When it comes to clothes, what qualifies as "work-appropriate" varies from person to person.
And for those working in a less than come-as-you-are environment — like a bank or legal office — it's easy to get stuck wearing the same boring pants and tired sweaters.
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To prove that there can be a middle ground, we've rounded up five brands making great office-approved clothing that still feels stylish, along with the pieces they're best for.
Best for: button-down shirts and blouses.
The Need Supply in-house brand launched earlier this year for both men and women with a tightly-edited collection of straightforward, easy-to-wear clothes that still feel fashion-forward. The basic cotton tops make for great everyday classic pieces that are well worth their $125-and-up price tags.
Best for: perfectly tailored trousers.
The Swedish brand, known for its classic separates and wardrobe essentials, really hits the mark on trousers. You'll find sleek tailoring on all silhouettes — from oversized to cropped — at a much lower price point than you might imagine at first sight.
Best for: go-with-anything blazers.
The dependable e-commerce shop is a go-to for just about anything, and blazers are no exception. On the site, you'll find a ton of options from different brands, including the in-house Curve label — which offers up to a US size 28 — that'll suit all office dress codes.
Best for: day-to-night dresses and pencil skirts.
Since you never actually have as much time as you think you will to rush home from the office to change for post-work drinks, your best bet is to keep pieces in your wardrobe that can easily transition from one to the other. For that, look no further than MM.LaFleur. The brand's founder, Sarah LaFleur, says the line was made for the "typical woman in finance whose closet was packed with blah-feeling pantsuits."
Best for: structured totes.
Nothing says "I'm put together" more than a good-looking bag that can stand on its own. The bags by VereVerto, a relatively new leather accessories brand, are all created with the urban city woman — and her commute— in mind. They're sturdy and practical, and offer plenty of room for a laptop, a pair of heels, and then some.
