I get dressed for work (almost) all the days of the week. During the academic year, I have no expectation that I’ll be working from the comforts of home in my leggings.

There’ve been soooo many headlines about Return to Work policies that I’ve filed it away as the boy that cried wolf. But recently I have heard from so many women—across different industries—that they are, in fact, in-office at least three days a week. In my ear, I also have students who are starting internships or their first job out of college (!!) eagerly asking ‘what do we wear to work’?

Rather than pull together inspirational collages of ideas, I’m going to show you what I wear to work. Even though we might have different jobs, I have three types of days that I get dressed for and I bet these days line up with some of yours:

1. Professional Amp Up- lecturing in front of an audience or networking with someone I’d like to impress. I put on the heels knowing that, yes, flats are more comfortable but it’s a heels kind of day. I want you to look at me and think ‘she’s the adult in the room’.

2. Meeting Galore- running between buildings to different meetings with zoom meetings sprinkled in between. Because a day has so much variety–from hosting a lunch with TAs to meeting with the Admissions Director–I want a look that is not too over or undressed for any occasions. I want the chameleon of outfits.

3. Deep Work - maybe a meeting or two but mostly sitting in my office working so comfort is key. Yet, I won’t wear leggings because I’m in an office and have to use the restroom or pop by someone’s office to ask a question. I’m aiming for the most comfortable version of being put together. I’m not a cool Brooklyn mom. Actually, I’m almost channeling the opposite of this because to try to look cool when you are around a bunch of culturally savvy Gen Z students is the absolute most ridiculous feeling. Instead, I want to look classic and effortless.

Most importantly, it is effortless when you buy Workhorses Only. I purchase things that make me feel confident and that I know I will wear over and over. If something can’t provide 3 different uses, it’s not a workhorse.

Hero: Trouser Jean

I pulled these trouser jeans out multiple times for Meeting Galore and Deep Work days. As an added bonus, you can wear trouser jeans with sneakers which I did on a sight-seeing-20k steps kind of day over Spring Break. You can wear these with any top. Literally any: short-sleeves, no sleeves, long sleeves. Print, no print. Blazer, no blazer. The Tencel material makes these feel more like pajamas (not hard pants). Unlike a barrel jean these don’t make me feel like I’m trying too hard. Also, I’m petite and with a trouser jean I can wear a big heel and feel tall. The most insane part is they also look great with sneakers.

Hero: Modern Blazer

On days when I’m pursuing the Professional Amp Up look, I reach for a uniform of work pants (yes hard ones), a fitted top and a blazer. Period. End of story. If I have to command a room, I don’t want to also panic about what I’m wearing so having a built-in template removes mental load. Try wearing those 3 pieces together and tell me you don’t feel like you’re capable of greatness.

The interesting thing about the modern blazer is that this particular cut is never not modern. I’ve been wearing the white blazer since 2018. The striped blazer you see? Purchased in 2012. And remember, you can replace work pants with jeans, trade the heels for a flat sandal and be Trés chic.

Hero: Collarless Blazer

Just like a modern blazer, a collarless blazer can pull together any outfit but it’s the ‘less’ that makes it feel more casual. When paired with jeans, this is a terrific Deep Work look. When paired with a skirt or dress it instantly transforms into a Meeting Galore look. It’s exactly the chameleon we are seeking.

Hero: Denim-Button Down

A classic Deep Work outfit. Denim and olive love to be together and I’m happy to oblige. Every item in this outfit screams Capsule Wardrobe. I recommend having a denim button down at your disposal for wearing with pants (like below) with shorts and even over a swimsuit. Workhorse!

Hero: Soft Cardigan

A thin cardigan that can be buttoned up or worn loose is a gem. You can also wear it over a slip-dress in the summer and that makes it a four-season piece of clothing. Workhorse! I bought this one at Madewell for the price of a song because they took such awful photos of it. Their loss is my gain.

Hero: Loose fit dress

When I have an all day meeting where I want to pass for looking nice but I absolutely know that by the end of the day I’ll feel bloated and sluggish, I can’t imagine wearing anything but a loose dress. The vibe is ‘I wish I was wearing sweatpants but this is the next best thing’.

Just to prove a point, here’s one more such day. I had a 6 hour meeting and then ran out of work to meet my husband at a happy hour. This dress style works for both occasions.

Our singular rule: We buy Workhorses Only.

I want to end by reminding you that only you know your lifestyle. Earlier this week I read that women only wear 12% of the dresses they own and so we should stop buying dresses. But, I know, with certainty, that that stat does not apply to me. I wear every single dress I own and find dresses to be incredibly helpful for getting dressed.

This week I also read that linen was an ‘impractical’ material and we shouldn’t be buying it. Again, I know that while this might be true for some, for those of us who live on the eastern seaboard—where you can cut the humidity with a knife—linen is one of the only ways to survive summer.

My point: to be a smart shopper and buy Workhorses Only. I encourage you to really take stock of what you are wearing. Honor the life you live!

Confidently yours,
Marina

P.S. If you are a mother and your lovely family has been asking you what you want for Mother’s Day, do not torture them or ask them to read your mind. I’ve been a mom for 8 years and I always ask for 1 of 3 things: Lake Pajamas, a Hillhouse nap dress or a Framebridge framed photo of my babies and me. Just send this linkto your partner if you don’t want to do the dirty work.

I select my treat for the year, splurge for the giftwrap option and let my kids hand it to me. It gives them (and me) the biggest smile in the world and everyone is genuinely happy. The end.

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