How to elevate your workwear

From boardroom to bar, without changing.

Office dressing has changed for good. Hybrid weeks, relaxed dress codes and a commute that might be the kitchen table have rewritten the rules. The aim now is clothes that look sharp on a video call, hold up through a nine o'clock meeting and still work for drinks afterwards.

The new dress code, decoded

Very few offices ask for a suit any more, and almost none expect tights in July. That freedom is lovely until you're standing in front of the wardrobe at 7.40am with no idea what smart casual means this week. The answer is a uniform. Not a boring one, just a small set of pieces that all work together, so getting dressed takes two minutes and every combination looks deliberate.

Start with three colours that suit you and build from there. Navy, cream and camel. Black, grey and white. Chocolate, ivory and olive. Everything in the core rotation should go with everything else. Colour and print can come in through one piece at a time.

Tailoring that doesn't feel stiff

Arket blazers are cut relaxed through the shoulder, so they sit over a knit as easily as a shirt. Reiss is the step up for sharper lines and better fabric. For something with real presence, The Frankie Shop is the label fashion editors keep coming back to. Wear the blazer open, sleeves pushed up slightly, with the matching trousers on big days and jeans on Fridays.

Trousers do the heavy lifting

A good pair of wide-leg trousers is the most useful thing you can own for work. They look polished, they're comfier than a pencil skirt and they make flat shoes look intentional. M&S does excellent versions with an elasticated back waist, which nobody needs to know about. Whistles has a pleated style worth the money. Get the hem right for the shoes you actually wear, not the ones you wish you wore.

The knitwear trick

A fine-knit jumper or polo under a blazer is smarter than a shirt and involves far less ironing. Uniqlo merino is the starting point. & Other Stories does softer, more interesting shapes. In summer, swap to a short-sleeved knit tee. It does the same job without the sweat.

Buy less, choose well, make it last.

Shoes you can walk in

The commute is the real test. Loafers, block-heel boots and smart trainers have all earned their place in the office. Russell & Bromley loafers last for years. Adidas Sambas in black or white pass for smart with tailored trousers, and they won't wreck your feet between the station and the lift.

The bag that holds everything

A structured tote that fits a laptop, a water bottle and the gym kit you probably won't use. Polène makes leather totes that look far more expensive than they are. Longchamp Le Pliage is the practical classic: light, wipeable and big enough for a laptop. Avoid anything with a flap that needs two hands to open. You'll regret it on the Tube.

Accessories that do the talking

Jewellery is where personality comes in. Gold hoops, a chunky chain or a signet ring are all quiet enough for a board meeting. Monica Vinader and Missoma cover the middle ground well. A good watch helps too, if only to stop you checking your phone in meetings. A silk scarf tied at the neck or on a bag strap adds colour without commitment.

From desk to drinks

The office-to-evening switch doesn't need a change of outfit. It needs three swaps. Take off the blazer or swap the jumper for a silk cami you've kept in your bag. Add earrings with a bit of drama. Change the tote for a small shoulder bag. A red lip does the rest. Ten minutes in the loos and you're done.

What to skip

Novelty prints that date by next season. Anything that needs dry cleaning after one wear. Heels you can only stand in for an hour. Synthetic shirts that cling under the arms by eleven. If an item makes you uncomfortable by lunchtime, it doesn't belong in a work wardrobe, however good it looks in the mirror.

Our edit below pulls together the pieces that work hardest, from the high street to Net-a-Porter. Buy one at a time, and only if it goes with at least three things you already own.