There are more than 260 work days in a year, and you have to find a polished outfit to wear for all of them. We feel your pain. That is why we turned to the stars who always look sharp and smart on and off the red carpet. Bookmark these effortless yet professional office-appropriate outfit ideas and stash them away in your work wardrobe idea arsenal. Trust us when we say, there is no shame in wearing these outfits on repeat.
ALSO READ: LUXE TWO-PIECES TO BUY FOR EASY STYLING THIS SPRING
This is the perfect outfit for those who are looking to break away from that formal corporate suit but still look put together at the same time.
When you throw in a formal clothing piece like a blazer in a non-traditional cut like local actress Carrie Wong’s boyfriend cut blazer, you can keep the ensemble from looking so stuffy. For a more fashion forward look, complete the outfit with cropped trousers which are great for petite girls and some leather slides.
If you are planning to wear this outfit to a meeting, swap in a blouse and a pair of block heels to look a little more polished.
Photo: Carrie Wong/Instagram
ALSO READ: HOW TO WEAR WHITE SNEAKERS LIKE FANN WONG AND JOLIN TSAI
Incorporating lace pieces to your 9-to-5 outfit can be rather tricky. To make your lace piece work for the boardroom (not bedroom), opt for a lace-detailed top or bottom with a muted colour palette like this pale pink lace trousers seen on local actress He Ying Ying.
The actress paired her trousers with a fitted long sleeved top and chunky heeled boots to balance out the delicacy of the lace. A structured ladylike bag in a nude or white hue will do this look justice.
Photo: He Ying Ying/Instagram
ALSO READ: LUXE TWO-PIECES TO BUY FOR EASY STYLING THIS SPRING
While some ruffled dresses can make a person look dumpy, a dress that is cinched-in at the waist like this one seen on K-pop singer Sunmi helps to accentuate the waist.
Sunmi played up the femininity of her breezy ruffled dress by styling it with a chic nude crossbody bag and nude kitten heels. You can accent your flowy summer dress with a statement making jacket like a leather jacket or an embellished jacket.
Photo: Sunmi/Instagram
ALSO READ: HOW TO WEAR WHITE SNEAKERS LIKE FANN WONG AND JOLIN TSAI
The future is female! The two-piece power suit is a godsend for those days when you just don’t want to think about what to wear but still want to make a lasting impression.
Rather than opting for your plaid and pinstripe options, go bold with a polka dotted suit like this one from Max Mara seen on local actress Jeanette Aw. If you want to elevate your outfit to new heights, give your feet a break from high heels and team the ensemble with a pair of white kicks.
Interested to see how your favourite celebrities style white sneakers. Read here. To add some edge to your get-up, swap the tank for a cool graphic tee that will earn you major street cred.
Photo: Jeanette Aw/Instagram
ALSO READ: LUXE TWO-PIECES TO BUY FOR EASY STYLING THIS SPRING
While the blouse and skirt combo seen on the “Descendants of the Sun” actress, Song Hye Kyo, is nothing new, the pussybow detail of the top and quilted crossbody bag make this standard feel fresh.
To make this workwear favourite a bit more youthful, swap out the crossbody bag and throw in a brightly coloured top-handle bag and off you go.
Photo: Song Hye Kyo/Instagram
ALSO READ: HOW TO WEAR WHITE SNEAKERS LIKE FANN WONG AND JOLIN TSAI
Bookmark this outfit for casual Fridays. The Victoria’s Secret angel, He Sui, makes her distressed fitted jeans work-friendly by counterbalancing the rebelliousness of the rips with a bell sleeve blouse. If you are planning to wear distressed jeans to the office, refrain from wearing one with rips that are too large or go way up above the knee.
Add some personality to your workwear and pair your outfit with a fun statement making accessory like He Sui’s earrings and you’re good to go.
Photo: He Sui/Instagram
ALSO READ: LUXE TWO-PIECES TO BUY FOR EASY STYLING THIS SPRING
Follow in local actress Hayley Woo’s lead and invest in a crisp white shirt dress – you’ll thank yourself in years to come. You can update the basic shirt dress with on-trend accessories like supersized earrings that will make all the difference.
For a more romantic look, swap out the boots for strappy heels and finish the look with loose waves and red lipstick.
Photo: Hayley Woo/Instagram
ALSO READ: HOW TO WEAR WHITE SNEAKERS LIKE FANN WONG AND JOLIN TSAI
Who says stripes on stripes on stripes couldn’t work outside of the weekend? To add a dose of sophistication to the tailored striped pantsuit, local model-actress Sheila Sim, completed her look with a pair of red stilettos.
If you have a pant suit, you can maximise it by wearing the pieces as separates or pairing it with a cropped top and laidback kicks for the off-duty hours.
Photo: Sheila Sim/Instagram
ALSO READ: LUXE TWO-PIECES TO BUY FOR EASY STYLING THIS SPRING
We’re telling you power suits are where it’s at. Chinese model Sun Fei Fei put a pretty spin on power dressing with her smart and well-fitted floral separates.
A tailored suit in a bright bold hue can help you to stand a little taller but keep the silhouette simple to be taken seriously in the office. Keep the rest of your outfit simple and top it off with a pair of metallic heels or velvety flats.
Photo: Sun Fei Fei/Instagram
ALSO READ: HOW TO WEAR WHITE SNEAKERS LIKE FANN WONG AND JOLIN TSAI
Taiwanese actress Ann Hsu’s knee-length dress is quite professional and can be worn in the workplace with black pumps. The universally flattering LBD can be dressed up or down and can be worn during the day or at night.
You can break up the monochromatic palette of the LBD and layer the dress with a moto jacket or cardigan or accessories to add depth and interest.
Photo: Ann Hsu/Instagram
ALSO READ: LUXE TWO-PIECES TO BUY FOR EASY STYLING THIS SPRING