What’s “InStyle” at Work?

Forget about perfectly matching your shoes to your belt or steering clear of white after Labor Day – whether you work in a corporate or casual office, many of the old wardrobe “rules” no longer apply. 

“Even if you wear a suit to work, your individual style can still be easily reflected in your look,” Isabel Gonzalez Whitaker, senior editor of InStyle, tells PINK.

“If you tend towards a more modern way of dressing but still need to wear a suit, you can express your taste with unique, slightly artistic accents,” like a colorful graphic scarf or an oversized cuff.

“What’s especially nice about business-casual offices is that jeans are generally acceptable,” she adds. “Try crisp, dark jeans with a tailored button-front shirt, fitted blazer, stack of bangles or single pendant necklace and demure ballet flats.”

One rule to rethink? “Consider ditching the [rule] of only wearing one bold color at a time,” Whitaker says. “This is the perfect time to explore other couplings, like an orange skirt with an amethyst-hued sweater.” If you’re weary about going too bright, try “two tones of the same color, like turquoise and cobalt,” or mixing muted tones together instead.

Which tried-and-true rule does Whitaker stand by? “I’m all for looks that have dimension, but it’s hard to carry off very winter-specific textures – like suede, fur and leather – in warmer months.”

Bonus PINK Link: Throw out tired style rules with that same old makeup routine by going natural.

By Malee Moua

“A style does not go out of style as long as it adapts itself.” Coco Chanel