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Office attire has made a sharp shift and there’s no turning back. Remote and hybrid schedules delivered a decisive coup de grâce for staid styles that once ruled the boardroom. Instead, forced formality has given way to an intentional insouciance that puts bold colour, pattern play and striking silhouettes at the fore. Fashion vanguards like Smythe, Max Mara and Marc Cain have reimagined a fresh checklist for le bureau, inspiring a stylish new spin on desk dressing.
The Blazer
With its structured shape and sharp shoulders, the blazer’s fate was sealed long ago as an indispensable asset in any workwear wardrobe. What’s new, however, is that it has become the star of the show.
Cut in everything from hot pink hues to graphic houndstooth to tonal textures, Smythe’s versatile versions needn’t play a supporting role to a matching pair of pants. Enduring and elegant on their own, each beautiful blazer works well with classic black pants, sailor-style trousers and dark denim alike.
The Coat
As one of the most visible items in your wardrobe, a coat is the perfect place to let your personality shine. And eschewing neutrals in favour of something more memorable is easier than you might think.
Smythe’s emerald chevron pattern is an excellent example. Its clean lines carry the kind of chic that commands attention.
Similarly, Max Mara Weekend’s pale pink coat possesses a quiet power that adds instant polish, and pizazz, to any outfit.
The Suit
A classic, sophisticated signature, the suit has long cemented itself as a wardrobe workhorse. And thanks to its meteoric rise in popularity, it’s back on the trend list, too.
The sudden uptick in interest has little to do with timelessness though. Rather, it’s directional iterations, like Smythe’s checked 3-piece, complete with shrunken jacket, buttoned waistcoat and flared pants, that are drawing attention.
The same goes for Max Mara Weekend’s impeccably tailored powder blue set and Marc Cain’s creamy couple. They riff on tradition, while leaving plenty of room for modern rebellion.