Just another functional/comfortable women's work ensemble question
February 9, 2020 2:58 PM
I recently started a new job in an office with a business casual dress code. I have previously been working from home, so I need to up my work clothes game a bit. I walk over a mile during my commute and so I am only interested in women's work attire that is also comfortable for active commuting, often in rain or other unpleasant weather.
I have a sort of work uniform but I need to add a few more pieces. I'm hoping to get some thoughtful recommendations based on a few items that I really love. More broadly, I'm looking for clothes that look professional and polished but that are also functional - easy to launder, comfortable to walk around in, good for travel, built to last at least a couple seasons.
Top: silky blouse + some sort of sweater
Uniqlo rayon blouses - I love these rayon blouses but I don't like the color options. If you are aware of similar rayon fabric blouses please share! Bonus for anything with a geometric or minimal pattern.
Sweaters - who makes a nice sweater these days? Should be flattering, easy to launder, soft, and some sort of stripe or knit pattern would be lovely.
Bottom: stretchy skinny jeans that pass for skinny work slacks
Levi's Skinny-Fit Jeans in black: I loved these! They were super comfy and had pockets and were such a dark shade of black that no one ever noticed they were just really comfy, stretchy black jeans. Of course, Levi's stopped making them.
I'm looking to replace these with some sort of stretchy skinny jean type pant. Must have some real pockets.
Shoes
I think I'm looking for the Holy Grail, a women's ankle boot that is both cute enough for formal occasions and comfortable for walking over a mile in wet weather (I am aware that you can swap shoes out but it is annoying to have to do this multiple times a day to walk across campus in the rain)
Currently looking at the Born Neah and the Born Olio.
I have a sort of work uniform but I need to add a few more pieces. I'm hoping to get some thoughtful recommendations based on a few items that I really love. More broadly, I'm looking for clothes that look professional and polished but that are also functional - easy to launder, comfortable to walk around in, good for travel, built to last at least a couple seasons.
Top: silky blouse + some sort of sweater
Uniqlo rayon blouses - I love these rayon blouses but I don't like the color options. If you are aware of similar rayon fabric blouses please share! Bonus for anything with a geometric or minimal pattern.
Sweaters - who makes a nice sweater these days? Should be flattering, easy to launder, soft, and some sort of stripe or knit pattern would be lovely.
Bottom: stretchy skinny jeans that pass for skinny work slacks
Levi's Skinny-Fit Jeans in black: I loved these! They were super comfy and had pockets and were such a dark shade of black that no one ever noticed they were just really comfy, stretchy black jeans. Of course, Levi's stopped making them.
I'm looking to replace these with some sort of stretchy skinny jean type pant. Must have some real pockets.
Shoes
I think I'm looking for the Holy Grail, a women's ankle boot that is both cute enough for formal occasions and comfortable for walking over a mile in wet weather (I am aware that you can swap shoes out but it is annoying to have to do this multiple times a day to walk across campus in the rain)
Currently looking at the Born Neah and the Born Olio.
I second those Madewell jeans stellaluna recommended. I also have some much cheaper black skinny jeans that I wear to work regularly, from Articles of Society via Nordstrom Rack - they fit great, but they do fade more over time than the Madewell denim. Both get washed and tumble dried regularly.
I really like my Everlane sweaters, which I find just a bit more visually interesting than (what was to me the standard) J.Crew Factory or Banana Republic Factory cardigans. Those latter options, though, are to me the gold standard in "a plain, tidy, unremarkable sweater, reasonably made, that will weather a few years of wear." I do recommend air drying, though.
My shoe holy grail is a polished oxford. Incredibly comfortable for walking, looks super polished. Whatever shoes you get, be sure you can have the soles and heels replaced.
posted by amelioration at 4:16 PM on February 9, 2020
I really like my Everlane sweaters, which I find just a bit more visually interesting than (what was to me the standard) J.Crew Factory or Banana Republic Factory cardigans. Those latter options, though, are to me the gold standard in "a plain, tidy, unremarkable sweater, reasonably made, that will weather a few years of wear." I do recommend air drying, though.
My shoe holy grail is a polished oxford. Incredibly comfortable for walking, looks super polished. Whatever shoes you get, be sure you can have the soles and heels replaced.
posted by amelioration at 4:16 PM on February 9, 2020
I have a pair of faux suede Uggs ankle boots in a low-wedge heel that are really comfortable, warm and waterproof. Similar to these. i was surprised to find them because I had no idea Uggs made normal looking shoes.
