What To Wear To The Office This Spring
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2 days ago
Wondering how to navigate the office this spring? Line your wardrobe with these stylist-approved tips and tricks
We’ve had enough of the thermals. It’s time to switch out those drab winter coats and chunky jumpers (make sure to spring clean your wardrobe while you’re at it) and give your daily rotation a spring refresh. Here, we bring you our ultimate guide to spring office attire, with ideas on what to wear, outfit ideas and top tips from a stylist.
Spring Office Attire: A Guide
The shift in season always feels like a fresh start – especially when the season in question is spring. And with winter’s grey skies and cold plunges (hopefully) behind us, we’re craving a sartorial overhaul. ‘Like snakes shedding the weight of a skin, come spring, we’re all itching to ditch the thermals, the multiple layers of knitwear and the jackets that saw us through winter,’ agrees stylist and fashion writer Alice Hare.
While spring means we can ditch the unnecessary layers, the season however does come with its own challenges. Our biggest worry? Figuring out what counts as appropriate workwear. ‘In winter, a tailored jacket provides easy, immediate smartness,’ notes Alice. ‘This means there’s an “am I too casual?” worry that often comes with spring summer office dressing.’
She adds that, while the traditional office still demands a shirt and suit, many relax their dress codes with the arrival of warmer weather. The result? A slightly more relaxed take on workwear, built with plenty of seasonal markers. Think pastel button-ups, lightweight knits, ballet flats and even the occasional maxi skirt. (Office dressing doesn’t sound so dull now, does it?)
To kick off your spring office wardrobe, Alice suggests building a capsule around three core pieces:
- Shirt Dress: ‘This quickly solves the smartness conundrum with ease,’ says Alice. ‘You can dress them with jackets and cardigans in spring, then drop all the layers come summer – making this a very versatile piece for your wardrobe.’
- Statement Shirt: ‘This is what I call a “cocktail shirt” – it’s going to be a substitute for the blazer you wore to the office all winter. Look for statement sleeves and cuffs, as these will give your outfit some personality (and make you feel excited to get dressed for work in the morning).’
- Ballet Flats: ‘A classic ballet flat is all kinds of elegant,’ notes the stylist. ‘And with ankle-baring trousers coming back into season you can finally wear them without succumbing to hypothermia. Leave the stompy boots at home now it’s spring.’
A Stylist’s Top Tips
Below, stylist Alice Hare shares her top tips for spring office dressing.
Layer Up
First tip: never trust the weather forecast. ‘It might look sunny outside but resist the urge to become overexcited prematurely,’ warns Alice. ‘Offices often have freezing air conditioning and there will still be a chill in the air on the commute for a good couple of months.’
To help ward off the lingering chill, she suggests having a few lightweight layers in your office capsule wardrobe. ‘A thin layer means you can wear your spring shirts without goosebumps,’ the stylist tells us. ‘Think long-sleeved tops with a thin fleece lining – plenty of shops stock these at the moment, and many so pretty that it doesn’t matter if they poke out from your shirt cuff or collar.’
Avoid Winter Hues
Put the black, charcoal and navy down – this is your last chance. ‘If there’s a time to leave the sludgy colours of winter at the door, this is it,’ agrees Alice. ‘Consider the onset of spring your green card to dress in sugary pastels, white cottons and bright hues.’
Switch Out The Accessories
And for an instant serotonin boost (spring edition), Alice recommends swapping out some of your go-to accessories for more seasonal pieces. ‘Switching your leather tote for a basket bag is an immediately mood-boosting style swap come spring,’ she emphasises. ‘For April (especially) in London, your raffia beach basket might feel a little too relaxed, so I’d snap up a woven basket in a playful colourway.’
Yes, Florals For Spring
‘Yes, it’s a cliché, but spring florals are a classic for a reason,’ Alice reminds us. ‘There’s so much variety when it comes to floral prints – and for the office, I especially love seeing it work its way from shirts and blouses into pants and skirts. A matching co-ord also gives you a no-thought-required office-ready outfit in one. And for a modern take on spring florals, I really love supersize floral earrings.’
