Struggling with the idea of what to wear to work? You are not alone! Whether you're coming out of lockdown, starting a new job, or returning to the workforce after maternity leave, we understand it can be overwhelming. Keep reading for our top tips on how to (re)plan your office wardrobe.
Clear out your wardrobe
It's can be quite disheartening when you go to get dressed for work and find that none of your clothes fit you anymore, or that there's nothing you enjoy wearing. Before you return to work, be honest with yourself about what works for you in your current wardrobe. For those of you that are returning after maternity leave, you may find that your body shape has changed - when I returned to work, I realised I'd gone up a size in my hips. Keeping my pre-baby and pre-pregnancy clothes in my wardrobe was making dressing for work a nightmare, but clearing them out also cleared my mind, and helped me plan my purchases carefully.
Plan what you need
There are two aspects to this, particularly if you are returning to work after having a child and are no longer working full time.
The first is to work out how many outfits you need, based on how many days you are working. If you're back in the office part-time, you'll need less clothes than you had previously. For example, if you're working 2 days a week, and you don't like repeating outfits too often, you might find you can get by with 2 skirts, 2 tops, and 2 dresses, which is 6 outfits. Add a blazer and some accessories, and you'll feel like you have plenty of options.
The second part of your returning to work wardrobe planning is to carefully plan which pieces you need. We cover this activity in our Capsule Wardrobe Planning Guide, but the main aim is to make sure you think carefully about what pieces you'll get maximum use of. Have enough corporate skirts? Try teaming them with some versatile shirts that you can also wear casually to get maximum use out of. Pick a blazer that you can team with jeans and boots for the weekend as well as with your work wear. Blazers are a good option!
Purchase carefully
Now that you've worked out how many pieces you need, and what sort of pieces you can get maximum wear out of, it's time to purchase carefully. If you're returning to work after having a child, you might want to think about darker colours and hard-wearing fabrics, for example: wool. Make sure that you are realistic about care. If you're hard on your clothes then choosing fabrics that are easy-care is going to help a lot. For example our Work Tee and Windsor Blouse are great work tops that are crease-resistant and machine washable, making them a great grab and go option for busy mornings.
Enjoy!
Returning to work after a long break - whether maternity leave or an extended leave - can feel stressful. Sorting out your wardrobe can take some of the stress out of returning to work, and help make it a more enjoyable experience. Good luck, and enjoy!
Need help? Feel free to email us at info@issueclothing.com OR try our Capsule Concierge Service and we can help create your own custom capsule!
To continue reading check out the blog, here.