Some work outfits look great at 8am and have you desperate to change by lunchtime. This one is very much the opposite. It’s soft, relaxed and comfortable enough for a full day at your desk, but the colours and shapes still make it look properly put together rather than like you’ve accidentally wandered into work in your loungewear.
The starting point is this striped cardigan from Yours Clothing. I really like the cream and chocolate brown together because it gives you something a bit more interesting than a plain office cardigan without making the outfit difficult to style. The button-through shape also means you can wear it as a top like this, or layer it over something underneath when it gets colder.
I’ve paired it with the matching-toned wide-leg trousers, also from Yours Clothing. Both pieces go up to around a 30–32, which is exactly the sort of sizing I want to see more of when I’m putting these outfits together. The wide leg keeps everything relaxed, while the darker brown makes them feel smart enough for work.
Then I’ve deliberately kept the shoes casual. These neutral platform trainers stop the outfit feeling too formal and are much more realistic for a day when you might be commuting, walking between meetings or simply don’t fancy spending eight hours in uncomfortable shoes.
The brown satchel is what pulls the whole thing back towards workwear for me. It has that practical, slightly structured look without feeling corporate, and the warm brown works really nicely with the rest of the outfit.
And yes, I’ve included the less glamorous essentials too. The plus size knickers go up to 7XL, because there is absolutely no point building a comfortable outfit and then ruining it with uncomfortable underwear.
Finally, there’s the Stanley cup. Not technically fashion, obviously, but very much part of the workday uniform when you’re trying to remember to actually drink something between emails.
The whole outfit sits in that useful middle ground: relaxed without looking scruffy, practical without being boring, and comfortable enough that you won’t be counting down the minutes until you can get changed.
