This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Valerie Dawn. Find them on Instagram at @valeriejardine15. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.

Lately, I’ve been seeing far too many people posting on TikTok their takes on trendy office friendly outfits or office-friendly inspo. Usually, these outfits are done by influencers who do not have office experience. Another thing to note is that school dress codes have gotten significantly laxer in the last few years. These teens are graduating from a school that allowed them to wear short shorts and tank tops and are expecting the workforce to allow the same thing. 

Part of the reason workplaces have strict dress codes is to help prevent harassment. The person wearing the outfit is never at fault for harassment, but from an HR perspective, if the outfit isn’t the problem, then it’s easier to handle these types of situations when they do arrive. Plus, the point of being at work isn’t to show off your skin and personal style, it’s to do the job! That doesn’t mean you can’t take creative liberties to give some flair to your office wear.

Here are some trendy office friendly outfits that will help you stay in style while maintaining the dress code!

Tips

Some things to keep in mind when crafting trendy office friendly outfits is how much skin is appropriate to show. It’s no secret that we are humans with body parts worth admiring. Choosing outfits based on strict guidelines will help you be comfortable without finding yourself in the center of an HR violation.

Avoid ripped or distressed jeans, exposing your midriff, and wearing graphic tees or other items with logos or brands. A lot of companies have a specific image in mind when it comes to their own personal brand. While office style may not reflect your personality, it’s important to dress for work and not yourself. Even with the trends growing and changing, unless your office gives you the go-ahead, stick to classic, office-friendly basics. 

Keep shorts knee-length, unless otherwise specified in your company’s dress code. If you want to opt for something shorter, take care to layer it with tights that are NOT skin-colored. A shorter dress with leggings or opaque black tights is technically fully covered. With shirts, we want to stay away from anything with a deep, plunging v-line or anything with straps (unless you layer!). A tank top is only acceptable if you are wearing it underneath a different shirt, you are wearing a cardigan you don’t plan to remove, or if you layer it over a shirt. 

With shoes, wear something comfortable for you that isn’t a pair of beat-up sneakers. And remember, there are obvious exceptions to these based on your job and respective dress code.

Summer

For a cute summer look, you can try a cropped shirt that covers your shoulders, to give a tank top look that is still professional. Pair it with either a fun maxi skirt or some statement pants. You can also opt for a fun, knee-length dress.

If the dress you want has spaghetti straps, you can always layer a mesh top underneath! If your office is on the colder side, pair it with a cute jacket too!

Another thing to keep in mind is how big the shirt or pants are. I am personally a big fan of little shirt, big pants, or big shirt, little pants. The difference in sizes of materials helps snake your outfit pop.

This outfit is a great example of a big shirt and little pants that still leave you covered. The skirt may be on the shorter side but the tights underneath help make this more professional.

Fall

Fall is the perfect time for sweaters and skirts. Neutral colors and shades of red and orange pop this time of the year.

Try layering a button-up with a sweater to get that academic look!

Winter

In the winter, it can be hard to know what to wear. My biggest issue was always dressing to be warm outside and then I became unbearably hot inside due to the heaters. A thin, long-sleeve top with a cardigan is the perfect outfit for this dilemma.

You can also try a fun sweater dress like this one!

When in doubt, layering is especially going to be your best friend this season. Just make sure the layers are practical; you can’t take the sweater off if all you have under it is a mesh top!

Spring

Spring is a fun time to dress in my opinion. Pastel pallets and cute accessories make for a great trendy office friendly outfit. 

This is also a great season to layer tank tops with button-ups! Try this combo with a cuter skirt and some tights. 

If your office allows jeans, take this time to experiment with fun colors (if allowed).

A sweater with a cute skirt is also a great option in the spring!

Accessories

Don’t be afraid to add accessories to show your personal flair. Most companies won’t mind accessorizing, and it’s a great way to stay in fashion and dress code. A fun bag to keep all of your stuff in, cute shoes that fit the standards, bracelets, and necklaces. Try adding a fun belt to a look with a dress or skirt.

My friend Reena is a pro at using statement earrings to add a fun flair to her outfits. In her words, “I use statement earrings to give a splash of personality to my office outfits. I love buying them from small businesses as well because it’s always good to shop locally and the handmade ones are always so cute. I also recommend matching your lip color to the earring color for an extra pop.” Give a pair of statement earrings a try with your next outfit, and maybe a fun lip combo!

Hopefully, some of these outfits have given you inspiration for some trendy office friendly outfits. When in doubt about an outfit, I would take photos of some of them and bring them to your HR department to ensure they are work appropriate. 

Do you have a trendy office friendly outfit we didn’t highlight? Let us know in the comments! 

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