Ahead of this weekend’s planned shopping trip, I’m sharing my musings on workwear style and shifting from business to business casual.
Photo From Original Post Here // Photo by Kimberly Graydon
Phew, it has been a LONG time since I posted about workwear. When the pandemic hit and work from home became the norm, I put a stop on purchasing workwear. My office didn’t do video calls and I wasn’t going to buy a bunch of blazers when I was working from my apartment all the time.
Eventually, we went back to the office – but then my boss announced he was retiring at the end of the Congress and I knew my next career steps were heading toward the private sector (you can read more about the new chapter in my professional career). But I didn’t know exactly where I’d end up and, most importantly, what their dress code would be. Once again, I didn’t want to spend money on workwear pieces that I didn’t know would 100% translate to my next job. I pictured myself with a stack of business attire and being told by my new company, “We’re more of a jeans culture.”
So what does this babbling all amount to? In short, I haven’t purchased any workwear pieces in about 3 years. And because my pieces are classic Capitol Hill staffer attire, I haven’t really needed to. But I’ll be honest and tell you some of my pieces, from shoes to tops, are looking a little worse for the wear and need an upgrade.
My new job’s office attire is “business casual,” which gives me almost a totally blank canvas. I’ve been doing a hybrid remote/in-person schedule at work and it’s time to bring new pieces into my workwear rotation.
This weekend, we’re hitting the shops. I’ve been so used to sheath dresses, blazers, and pencil skirts and I’m excited to breathe some new life (albeit still classic style) into my closet!
