The twelfth day of Christmas has been and gone. That’s right loves, its officially time to face the least wonderful time of the year and all that comes with it – including the dreaded return to the office. I’m partially joking; whilst it’s a cliché, I embrace the optimism that comes with bringing in a New Year, and I do have a great feeling about 2024. I was, however, nowhere near ready to leave my Christmassy bubble and return to work this month.
On these cold, dark early starts, putting together a great outfit for the day doesn’t exactly feel like a priority. Since the January blues leave a lot of us feeling uninspired, I’ve put together a few easy yet chic outfits to inspire your work wardrobe for this month.
*Disclaimer: My office would definitely let me wear all of these with our ‘Business Casual’ dress code. Of course, use your judgement if you think any of these outfits would get you sent to HR!
I’ve never been one for saving the best till last. These black trousers from Mango look unassuming, but I cannot tell you how incredibly comfortable and warm they are. High waisted and wide on the leg, the fine knit fabric of these super soft trousers has a relaxed drape without looking too casual. If not for work, these trousers are perfect for any occasion where you want to look somewhat presentable even though you’d rather be wearing your joggers. I’ve styled them with this cream cardigan top from Abercrombie as I like how it has the essence of a button-down shirt. To elevate the outfit a little, I popped on some black pointed toe heels and silver hoops. For those frosty mornings where it feels near impossible to get out of bed, this ensemble is the closest you will get to wearing your pyjamas into the office (you are welcome).
I recently treated myself to this jumper from COS, and whilst the price tag made my eyes water a little, the softness and warmth of 100% cashmere is truly unmatched. I love to contrast an oversized knit by keeping the rest of the outfit super feminine, so I’ve styled it here untucked over a pleated black mini skirt. Finished with sheer tights and these amazing ruched boots from Zara, the silhouette of this outfit is super polished without anything being too form fitting (making this outfit ideal if, like me, you over-indulged a little over Christmas).
Tip: I know that sometimes the office can get a little chilly, especially if you’ve opted for sheer tights. My best advice here would be to bring a scarf (the more oversized the better) that you can drape over your lap like a blanket!
If you’re after a slightly edgier and more unusual office look, I recommend a nice tailored short. Far less common than a skirt and offering added peace of mind when you’re walking up the stairs, a smart pair of shorts is perfect if you’re looking to diversify your work wardrobe. These grey ones from Abercrombie look so sleek when paired with a black turtleneck (tip: when wearing a top that covers your whole neck, add at least one necklace; the contrast is really effective and it keeps things from looking dull!). I’ve of course gone for sheer tights and the black pointed toe heels again here, but these could easily be swapped out for a tall boot to keep your calves a little warmer. Since a fitted black knit is ideal for layering, I’ve added this chunky harlequin patterned cardigan from Motel.
When it comes to the office, I recommend having a few set outfits in mind to make getting ready in the mornings more seamless. I hope you managed to find some inspiration for your January work wardrobe in this post, and I wish you a nice and relaxed return to work!
