There are working-from-home days, and then there are those deeply inconvenient days when somebody decides your physical presence is required in an actual office. Fine. We’ll go. We’ll even look reasonably put together. But this outfit comes with absolutely no guarantee that we’re available for unnecessary conversation.
The starting point is the navy striped top, which does that useful thing of looking smarter than the amount of effort required to put it on. The vertical stripe detail works beautifully with the dark colour, while the zip neckline and little pocket details give it enough interest that it doesn’t just disappear underneath everything else.
Over that goes the navy blazer.
A blazer is basically my favourite shortcut for yes, I absolutely meant to look this organised. You can throw one over a fairly simple outfit and suddenly it feels office appropriate. This one keeps the whole look tonal without becoming too formal, which is exactly what I want for an ordinary day at work rather than an interview or important meeting.
The dark wide-leg jeans are where we’re refusing to suffer for professionalism.
They’re smart enough to work with the blazer but still very definitely jeans, and that wider leg keeps the outfit relaxed. There’s something particularly useful about dark denim for these in-between outfits: it feels considerably more polished than your weekend jeans without crossing over into I’ve put proper work trousers on and now I regret my choices territory.
Then we introduce the brown.
The brown loafers are practical, flat and sensible enough for actually getting to work in, while the brown backpack carries through the same warmer colour. And, importantly, a backpack leaves your hands free for opening doors, checking your phone and generally navigating the commute while wondering why this meeting couldn’t have been an email.
A pair of simple gold hoop earrings finishes off the actual outfit. They’re one of those tiny additions that make everything look a little more considered without requiring any real effort.
And then, because this is Britain, there’s the umbrella.
Not a boring black umbrella, either.
If we’re being made to leave the house, we’re at least taking the cowboy umbrella.
It’s slightly unexpected, slightly ridiculous and considerably more interesting than the rest of the commute. Plus, there’s something rather satisfying about arriving at work looking perfectly respectable in navy and dark denim while carrying an umbrella that suggests you may have an entirely different personality outside office hours.
That’s really what I like about this plus size office outfit. Nothing is uncomfortable, nothing feels overly corporate and nothing requires you to become a completely different version of yourself just because you’ve gone into work.
You look presentable. You look prepared. You have sensible shoes, somewhere to put your laptop and protection from the rain.
You’ve fulfilled your side of the bargain.
Now all that’s left is to walk purposefully towards your desk while avoiding prolonged eye contact with absolutely everyone.
