As every Northeastern student knows, our school’s co-op program affords us one of the best opportunities to get a leg up in our career paths. But entering the professional world for the first time as a twenty-year-old can be extremely daunting—especially if you have no idea what to wear! This may sound like a silly thing to say, but my personal experience has shown me that wearing clothes I feel good in actually does boost my self-confidence. In other words, when I look good, I feel good.
However, I doubt I am the only person who shudders at the thought of “business casual.” First of all, what even is business casual? All I know is that when I hear those words, my mind immediately conjures up images of slacks, pumps, and stiff-necked collared shirts—none of which are part of my personal style. Unfortunately, depending on what company you work for, you may have to make a few personal taste sacrifices in order to follow their professional dress code.
But luckily for me, I did my co-op at Wayfair where the regulations are much more relaxed (in fact, one of my coworkers would show up in a hoodie and leggings every day). But even though I didn’t have to go out and buy an entirely new “business casual” wardrobe, I still tried to find pieces in my closet that were appropriate for a work setting and made me feel cute at the same time. Below, I will talk about some of my go-to clothing items for both warm and cold weather and also link some examples in case anyone is looking to find something similar.
Basic Tees
I’m a big fan of basics in general simply because they go with almost everything. I love solid color tees with a ribbed texture in particular: I own a white top from Forever 21 and a black ribbed tank top from Brandy Melville that have lasted me around 7 years. I think these kinds of tops would be appropriate for most workplace settings, and they are super easy to create an outfit out of.
Example: Brandy Melville
Sweaters
You can never really go wrong with a good sweater, and I have at least five or six in my closet that I can rotate for professional settings. Personally, I am a big fan of color block sweaters as well as sweaters with unique patterns and designs. Etsy is a great place to look for sweaters that stand out from the crowd.
Example: Etsy
Cute Blouses
Although I’m not the biggest fan of collared shirts, what I do love is a cute blouse. One of my favorite types of blouses are the ones with square necklines because I think they flatter my body type well. I also love the puffy sleeves look because I think they add more dimension to the top. The great thing about blouses is that there are so many different styles out there, so you have a lot of freedom to choose what kind of style works for you (and your work dress code).
Skirts
Everyone is probably familiar with the pencil skirt, but I personally prefer to wear solid color miniskirts to work (as long as they are still long enough to cover you when you bend over!) I love pairing skirts with tees and sweaters, and you can also add a pair of tights underneath for chillier weather.
Example: Forever 21
Patterned Trousers
I’ve always found “professional-looking slacks” to be pretty boring, but I think patterned trousers are the perfect combination of professional and stylish. I have a pair from Forever 21 that has black and white stripes, and I am also looking to invest in a pair with grid patterning. These can easily be paired with solid color sweaters and blouses.
Example: Amazon
Jeans (Without Rips)
If your workplace allows jeans, I would absolutely take advantage of it. In my opinion, jeans are a fashion staple, and I like to buy ones that are different in style and color so that I have a variety of options to choose from. I love a good pair of mom jeans, and I also love the solid black and gray wash looks. Of course, I would not recommend wearing jeans with giant rips down the front to work, but if you want your jeans to be a bit more exciting, you can find pairs with small embroidery or decals.
Examples: PacSun Urban Outfitters
Jackets for Layering
Finally, adding a jacket is always a great way to elevate your outfit to the next level. For a professional setting, a solid blazer is always a good choice, but I personally enjoyed pulling up to Wayfair in my black leather moto jacket. With jackets, there are always many different options to choose from, so you can easily find a piece that fits both your personal style and your work dress code.
Hopefully these ideas can spark some inspiration for anyone who is struggling to find outfits that are both professional and cute!