I like Cos for sweaters. They do a lot of washable wools, mostly solids, but very comfortable and long-wearing.
posted by crush at 4:26 PM on February 9, 2020
I like Cos for sweaters. They do a lot of washable wools, mostly solids, but very comfortable and long-wearing.
posted by crush at 4:26 PM on February 9, 2020
For colored jeans, I recommend the old AskMeFi favorite Gloria Vanderbilt Amanda jeans. I wear these most days to work. Students have commented on my "many different shades of chinos" when they're actually just colored jeans. The colors don't really fade much at all, including the black. (I just got purple ones and they make me very happy, but maybe not for a more traditional workplace)
posted by hydropsyche at 4:34 PM on February 9, 2020
posted by hydropsyche at 4:34 PM on February 9, 2020
Do you have any parameters on sweaters? There is a big range.
For work with blouses I like long cardigans. Advantages: pockets, cozy, can be buttoned up to be warmer, looks drapey. I recently got this Duluth trading Post long cardigan and like it. The construction is solid, although they run large.
posted by medusa at 4:47 PM on February 9, 2020
For work with blouses I like long cardigans. Advantages: pockets, cozy, can be buttoned up to be warmer, looks drapey. I recently got this Duluth trading Post long cardigan and like it. The construction is solid, although they run large.
posted by medusa at 4:47 PM on February 9, 2020
(This is coming from an East Coast, more-formal-than-average-job perspective.)
Uniqlo (washable) merino sweaters are useful and reasonably priced. Your expectations should match the price ($30-40, depending), but I can usually get at least two winters' wear out of them.
Jeans are the defining line of "casual" as opposed to "business casual." I would need to be pretty comfortable that my new workplace was indifferent before I wore even black ones on a regular basis.
Nice ankle boots can be business casual, but they're not going to be formal. (Not sure if you really want formal or you were just using it interchangeably with BC.) A leather loafer will go further up on the formality scale.
posted by praemunire at 5:03 PM on February 9, 2020
Uniqlo (washable) merino sweaters are useful and reasonably priced. Your expectations should match the price ($30-40, depending), but I can usually get at least two winters' wear out of them.
Jeans are the defining line of "casual" as opposed to "business casual." I would need to be pretty comfortable that my new workplace was indifferent before I wore even black ones on a regular basis.
Nice ankle boots can be business casual, but they're not going to be formal. (Not sure if you really want formal or you were just using it interchangeably with BC.) A leather loafer will go further up on the formality scale.
posted by praemunire at 5:03 PM on February 9, 2020
I just got Naot suede ankle boots. They’re comfortable, water resistant, and I walk all the time (across a rainy campus) and they look great.
I’d consider updating to proper pants. People wear dark jeans in business casual offices, but it’s noticeable. Navy (or black) cotton pants, even skinny style work better in an office.
posted by Valancy Rachel at 8:49 PM on February 9, 2020
I’d consider updating to proper pants. People wear dark jeans in business casual offices, but it’s noticeable. Navy (or black) cotton pants, even skinny style work better in an office.
posted by Valancy Rachel at 8:49 PM on February 9, 2020
H&M has a lot of simple, silky, machine-washable blouses, in many colours and patterns, that are similar to that Uniqlo one. Express is worth checking out, too.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 9:25 PM on February 9, 2020
posted by pseudostrabismus at 9:25 PM on February 9, 2020
I can personally vouch for BetaBrand yoga dress pants. I work in the Boston area and was commuting via T and on foot through nasty weather to my last job. They're flexible, warm when you need them to be, and no one will know they're yoga pants but you.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 6:32 AM on February 10, 2020
posted by Sheydem-tants at 6:32 AM on February 10, 2020
You might like Teva's ankle boots. I have their tall boot, which has a stack heel and is quite stylish, but also waterproof and comfy enough to hike fairly rugged trails.
posted by ananci at 7:18 AM on February 10, 2020
posted by ananci at 7:18 AM on February 10, 2020
For pants, ponte knit/travel knit work pants are my holy grail. They are heavy enough that they look fine to wear to work (not like yoga pants or sweatpants) but they are stretchy and comfy and don't wrinkle.
posted by oblique red at 10:38 AM on February 13, 2020
posted by oblique red at 10:38 AM on February 13, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
For boots I wear these Chelseas, my walking commute is a bit over a mile and they’re great (good in rain and snow too). If you want more of an ankle boot I’ve heard good things about the walkability of women’s booties from Teva, Keens, and Timberland.
posted by stellaluna at 3:45 PM on February 9, 2020