general look. No matter what they’re wearing, they always look like themselves.
The whole point of a uniform is to make you feel put-together, but ultimately, to shift the focus from what you’re wearing to what you’re thinking/saying/doing/accomplishing. Your outfit is never as interesting as you are.
