10 Ways To Upgrade Your Work Wardrobe
We wake up and we run through our morning routine.
Whether it’s going for a run, eating breakfast, watching the news, taking a shower (hopefully), or whatever else it may be, we’ve made a habit of it.
And for most of us, we tend to do the same thing for our work wardrobe, unfortunately.
This approach especially effects those of us who work in a semi-formal, corporate environment, where we’re forced to wear some type of societal uniform to “look the part.” Dressing in such a way tends to have its limits, making it difficult to get creative without crossing the proverbial line in the sand. But style is style, right?
One should never feel confined by their job or the style influence it may have on others. Style is all about self-expression and exploration, even with a suit-and-tie combo. Some style hacks help keep your appearance clean and fresh, unlike Larry in the cube next to you. Some can easily help add your own touch that some may not notice. But those that do will recognize you are your own boss—at least in terms of style.
So put your mark on your office attire with these 10 Style Hacks to Enhance Your Work Wardrobe.
1. Have to wear a tie? Spice it up with a cool tie clip.
Facebook/TheTieBar
Sometimes a tie can make or break the desired aesthetic that you are trying to achieve with your wardrobe. But how many times is your tie alone going to tszuj it up to your liking? Toss in a funky or makeshift tie clip to add just enough of a coolness factor back into your outfit.
2. Keep a neutral-colored sport coat in your car or office at all times.
You never know when the boss hog is going to stroll into your office and want to meet because you’ve showcased “spunk” or “initiative” or one of those other buzzwords big bosses like to use. You probably won’t be able to plan for it, but by keeping a navy blue or tan sport coat that can virtually go with anything in your office at all times, you will always be prepared.
3. Have rubber grips tailored in the waist of your pants to keep shirts tucked in.
There may not be anything more annoying and uncool than when your shirt comes untucked, making you look like a slob. There are countless ways to try and keep everything in place, but one way that is proven to help is to have rubber grips sewn into the waistband of your pants. If your pants fit nice and snug, then it will help prevent your shirt from coming out every time you lift your arms up.
4. Consider a mid-weight wool for a four-season suit.
If you can afford a nice suit for every occasion under the sun, then maybe you don’t need style hack advice after all. But if you’re like the other 99 percent of us, you’ll want to make an investment that is versatile. By buying a mid-weight wool suit, you gain a perfectly suitable four-season suit that can handle scorching summer days and easily adapt to the coldest of colds with a few layers tucked underneath.
5. Keep a stain-removing pen on you at all times.
Stains are basically unavoidable because you are a closet slob. You’ve done a good job of hiding it thus far, and a stain-removing pen will help you keep your dirty little secret. The essential little accessory does a great job of getting rid of pesky little marks that you know your co-workers are staring at whenever they look at you.
6. Sit down when trying on a dress shirt to see how it really fits.
Even when you’re in the store physically trying things on, it’s difficult to really know what you’re getting. There are a lot of things to consider when trying on shirting—especially dress shirts—and simply standing up in a dressing room won’t quite cut it. When going for a slim-fitting shirt, try sitting down with the shirt buttoned up to your liking. This is the best way to see how it will sit on your body as you slump down, expanding the width of your upper body (as in, make yourself fatter). If the buttons are pulling, then the shirt isn’t right for you, brother.
7. Keep some wrinkle remover at your desk.
You are a shaker and a mover. You’re climbing the corporate ladder and garnering the respect of upper management. But a lot of that shaking and moving is done while sitting, and is thus wrinkling all of your clothes, which won’t help keep you moving up the ranks. Keep a bottle of store-bought or homemade wrinkle remover spray at your desk for those times when you look like you’ve put yourself through the office shredder.
8. Get stubborn dirt marks off your suede shoes with a nail file.
Your brown suede shoes are one of your most prized possessions, and they’re usually the highlight of your work wardrobe, no matter what color you wear them with. The worst color to wear them with, however, is “dirt.” As in the big dirt spot on the toe that you obtained while taking that stroll during lunch. You don’t want to use soap and water to rub it out in fear of permanently ruining them. Instead, try a plain, uncolored nail file to rub out the stains while maintaining the natural grain of the suede.
9. Refresh your old, boring buttons with new, mismatched ones.
Who says that you always have to be conservative with your button-down shirts? You don’t have to go H.A.M. and cut off the sleeves or add spikes to the shoulders, but you could try on some subtle swag by replacing those regular, monotone buttons on the placket with mismatched ones. You could even keep the top buttons off and replace them with colored enamel safety pins for a whole new customized look that most of your coworkers wouldn’t expect.
10. Push the limits of Casual Friday.
Facebook/Men’s Street Style
Look, you know as well as anyone that there is only so much that you can accomplish, style-wise, during the week while going through the doldrums of Corporate America. So why not go for gold on Casual Friday? This is really a chance for everyone to see how stylish you are when you aren’t putting fire-ass presentations together or sucking up to your boss while talking crap about them behind their back. Don’t feel like you need to hold back unless there are super-strict dress code rules for that one special day of the week. Because, if that’s the case, we advise you to get the hell out of there.
[H/T: Business Insider]
