Comfort vs Style: Finding the Balance for the Office

There’s nothing quite like the stress of planning your work outfit the evening before or scrambling around in the early hours of the morning, ultimately resulting in being surrounded by a floordrobe.

Most offices nowadays tend to adopt a smart casual dress code. This however can feel challenging to balance, on one hand you want to look polished, stylish and presentable and on the other you just want to be comfortable when you are sitting at a desk, commuting or attending meetings all day.

Looking professional and being comfortable aren’t mutually exclusive and with a clever bit of styling and capsule purchases you don’t have to choose between the two.

 

Fabric and Fit

Finding the right capsule items to layer for multiple looks can feel daunting but starting with the right fabrics for comfort and finding what fits best for your body shape is more important than putting together a whole outfit that looks great on the hanger but doesn’t sit right when put on.

The office has traditionally been dominated with quite masculine features such as tailored trousers and fitted, crisp shirts. But wearing these for a long time means you often pay in comfort.

Trousers are an easy fix as just about every shop seems to sell them. Finding a pair in a tailored cotton, viscose blend shouldn’t be a too tedious task, but if you want to go that extra step further for comfort, a lot offer similar styles in jersey or wool blend fabrics for the colder months.

Blazers can often cause friction under the arms, due to their structured fit but a lightweight blazer with a satin lining is a great staple that can be styled with lots of outfit combinations and doesn’t sacrifice your movement.

Most of us know what it’s like to battle the heating war in the office, so choosing a breathable button-down shirt is a great option as it can be layered on any body frame and offer better breathability when the warmer weather begins.

 

Comfort from the Inside Out

Underlayers are an often-overlooked feature of the office outfit. When the layer closest to your skin feels comfortable, you worry less about what’s layered on top. Whether it’s a thermal long sleeve for under a shirt or fleece lined tights to keep you cosy there is a lot to say for these small but impactful layers. Even specialized items like a strapless bra for a wider neck jumper can be a simple support so you don’t spend the day pulling up the straps or worrying about someone seeing them.

 

It’s all in the Details

Accessories are often an ignored bridge between comfort and style. Jeans are becoming an office staple for those with a smart casual approach, but to elevate them a good quality belt can go a long way in making the full outfit feel complete.

Everyone’s taste when it comes to jewellery differs and often less is more. Chunky earrings or a simple necklace can tie a plain top and bottoms combo together, but if you’re arm is stacked with a mismatch of clunky bracelets, they can not only weigh down your arm but can completely throw off a composed outfit.

These simple touches require very little time and effort and can be mixed and matched thoroughly without sacrificing comfort, to change the entire vibe of an outfit.

 

Style doesn’t have to Hurt

Beauty is pain really has been thrown out the window in previous years and that’s especially prominent in the shoe department. Commuting in a pair of running trainers and changing into heels at the office is no more as comfort no longer has to be sacrificed.

The kitten heel has made a resurgence recently alongside better cushioned insoles, the direction here isn’t to abandon style, it’s to shop with these smart solutions in mind.

A refined ballet flat or even a white pair of leather trainers are comfortable ways to tie an outfit together, the common misconception that comfort means informality simply doesn’t apply here.

Some of the most well put together outfits are constructed around relaxed silhouettes, simplicity, soft draping fabrics and monochrome ensembles accessorised right.

When you feel comfortable, your mood, posture and productivity improve alongside your confidence, which is the most stylish asset of them all.