
Two years ago, we featured six readers wearing their work outfits. Recently, we asked readers again what they wear to work and we got hundreds of amazing emails. (They were impossible to narrow down!) Today, we’re excited to share nine women — from the campaign trail to the classroom — on what they wear regularly…
Name: Andrea
Job: Relationship Manager at finance firm
Location: New York City
Style: “I want to look professional without being stuffy. (My work style icon is Kerry Washington in Scandal!) My role includes a lot of travel where I need to dress well, but also be comfortable as I’ll be on my feet a lot. I look for clothes that are easy to pack and do not wrinkle easily. If I’m not in block heels, flats are my go-to shoe. My mantra is to ‘buy less, splurge on quality staples.’ Some favorite brands are Theory, Banana Republic, Scanlan Theodore and COS.”
Name: Nancy
Job: General Counsel and Chief Talent Officer of a non-profit
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Style: “Our office culture is very relaxed, which is a change from the office culture of my prior work life at two big law firms. When I shop for work clothes, I look for pieces that bridge the gap between dressy and relaxed, that have a bit of movement so I’m confident no matter what the day brings, and pieces I’m not desperate to take off when I get home at the end of the day.”
Name: Paulina
Job: Sommelier
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Style: “When I first started working at our small, bustling restaurant, dressing myself was a challenge. I store my wine in various places around the restaurant due to minimal storage — requiring ladders, crouching and reaching. I’ve settled into a uniform of a bodysuit, high-waisted pants and trusty clogs (every lady in the restaurant proudly wears Danskos!). This usually means I’m dressed in all black, but lately I’ve been accessorizing with manicures, earrings and scrunchies. I’m always ready for an inevitable wine spill!”
Name: Leslie Teng
Job: Corporate lawyer
Location: New York City
Style: “Our law firm’s dress code is ‘business casual,’ so I try to keep it professional, along with fun flourishes. That means daytime sequins (thank you for paving the way, Jenna Lyons), statement necklaces, and colorful shoes. I also play with shapes — a voluminous sweater with a sleek skirt, for example. I’m not big on makeup, but my work style will always include a touch of lipstick; it gives me an added boost as I’m about to deal with clients, even if it’s over the phone and they can’t see me.”
“I thought it was only right to pose in front of my giant wall calendar. My boyfriend made it as a gift when we moved to start my job. It’s the command center that runs my life!”
Name: Rebecca
Job: Professor of Communication Studies
Location: Las Vegas
Style: “I’m a professor and there’s no dress code, but as a young woman, the classroom can feel so vulnerable! I want my work clothes to be foolproof so I can be exuberant about theory, run around the room checking on my students as they work, etc. I’d describe my work style as extremely simple and a little modern. I thrift a lot of my clothes. I really like silk shirts, and I don’t think I’ll ever buy one new — they’re abundant online and in local thrift stores. I look for brands like Equipment. Before I started thrifting, I thought that only very artsy people could shop at thrift stores, but I find plenty of my ‘Plain Jane’ work style at thrift stores, too! When my students tell me something I’m wearing is ‘cool,’ I take it as a badge of honor. It’s hard to get the 18 to 22-year-old vote!”
Photo taken on a work trip in Mongolia.
Name: Megan
Job: Disaster Response Coordinator
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Style: “I’m an emergency manager in Alaska, which means I prepare for responding to events like Hazmat releases, earthquakes, floods, volcanos, wildfires, etc. There is no typical day for me. My go-to outfit is a cashmere sweater, silky tank top, scarf, and dark wash jean. I haunt places like Nordstrom Rack and consignment stores for deals, and only buy items I love that fit with the neutral color palette of my closet. It may not seem like professional attire to ‘lower 48ers,’ but Alaska is laid-back by all accounts — it’s perfectly acceptable to wear rubber boots, a ripped-up sweat shirt, and Carhartt bibs while smelling faintly of diesel and salmon, to a nice dining establishment.”
Name: Eda
Job: Environmental engineer
Location: Ankara, Turkey
Style: “Dress code at the Ministry is pretty formal, but if I’m not attending a meeting, I tend to wear smart-casual. These comfy heels add a pop of color, and my culottes are easy to pair with anything. Being 5’3, I like wearing high-waisted pants and skirts, since they makes me look taller. As a person who religiously follows Cup of Jo, I’m inspired by the week of outfits posts.”
Name: Madison
Job: Deputy Finance Director for U.S. Senate campaign
Location: Austin, Texas
Style: “I bought this suit on sale at Macy’s as a #TreatYoSelf purchase when I found out that my former boss was running for office again! Feeling powerful in my clothes helped quiet the self-doubt right under the surface asking ‘Who the hell let you do this job?’ Political campaigns can move quickly, so after six months of waitressing and applying for jobs I had about one week to pack up, move to Texas, and help launch a U.S. Senate campaign. I was so glad to have this suit in my closet when my boss and I had to take a very big fundraising trip — a day packed with donor meetings and ending with a fundraising reception. I like collecting strong, business-professional pieces, so when an occasion comes up, what I need is there.”
Name: Nicole
Job: Art teacher
Location: Portland, Oregon
Style: “I channel Ms. Frizzle‘s style, but like, an artsy Ms. Frizzle. I like to wear lots of patterns, and dress in a way that can start silly conversations with my students. I also never wear anything too expensive because 1) teachers don’t have a ton of money to throw around, and 2) art is MESSY. My favorite things to wear in the art room are patterned dresses and skirts with sneakers or flats. Teachers rarely sit down, so I dress for movement. And I’ve worn splatter patterned leggings when painting murals, so the inevitable stains wouldn’t be noticeable, ha!”
What do you wear to work? We’d love to hear…
P.S. The best comfortable work pants and a $2 work lunch.