Dressing for success as you head back to the office

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Dread your closet?

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Pandemic-related changes and challenges abound – lost a job, your body shape, your zip, your confidence? Your clothes tell a tale.

Post-pandemic wardrobe anxiety is real and what to wear is top of mind when moving from zoom to workplace gloom, even if it’s a hybrid arrangement. Venturing out for their first in-person lunch meeting or networking event can make for dress stress. “There has been huge anxiety about what to wear as we return to the office,” says personal stylist Renée Lindo, of Let’s Get Dressed Now.

“As a stylist, what I see with clients who struggle with putting an outfit together or getting dressed in the mornings, is that their closet doesn’t work for them anymore. Their lifestyle has changed, they’ve gained or lost weight, changed jobs or just decided they want to show up differently and no longer want to wear what they used to. But their closet doesn’t match this new life,” says Lindo.

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According to Henry Navarro Delgado, graduate program director for fashion at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), “post-pandemic wardrobe anxiety is compounded by changes in workplace culture and the fact that people’s bodies have changed during the last couple of years.”

While the office culture is more relaxed than before, says Delgado, the comfort of a clear dress code is now gone with the old office culture. “The rules of what constitutes professional attire in a relaxed office are not so clear. In addition, many of the previous office clothes either don’t work style-wise in the new office or workplace, they are out of fashion, or don’t fit altogether.”

Comfort has become the overarching theme as we now work and employees aren’t giving that up, and employers do want to have some level of professionalism, says Lindo, of letsgetdressednow.com. This absolutely can be accomplished with the new work-leisure options.

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For those of you venturing out – even if you’re doing a hybrid arrangement – have a couple of designated office outfits, advises Degado. “Clothing doesn’t only make us look professional, but makes us feel professional too. Whatever your new professional means.”

Be sure to dress for your personal style and body: “It is OK to incorporate some new trends, but only if they work with your physical attributes and match your stylistic preferences.”

Instead of overhauling your full professional wardrobe, keep some of the pieces that still work and get some new separates that truly enhance your body and personal style, he says.

According to Lindo, our clothing communicates for us before we speak. “We say so much with the colours, the styles, patterns and details we wear.

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“Usually the style or cut of the item aligns with the personality of the person, how we want to feel and our overall vibe. It’s an outward expression of who we are on the inside.”

Keep in mind more straight, body skimming cuts with clean lines are usually more formal so think body skimming corporate dresses, she says. Long and flowy styles usually align with boho, relaxed, weekend style and personality while outgoing personality usually resonate with bright colours and patterns. “Wearing yellow and orange is a happy, friendly and outgoing personality.”

Make your clothing work for you with Renée Lindo’s tips:

• It starts with clarity. You really need to spend some time thinking about who you are, and how you want to show up now. How have you changed?
• Think about your new lifestyle. How will you be spending your time now? What will you not be doing or doing more of now or less of? This helps with knowing what to get rid of so your closet works for you now
• Understand your body shape and how to dress your shape best. It makes a difference when you wear clothes that flatter your shape and accentuate your assets. (Check out Lindo’s Dress Your Body Best)
• Invest in tailoring. Spending the money to have your clothes tailored for your body is a game changer in terms of fit. It’ll look like the garment was made specifically for you. A $40 dress can look like hundreds of dollars when you have impeccable fit.

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Keeping things simple is key

It all comes down to keeping it as simple as possible, says Gary Lenett, co-founder of DUER , a leading Canadian work-leisure brand.

Aim for a wardrobe of highly versatile clothing that is designed to mix and match, says Lenett, with a muted colour palette so that you can transition between environments and occasions easily, and pairs well with whatever shoes already live in your closet.

“We’ve taken the guesswork out of ‘what’s office appropriate’ by creating apparel that can handle a physical commute, in-person meetings, and hidden features and fibres for the comfort your WFH setup offered,” says Lenett, of duer.ca.

Wardrobes should be flexible, flattering timeless, with real-life performance built-in. “As workspace conventions break, we’ve doubled down on our belief that versatility and comfort are key components of what the new normal for attire should feel like.”

Slip into fabrics that are crafted to feel like loungewear while being sophisticated, made predominantly of plant-based fibres including Tencel, Lyocell and organic cotton, with a dash of Lycra spandex so you move with ease.

“We’ve simplified how people get dressed; the same pair of pants can travel from a hike, to work or out to dinner. Less in the closet means less in the landfill, and less time getting ready means more time living life.”