There’s a trend on TikTok that I’m kind of obsessed with.
(Quick note: When I say “TikTok,” I actually mean “Instagram Reels” — I’m old and don’t have a TikTok so I just wait and see all the trending TikToks a week later when they show up on Instagram, whoops.)
If you haven’t seen it, it’s basically influencers who have never stepped foot in an office giving “workwear advice,” and then different influencers making fun of said previous influencers.
If you really want a good laugh, head to Fashion Nova’s website and click on “office looks.”
Truly hilarious.
Anyway- returning to the office post-COVID has been weird. I left my last office job in the 2010s and things have changed a bit since then. My last go-to “uniform” — ballet flats, dark skinny jeans, a cami top and a cropped blazer — is so incredibly dated now.
Since obviously the internet is zero help, I’ve been trying to figure out on my own what to wear, and I’ve found a new(ish), updated uniform to wear.
I’m still not wearing crew socks, though.
Granted I work in forestry, so about 75 percent of the time I’m either wearing my agency uniform or hiking pants.
But, if I’m in the office on a day I don’t have a field outing or a media briefing, I have a little leeway with how I dress, and I prefer to shy away from jeans, tees and Birkenstocks. Looking the part helps me feel the part — ya know?
I’ve basically been adhering to the following formula all spring: a long-sleeved, button-up blouse (usually either an Express Portofino Shirt or a Ralph Lauren oxford shirt) tucked into high-waisted, wide-legged, cropped pants (these Old Navy pants have been on repeat in various colors) paired with loafers or flats of some kind (the leopard-print flats in the photo above are about a decade old from H&M, but lately I’ve been loving my Bass Whitney Weejuns as well).
Is it the trendiest? No. However, it’s not dated as hell, it’s fairly comfy and it’s simple enough that it serves for pretty much anything at work: A meeting with my boss’s boss, a lunch with partner agency representatives, an unexpected encounter with a member of the public, etc.
I love my Express Portofino shirt collection. Most of them are at least a decade old if not older at this point, but they age well and I’m pretty sure manufacturing quality has gone drastically downhill since I bought several of these convertible-sleeve shirts in multiple colors. You can pry these things out of my cold dead hands.
I’ve been keeping the accessories simple: My ever-present silver ring stack, a dainty necklace, my Apple Watch and probably a claw clip as well.
And influencers wouldn’t know this — but office buildings are usually freezing during the summers! If my office is over air conditioned on any given day, I’ll throw on a denim jacket. Mine’s several years old, but this one is similar.
That’s it! Anyway fellow 30-somethings: What the hell are you wearing to work? I’m gonna get sick of this combo sooner rather than later and when I do, I want to be ready to switch it up.
