Every time I watch the TV show ‘Suits’ I feel a sudden urge to shop for business attire. Leading female characters Rachel Zane, Donna Paulson and Jessica Pearson look their very best whenever they enter the offices of law firm Pearson Specter. Donna and Jessica look sophisticated in their perfectly tailored dresses, while Rachel looks very chic in her pencil skirt and blouse ensembles. There is something about formal or casual business attire that makes me want to wear it in and out of the office. Personally I am a big fan of blazers, knitted jumpers and loosely fitted blouses. I would love to wear more pencil skirts to work but am too fixated on comfort whenever I’m working 9 to 5, so I end up going for formal pants and dark denim instead. In a perfect world I would be selecting my work outfits an evening in advance, but in reality I end up selecting items in the early morning, often in a rush with no time to be creative and fashion forward. This is why I decided to search the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week runways for business attire to use as inspiration. Whether you are working full- or part-time or are job hunting and going from one job interview to another, we all need to make a good (first) impression. Time to dress to impress!
- Feel confident and comfortable
9 to 5 means walking around in the same outfit for 8 hours straight. In order to feel comfortable wear clothes that make you feel confident. Leave outfits at home that are too revealing or too tight. It is okay to flirt but not okay to seduce your male co-workers. Let’s stay professional, keep it modest.
- It is okay to wear colorful items and to opt for prints
Don’t be afraid to add some color to your work attire. Black, grey and whites look even better when combined with seasonal shades. In autumn and winter trend colors like emerald green, bordeaux reds and darker shades of purple work very well.
Afraid you might attract too much attention by wearing prints? Get inspired by Sneha Arora‘s printed dresses or Dev r Nil’s printed blazer. Subtle prints and patterns combined with a plain vest or blazer are very suitable for the office.
- Feminine vs. masculine
Formal work attire can be quite masculine. Create a feminine look by opting for midi or long skirts and dresses. Combine masculine formal pants with loosely fitted blouses or knit jumpers in trendy colors and go for accessories to finish your look. Choose fitted clothes that emphasize your female form.
Check out Payal Singhal‘s blazer with embellishments for inspiration!
- Autumn/Winter favorite: Knitwear
Think jumpers and cardigans and basics in trend colors. Even oversized knitwear can look chic when combined with fitted jeans or pants. Rajesh Pratap Singh inspired me with this casual look; a loosely fitted jumper combined with a scarf and knee length skirt. Casual yet chic!
- Keep it simple
At the end of the day you need to adjust your wardrobe to what is suitable for your field of work. My final tip is to keep it simple, don’t overdress, over accessorize or wear layers and layers of makeup. Always stay true to your natural beauty and emphasize your best features.
Let us know what you wear to work by leaving a comment below!
In order of appearance: Sneha Arora, Dev R Nil, Payal Singhal, Rajesh Pratap Singh
