Work Smart: Where to Buy Office Wear for Your Wardrobe Upgrade

For many employees, “return to office” also means a return to office wear.  Fortunately, dress codes for hybrid work tend to be more relaxed. But many workers at all levels are still slowly replacing our work wardrobes – with a budget in mind.

You may need a different size. You may have gotten a new job, or even shifted careers. Or your Monday-to-Friday faves may simply be tired and needing a refresh

Whatever the reason, a good work wardrobe doesn’t have to cost your whole paycheck. Read on for where to buy office wear to look smart and snappy, whatever your asset class.

Also read: Best Job Interview Outfits for Women: the Proper Attire for 5 Industries

Know Your Dress Code

When it comes to office wear, be practical, but choose your clothes with care. Whether your field is conservative, high-style, or physically demanding, your wardrobe sends a daily message about you. Make sure it’s a good one.

Start with the office dress code. This is not just what’s in the manual, although that’s important. Observe your teammates and managers. How casual is “business casual”? When they say “ business formal ”, do they really wear matching suits?

Think of it as creating your own uniform: five days’ worth of clothes that you can just put on and go, knowing you look professional because the clothes fit you and your office environment. They should help you focus on your work, and feel confident, comfortable and ready to contribute.

Plan your search

Before you rush to the stores, a little planning can save you time and money.

Start by going through your closet to see which clothes still fit. If you just need to replace old favorites, good.

But if not, list the staples you need:

• How many tops, how many pants or skirts? Do you need a jacket for a cold office? Choose materials that are easy to wash and won’t wrinkle easily.
• Neutral colors (black, white, gray, blue, beige or brown, olive green) are easy to wear in different combinations. Stick to your favorites, so you won’t have to buy new accessories or accent pieces.
• Check your shoes. After years in storage, even high-end or barely used leather shoes can start to crack, falling apart at the worst possible time. Inspect all your office shoes to see if your favorite pairs need to be replaced.
• Once you know the pieces you need, browser prices online.  Many big clothing brands have social media pages, apps, and stores on Shopee and Lazada/Zalora.

List the prices and sizes of items you need, like a grocery list. Here’s a sample to start:

• Black tailored suit - You can also wear the blazer and pants/skirt separately
• Crisp button-down shirts: white, black, light or dark blue,  pinstripes
• Trousers: at least two pairs, in neutral colors, solid or very subtle stripes/checks
• Skirts: one black pencil skirt and a longer, flowing skirt in a neutral color
• Dresses: simple designs in solid colors, to be worn alone or under the blazers
• Shoes: for ladies, at least one pair each black and beige/skin tone. Flats if possible, comfortable heels if needed. For men, at least one pair of black office shoes.

• Bags: At least one daily work bag that is sturdy, good quality and in good condition. Look for a dark or subtly-colored fabric that you can easily keep clean.

Ready, Set, Shop

Big brands and department stores

The big mall brands are great for daily office wear. Visit your favorite store and try on your staple items in person to confirm that you still wear the same size. You can also have the items altered immediately, free or at a discount depending on the store.

Reliable brands include Uniqlo, Mango, H&M, Mossimo and Memo. But remember: brands are not important. You can even look into circular fashion for quality thrifted finds. Just keep the principles in mind, and you can always look professional. Stick to plain but good quality items and add a personal touch with accessories, jewelry, or jackets.

Apart from specific brands, both Landmark and SM have large selections of affordable office clothes for men and women. Their shoe and bag sections are also great for one-stop shopping, because they carry many brands at different price ranges.

Add to cart: online shopping for office wear

Hate malls and crowds? Then online shopping could be your best friend. Stick to brands you trust, where you know your favorite styles and exactly which size fits. This way you can buy in multiples: for example, two pieces of your favorite black pants. Add to cart a few days ahead of the big monthly sale. So at 12:01 on 9-9 you can check out without being distracted by impulse deals.

Still looking? Some online stores offer help from a personal shopper: a staff member to chat with you to find the items, sizes, and price range you’re looking for. They’ll help you choose items and even organize delivery, all by chat.

You’ll also find many online-only sellers with tempting bargains. But we’ve all heard the horror stories, so do some research first. On Shopee and Lazada/Zalora, you can check seller ratings (response rate, ships on time, etc).

For Instagram and Facebook Marketplace sellers, look at reviews and comments, or consider recommendations by other customers. You can also scan social media groups that report online shopping scams.

All good? Start with a small order, wash the clothes to make sure they don’t shrink or fade, and try them on. Once you’ve confirmed that they’re the quality, size and color you like, you can go back for more.

Outlet and export overrun stores

Outlet stores aren’t just for sneakers. Check your local outlet mall for office-friendly brands like Mossimo, Mango, Levi’s, Banana Republic/Gap/Old Navy, plus Florsheim, Naturalizer and Sperry, among others. Some athletic brands also carry plain bags or backpacks that you can turn into office bags.

Sometimes you will find small exporters stores that carry blazers and coats, especially in larger sizes. These are also where you can buy formal business attire for women, such as office dresses.

Come early in the day, and wear comfortable clothes and slip-on shoes for trying outfits. Always inspect your purchases carefully.

Focus: Where to buy men’s office attire

Men’s clothing very much depends on the individual company. Many offices allow dark knit polos; button-down shirts in casual prints like plaid or dots; khakis, and dressy dark sneakers and boat shoes.

For those who still dress more old-school, Uniqlo has a solid Back to Work range. Other men’s office staples are H&M Men, Zara Man, Arrow for shirts, and Dockers (found inside Levi’s stores). On a smaller budget, look for Wharton counters inside department stores.

Read more: A Gentleman's Guide to Dressing for Work

Outfit ROI: Spend Wisely

Invest in key accessories

Yes, this is about affordability. But consider ROI or cost-per-wear. A well-chosen, full-price item you wear daily is still a smarter buy than a sale item that’s not quite right.

For maximum impact, prioritize your accessories: office shoes, bags, watch, belt and ties if needed. Clients see and notice these. Buy the best that you can sensibly afford, from official stores or trusted sources.  Stay away from trendy designs that will be out of style within a year; avoid imitations, no matter how real they look to you. Choose subtle, businesslike styles and keep them polished and well-maintained.

If you’ve recently bought new clothes, make sure your shoes and work bag still go with the clothes’ shape and style, and are not worn out.

Do you have trouble finding shoes that fit? Consider having your office shoes custom made.  The price is often comparable to ready made imported shoes.

Dress for your age or size

Are you smaller, bigger, or do you look older or younger than usual for your office? If so, your clothes should recognize this.

Basic styles are fine, as long as they fit well and are age-appropriate. Many stores now have plus-size sections for men and women; some brands carry extended sizes on their websites. If you can, have your store-bought clothes tailored to fit you.

Make it a priority to look neat and professional, so that people can focus on your work instead of their first impressions or wrong assumptions.

Create a look that works for you, and you can crack any office dress code to look smart and polished. It’s just one more skill to master, along the way to the career you want.

All dressed up, nowhere to go? LetsGetToWork ! If you’re updating your wardrobe, why not update your JobStreet profile too? You can search for opportunities here or download the JobStreet app on the App Store and Google Play

Finally, don’t miss the rest of our Career Resources page, to help you make the best choices for work life. You’ll also find expert insights and advice to manage your mental health and well-being.