Women's workwear: building an office wardrobe

Workwear is clothing that you wear for ten hours at a time. It spends the day sitting down, it takes the subway, it ends up in the trunk of a car. It is this constraint that dictates the choice, ahead of color and cut.

Material decides

Our wrinkle-resistant crepe is our most popular answer. It wrinkles and smooths itself out, which solves the problem of commutes and meetings that drag on. A jacket left on the back of a chair reshapes itself when you put it back on.

The Ponte di Roma jersey plays a different role. It has the flexibility of a knit and the structure of a tailored fabric. You put it on in the morning without thinking, and it doesn’t lose its shape by 4 p.m.

The drapery fabric remains the go-to for days when you want to be a little more dressed up. It drapes better than anything else; it simply requires a bit more care when stored.

Assembling instead of buying pieces

A functional office wardrobe relies on a few pieces that combine well. Two blazers, three tailored trousers, a few shirts, and you can make it through the week without repeating the same silhouette twice.

The simplest rule: when the jacket and trousers are made of the same material, they can be worn together or separately. When they are in two different materials, they should only be worn separately. This is what distinguishes a coordinated suit from a mixed outfit.

The right questions before you try on

If you stay seated most of the time: opt for high waists that don't gap at the back, and wide cuts that don't bunch at the knee.

If you are on your feet and moving around: fitted cuts and knits will suit you better.

If you go from the office to outside meetings: keep a drapery blazer at the office; it elevates any outfit in ten seconds.

The relationship between a jacket and bottoms depends on details of length and width. We have detailed them in the tailor's guide.

Come and try on

We are located at 21 rue du Président Édouard Herriot, in the 1st arrondissement, Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you already know what you are looking for and don't have time to browse the racks, let us know in advance: we will prepare a selection in your size before you arrive. This is what we call Le Portant.