What to wear: how the collared shirt can help you with your back to work fashion jitters

The Prelude:

We have all been there: the first day back to work (or to school) after summer break. Since middle school, the build-up to that first day was always something that occupied my mind. Sure, seeing friends/colleagues again and wondering what was going to happening that first day crossed my mind. However, what really took precedence was: “What I am going to wear?!” (#dontjudge). What did I want my outfit to say? It shouldn’t stand-out too much but people should still have that passing thought of “that’s cute, I wonder where she got that from.” At the same time, it definitely shouldn’t result in a “what is she wearing?!“reaction. Questions, questions, questions.

This particular ‘first day back from summer holiday’ was a bit different. It was after summer, but it wasn’t technically a ‘back to work,’ as it was my first day at my new job. To make things more complicated, this new job was in South Korea, where we had just moved, and in a sector that I hadn’t worked in before. In other words, I had to take into consideration: (1) the unwritten rules that come with cultures. For example, in South Korea, short skirts were considered appropriate, but chest & cleavage area had to be covered (i.e., no ‘boobage’). (2) The sector I was working in. For example, in the fashion industry, you could wear jeans to work while in banking, they wouldn’t even let you through the front door with jeans on. Anyhow, you can imagine how ‘fashion-stressed’ I was and the number of sleepless nights that lead up to that first day of work. #toughlife

After some serious reflection time, it suddenly came to me: You can’t go wrong with a collared shirt! In fact, I had the perfect shirt that I always wore when I didn’t know what to wear. It was a blue pinstriped shirt that had buttons halfway down the front with a ruffle detail along the placket. It said everything to me:

1) The collar gave it that business feel.

2) The blue pinstripes meant that if (or rather when) I spill my coffee, it would hide the stain.

3) The buttons that went halfway down gave the shirt more of casual feel.

4) The ruffle detailing added a chic, fashion vibe.

#Success. And it was a success. My outfit not only gave me confidence and showed who I was, but it also landed well with my new colleagues, as the passing looks seemed to say, ‘cute shirt.’ At least, that’s what I think…hmmm.

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The Point:

As we are all heading back to work (many of us heading back to an actual office), we are struggling with the idea of what to wear. Since we haven’t had to wear actual ‘office attire’ in almost 2 years, the struggle to figure out what is appropriate to wear is #real.

What are the new unwritten fashion rules at the office? Have they changed? How do I avoid being like Bridget Jones in a bunny outfit at a garden party? Well, to be honest, I too am in the dark as to what these new unwritten rules might be. So, with the limited information available to me, all I can suggest is to stick with a classic: The collared shirt.

I know what you’re thinking, a collared shirt might seem boring or too ‘businessy’, and maybe in the 90’s it was. However, I would argue that a collared shirt has now become one of the most elevated and versatile staples (oversized boyfriend shirt anyone?) in any girl’s wardrobe.

Sure, you have the standard white button-down shirt (which is always a no-brainer. It can elevate a look immediately and with little effort). However, there are so many different elements to a shirt: the color, the fit, the detailing and the collar, all of which can express who you are while still ensuring that you fit into the new office life.

So, again (and sorry for repeating myself), as you grapple with what you should wear when you go back to work, try to focus those fashion neurons on finding a shirt (or a couple of shirts) that helps you be your best self for those first weeks back. #youcandoit

Here are some of our favorite back to work shirts that are sure to get you excited about (or, at least not dread) going back to the office.

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  Closed: Organic Poplin Blouse

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  Bellerose: Gino Shirt

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  Selected: organic Cotton shirt

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  Frankie Shop: Lui Organic Cott

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  Arket: Oversized Linen Shirt

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  GANNI: Organic cotton Poplin b

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  GANNI: Organic cotton wavy shi

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  Closed: Merino Sweater

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  Selected: Peter Pan collared s

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  Arket: Oversized Polin Shirt

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  ARKET: Ruffle-Neck Tuxedo Shir

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  COS: REGULAR-FIT UTILITY SHIRT

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  Samsoe Samsoe: Milly Shirt

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  ZARA: STRIPED POPLIN SHIRT

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  ZARA: POPELINE BLOUSE

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  Second Female: Totema New Shir

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Happy trotting,

xxx