Standin’ on Business: Five Officecore Essentials for Your Wardrobe

Just like your corporate-lingo-obsessed boss, fashion trends love to circle back. This time around, Y2K office core is back on the agenda. But it’s not business as usual– office core is not about bland basics or forcing people to wear business casual to the club (thankfully those days are behind us). Instead, office core is an updated, edgy take on Y2K corporate wear. While many office core runway looks are likely to get you a stern letter from HR, here are some key elements of the look that you can style off the clock.

Muted Colors

Miu Miu Womenswear SS24. Estrop/Getty Images.

An easy way to bring office core into your wardrobe is through a corporate color palette. Black, white, gray, and navy are go-to hues for capturing office core elegance. These colors are easy to mix and match with each other, but don’t be afraid to add a bright pop of color like red or blue to make the look your own. You’re the boss; make it work for you.

Pinstripes

When it comes to business attire, the pinstripe suit is a classic. But it’s time to loosen up the look a bit. Mix and match pinstripe separates such as blazers, waistcoats, and trousers to add some gravitas to a going out look.

Rectangular Glasses

Gisele Bündchen in The Devil Wears Prada. Everett Collection Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

Gisele Bündchen’s character is the pop culture poster child for this office core essential. Narrow, rectangular-framed glasses offer a sleek, sophisticated contrast to the oversized styles of the recent past. Spotted on trendsetters such as Bella Hadid and Amelia Gray Hamlin, these slender specs add smarts and sex appeal to any outfit.

Neckties

A cornerstone of the corporate wardrobe, neckties are making a major comeback. They no longer are your dad’s neckties (okay, maybe some of them are), but we’re not styling them in the same angsty way as Avril Lavigne either. Add a skinny necktie to tailored suiting for a crisp, professional outfit, or sport a massively oversized tie for a playful twist on an after-hours look.

Blazers

Ottolinger Resort 2024. Photo: Armin Rafili

Blazers have been a fashion scene staple for quite some time and are a great way to boss up your outfit rotation. Assert dominance with strong statement shoulders. Lean into a classy double-breasted option, or forget the conservative cuts, and go for one with cutouts instead. The crazier, the better!

Article by Ren Wilson, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Alexa Dyer, Graphic Designer, PhotoBook Magazine

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Style WatchAlison HernonDecember 7, 2023#fashion, #business, #wear to work, #office, #Y2K Office, #wardrobe, #muted colors, #pintstripes, #classic, #suit, #glasses, #rectangular, #neckties, #blazers