What to wear to work in 2024, according to fashion executives

Kristin Hooper is the kind of fashion-obsessed ad executive who appears mostly in rom-com montages. Her closet is lined with Bottega Veneta and Christian Dior; her idea of ​​“a hoodie that makes hoodies” is one Italian zip-up sweater from The Attico worth $990. But on a recent Monday morning, the 42-year-old stared into the abyss of her walk-in closet and felt like she had nothing to wear.

“It was like having fashion amnesia,” says Hooper, who works between Atlanta, New York and Paris. “Suddenly we are back in the office full-time. I have new clients and new people in my office. I don’t want to just bring my A-minus game. I want to bring my A-plus-plus-plus game. And I had to ask myself, you know, what does that look like now?”

Hooper suffered from a “work fashion freeze,” the paralysis that grips women as they return to a “normal” office routine in a changed world. “Feeling completely confused about work style is common these days,” says Julianne Costigan. She is a corporate stylist in Toronto who is hired by companies and executives to take their appearance to the next level, especially before company-wide conferences and public events such as panels. “We have just experienced a huge shift. We’re all wondering what’s next for us, professionally and perhaps personally. The way you are perceived at work is integral to your success,” she says. “Sometimes change starts with our clothes.”

If you want to be taken seriously in the professional world, it doesn’t mean you have to ignore your own fashion instincts; in fact, they can help you stand out for the better. “Being the best-dressed girl in the office comes with some cultural capital,” says Sarah Kunst, managing director of Cleo Capital, a venture capital firm that helped launch Ghia and Hill House into the stratosphere. “If you know the newer designers and the more progressive trends, this is a way to show that you are part of a deeper cultural conversation. It can help you become more visible in (creative) projects, especially if your leadership knows that they are not very active in that area.”

Instead of the beloved sweatpants of the pandemic – or the flared wool trousers of the 2010s – Kunst has seen women in the office experimenting with High Sport Jules Leggings. “You carry them with you Alaïa ballerinas and long baggy blazers, and it fits well,” she says, noting that Holland Cooper’s $169 breeches have a similar atmosphere. Kunst says she has seen the leggings in action at once staid law firms. “The women dress them up with statement jewelry and a Prada jacket.” Can’t you follow Miuccia’s utopia now? Go to Uniqlo. The brand’s new creative director, Clare Waight Keller, made Meghan Markle’s wedding dress when she worked at Givenchy. Now she is making oversized tweed jackets for under $50, and like Keira Knightley in it Love, actually, they are perfect.

For interview situations where you need to be “more of a blank slate” to get bosses to project their own ideals of success, simplicity is your friend. “Construct a meeting uniform that consists of a great, very crisp, oversized white shirt and a nice, clean pair of dark jeans or slacks,” says Bevy Reyes St. Pé Brown, an Ohio-based director of Kirk Palmerthe executive search agency that hires for iconic brands such as Celine, Net-a-Porter and Sephora. ‘Buy multiples and stick to the uniform on interview days because you won’t panic about what to wear. You won’t be late. You will feel more confident and be able to focus on what you want to say.” You can also use clothing to help say it: Details like a cuffed wrist can convey the subtle message that you’re (literally) ready to roll up your sleeves and get things done. Nili Lotan And The row make beautiful work shirts; $100-$200 versions exist With nothing underneath And Citizens of humanity. And if you’re afraid of coffee splashes, there are handy striped ones that hide your inner klutz.

What about days with big meetings? “Then you need some armor,” says Mary Bonnet, vice president at Oppenheim Real Estate (and the rare Selling sunset star who actually sells houses for a living). “Get one Real chic, classic blazer that goes with everything. I recommend them to any newer agent coming into the job for the first time.” Bonnet and Hooper, the advertising executive, both swear by it Navy blue blazers with four pockets from Saint Laurentwith which they mate L’Agence pants and fluttering Dior dresses. Unlike 90 percent of first dates, “the perfect blazer you invest in for years will never let you down,” says Hooper. “But I’m a high-low girl from West Virginia. I didn’t grow up shopping like I do now! Banana Republic, Aritziaresale, it’s all good. In fact, you’re considered more resourceful if you can find a great option at any price.

When it comes to partywear – low-cut dresses, corset tops, platform heels – the consensus in the office is “low, low, low,” says Kunst, the venture capitalist. “I actually like wearing a Hill House sleep dress to workwith a narrow turtleneck underneath and boots,” she says. “You can wear a gauzy Pucci top if there’s a bodysuit. In some offices you can wear the tweed Chanel shorts with tights. Just be a little thoughtful.” Bonnet adds: “I know in the show, we really push it with fashion. But when you meet a client, you shouldn’t look like you’re going to the club. It seems like you have lost control of the situation.”

For day and night outings, Hooper has a trick: “Wear whatever cute tight dress or top you want. Then take a great scarf (you can even find vintage Hermès scarves on eBay) and drape it over your neckline. You look elegant and sophisticated at work. Then you just take off the scarf, put on some makeup and you’re good to go.” Hooper says the women in her office have started copying the move on date nights.

Finally, are heels really necessary as proof of office life? “No,” says every woman interviewed for this piece. “Sneakers are now considered professional attire, especially when worn with smart pants and a jacket,” says Brown, the recruiter. Costigan, the company stylist, is relieved that stilettos are no longer expected in the boardroom. “You don’t need a heel anymore to be taken seriously, thank God,” she says with a sigh. “Anything that’s simple and elegant and helps you stand tall, that’s your shoe.” Costigan likes platform sneakers from Stella McCartney or Bottega Venetaalong with uncomplicated Nike Jordan And Adidas Gazelles.

For Hooper, the fashion freeze at work came to an end when she realized that her mentor, advertising CEO Donna Imperato, would come into the office wearing bold Valentino prints, even if all the other managers stuck to gray suits. “She knew her energy and perspective were valuable, and that had to be reflected in her clothes. She didn’t must get dressed for work. She received to get dressed for work. It’s not a challenge. It’s a privilege.”

Faran Krentcil is a fashion journalist and critic based in New York City. She is the founder and editor of Fashionista and graduated from Duke University. Her work has been published in the Wall Street Journal, Fashion, Harper‘s Bazaarand more.