Curating a professional workwear wardrobe

Sometimes I hear that it’s ok to wear jeans to work. I’ve even heard that distressed jeans could be ok too.

I’d like to think I’m properly qualified to tell you that jeans are not really professional and distressing is definetely not professional. But there’s a caveat – if you work in a creative field the rules are different.

This post applies to professional environments like corporate offices and the like. I’ve worked in a handful of corporate offices for big and small companies and I have seen my fair share of employee handbooks. At most, jeans could on casual Fridays be ok to wear.

But why are jeans unprofessional? According to fashion historians, “They [jeans] were first working clothes, then symbols of disobedience only to become fashion items” [more on the history of jeans]. So it’s not a surprise that they are not viewed as appropriate attire for professionals.

So if we’re tossing jeans to the wayside – what can we wear if we want comfort and a little dare I say flair?

I’ve been lucky enough to collect a few great pieces over the years but it is totally possible to do it in a short amount of time if you choose wisely.

Today I’m writing to show you just how you can do that. Your professional wardrobe should have the basics, but I’m here to talk to you about what is beyond that. A good place to start is great blazer, a statement (wow dress), a little black dress and a printed dress.

Here are some of my favorite items available now [click images below]