Staying on trend while being work appropriate can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be impossible. Work outfit ideas can haunt you throughout the week if you feel bombarded by all the rules of the office. (And no, you don’t have to work in fashion.) Unless you have a strict work budget, pairing your favorite (appropriate) t-shirt with work basics totally works.
SHIRT // Boohoo — VEST // Target – sold out (similar) — PANTS // c/o White House Black Market — SHOES // Steve Madden – old (similar under $80!) —
SUNNIES // c/o Anthropologie – sold out — EARRINGS // ZARA — BAG // ZARA
PHOTOGRAPHY // Ireal James
For most people, casual work outfits are easier said than done, but if you’re really thoughtful, you can even get away with wearing a statement tee to your 9 to 5.
I really believe in the high-low approach. Not the expensive plus high fashion approach (which there’s nothing wrong with that), but the high aka dressy with low aka casual. For work especially if you work in a corporate office sans strict dress code, you can pull off a t-shirt like this Boohoo one I’m wearing here, as long as you keep it with all high (dressy!) pieces.
First off, I love this t-shirt because of the bold red text that reads “J’Adore.” If you’re like me, anything French impresses me. But also, the bold red letters really pop against the white t-shirt.
To polish up the look, I opted for these absolutely fantastic pants. Yes, the hyperbole is necessary. These WHBM cropped black pants just win. The fit, the length, everything about them is right.
The predictable turn to take here is a blazer, but that would simply hide the shirt. So instead, I went with a sleeveless trench vest that works any season and with almost any look. It’s seriously one of the most versatile pieces in my closet. The vest breaks up the look without completely covering up the shirt, but the vest + pant pairing makes this a pretty pulled together look, even with the statement tee. To have some more fun and put the cherry on top of the look, I threw on some snakeskin pumps that say, “I’m about my business, but fashion.”
Here are my absolute musts when it comes to wearing a statement tee to work:
- Mix high and low pieces. Your t-shirt is your low piece, make everything else high. Don’t be afraid to layer without hiding the statement of the tee.
- Tuck your tee in. Untucked will read sloppy.
- Be intentional with your fit. You don’t want it too tight or too loose. Opt for a unisex fit, true to size.
Don’t feel like you need to compromise your personal style when it comes to dressing for work. Have fun and *in my best Tim Gunn impression* make it work!
