Office Wear Basics .. Part 2 .. Wardrobe Essentials

Continuing with our office wear series, we have put together a list of basic wardrobe staples that you should have for a fabulous work wardrobe.

Take cues from these next time you go shopping. 

The idea is not to just buy all these things, but identify what you are most comfortable with and find pieces that you can combine to create smart outfits. That is where your creativity and individuality comes in.

1. Shirts

Classic button down shirts that you can pair with skirts, trousers, jeans.
Tip : Buy a shirt that is big enough to stretch all the way across your bust without gaping.
Don't wear a shirt that gapes and shows your undergarments, no matter how great it is otherwise. Also, don't go by the size on the labels..see if it actually fits.

2. Skirts

Find a  shape that flatters your body type, be in sheath skirts, pencil skirt, A-line, or pleated skirts. Avoid flamenco, peasant type and mini skirts, even on casual fridays.
Tip : Never go too short. A few inches above the knee should be the max you can go.

3. Trousers

Again find a style that flatters your body type and pair it with shirts and formal tops to get a great look.
Tip : Hem your pants. If your pants are too long it just screams sloppiness. If they are too short, they look silly. See it like this -- you can never wear the same pair of pants with flats as well as heels.

4. Dresses

Dresses offer great versatility.. you can choose a style that is classic formal, or if you have trendy pieces like prints or bold colors, give them a formal look by pairing them with blazers and cardigans. Sheath dresses are your best bet, but you can also dress up your shift dresses as formals. Confused, see our tutorial here on the difference between the two types and how you can dress them up or down.
Tip : It is better to avoid lacy dresses or dresses with sheer details at work. Leave them for the night out.

5. Blazers (and jackets)

Very important. They make the attire look powerful and you can use them to dress up any outfit .. dresses, just a plain top and skirt or even denims.

6. Cardigans

Work in the same way as blazers. So if you do not like formal jackets, go for cardigans.
Tip: Solid colors, mid-length, non-chunky cardigans work best.

7. Kurtas

Comfortable, traditional, colorful yet chic. Do not require much effort.

8. Jeans

You got to have a pair or two of good, well-fitting jeans which you can dress up and go to work in them. Pair your jeans with a beautiful printed top for a casual Friday or wear it with a classic button down or team it up with a blazer for a  business-casual look.. the options are endless. What is important is to find a jeans that suits your body type, flatters your figure and fits like a dream. Dark wash, mid rise are great options. 
Tip: Stay away from dangerously low waist / acid wash/ ripped styles. 

9. Shoes

At least have a couple of good pair of pumps and flats in neutral colors that will work with all your outfits.
Tip : Have to be well-maintained, polished.

10. Undergarments
Vital basics -- NEVER ignore. Wear well-fitting, no showing undergarments.

Here is a great Pinterest board with some great work outfits.

Office Wear Basics .. Part 1

In this series, we discuss office wear and try to give ideas for ideal and great office wear.
'What to wear to work' does not need to be a tough question any longer.
Follow certain rules, get your basics right, and enjoy dressing up for work and you will feel more confident to take on the long day ahead.
Dressing smartly at work is important -- one, because you want to make a good impression and two, your clothes reflect a lot.Work wear doesn't need to be boring and drab, and it certainly does not mean you cannot have fun with clothes.Whether your work place has a strict dress code or a relaxed policy, all you need to do is identify what you like and buy clothing items accordingly to get a work wardrobe that you will love.
Some questions that may help you with this are listed below.

Is your style classic or trendy?

Do you prefer a classic work look or do you want to be in on the latest trends (jewel tones, prints, florals, neons) ?
If you like the former, your work wardrobe will include mulitple whites, greys, blacks, navys, classic button downs, oxford shirts, skirts, trousers. You wouldn't have much difficulty putting together an outfit. 
If you are more of a trend follower, you will have printed tops, patterned dresses, the latest must-have pieces of every season. Mix and match to get a work appropriate look.

Are you a skirt or a trouser girl?

What do you think flatters you more .. skirts or pants?
If you thinks skirts suit you more, you can choose from pencil skirts,pleated skirts,classic A-line skirts,shift dresses,sheath dresses.. the options are endless.
If you think you look better in trousers, don't think the options are limited .. you have classic slim ankle length pants,wide-leg trousers, cropped trousers, printed / patterned trousers and what not. And, there is a way you can include these in a proper work outfit; just a little creativity is required.

Are kurtas your thing?

Chuck the skirts and dresses, are you more comfortable in traditional Indian wear? Don't worry, there is a huge variety of traditional kurtas available that you can wear to work. The key here is the fabric. It has to be something that gives the garment more structure, like cotton, or silk, or linen .. flowy fabrics like crepe or jersey are not good options for
work wear kurtas. The other important thing is cuts .. clean cuts (A-line, straight-cut) strong necklines (raised collar, chinese collar,button-down, V-neck) give a more corporate look. No one wants to see you channel your inner Bollywood diva with weird necklines or cuts(think anarkalis) and doris at front or back. Also, no embellishments or bling. The Manish Malhotra'ish clothes are for parties .. not office!
If you love saris and do not mind them wearing to work, chose them wisely. Cottons and printed silks are your best bet.

Are you a heels or a flat person?

The good news is, you can be either.
If you like flats, choose from a variety of sandals and ballet flats.
If you love heels, go for it .. pumps, peep-toes, T-strap..whatever works for you. Avoid flashy stilletos though!
The general rules when it comes to office wear shoes are:
- Don't wear heels higher than what you can comfortably walk in. Your new 5-inch pumps might be gorgeous, but don't wear them to work if you fear you will fall over in them. Ideal heels are 2 -3.5 inches.
- Closed toe shoes are most ideal, be it flats or heels. Some work places have a strict no-open-toe-shoe policy. If your work place has a flexible policy, you can go for peep-toes or open-toe sandals. However, do not wear anything that shoes too much of your toes, thong sandals for example.
- No shimmery, shiny, heavily embellished shoes.. you have no reason to wear that to office, except for some costume day at work.
- NO FLIP FLOPS - EVER , OR SNEAKERS! Yes, it is in ALL CAPS .. because that's how big of a no-no it is.
I cringe every time I walk into a corporate office (especially in India) and see people wearing flip-flops, slip-on sandals and sneakers to work.