Getting dressed for work is easier when you have a few shirts you trust. A good formal shirt looks neat with trousers, palazzos or a skirt, and it can be dressed up for a meeting or down for a casual Friday.
1. White shirt, navy palazzos
The safest combination there is. Tuck the Classic White Formal Shirt into the Navy Blue Wide Leg Palazzo Pants and add loafers. It is ideal for interviews and first days.
2. All black for big meetings
The Classic Black Formal Shirt with black trousers looks confident and sleek. Add a watch and a structured bag.
3. Beige for a softer look
The Beige Formal Shirt pairs well with white, brown, olive and navy. Try it with olive palazzos for a calm, earthy outfit.
4. A pop of mustard
A colourful shirt keeps workwear from feeling dull. The Mustard Formal Shirt works best with navy, black or white bottoms so the colour stands out.
5. Tie-neck for presentations
A tie-neck top looks finished without a blazer. The Olive Green Tie-Neck Formal Top has a striped scarf neckline; wear it with the Olive Green Wide Leg Palazzo Pants for a tonal look.
6. Lavender for client lunches
The Lavender Tie-Neck Formal Top is soft and approachable. Pair it with white or grey trousers.
7. Casual Friday
Leave a formal shirt untucked over straight jeans, roll the sleeves and swap heels for clean sneakers.
Office dressing tips
- Buttons should lie flat. If the front pulls open, size up.
- Sleeve length: the cuff should reach your wrist bone.
- Keep a neutral base (black, navy, white, beige) and add one colour at a time.
A five-piece working week
You do not need a big wardrobe to look put together every day. Five tops cover a full week: a white shirt, a black shirt, a neutral such as beige, one colour such as mustard, and a tie-neck top. Pair them with navy and black bottoms and you have ten different outfits before you repeat one.
Tucked, half-tucked or untucked?
Fully tucked looks the most formal and suits high-waisted palazzos and trousers. Half-tucked, with just the front tucked in, keeps a shirt neat but relaxed for client lunches. Untucked works best on casual Fridays, or when the shirt hem is straight and ends at the hip.
Shoes and accessories for work
- Loafers or block heels are comfortable for a full day and suit palazzos and trousers.
- One structured bag in black or tan goes with every shirt colour above.
- Simple jewellery, such as small studs and a watch. Let tie-neck tops do the talking.
Keeping shirts crisp
Follow the care label on each shirt. Hang shirts as soon as they are dry, iron the collar and cuffs first, and fasten the top button on the hanger so the collar keeps its shape through the week.
Shop all formal shirts and wide-leg pants.
