After months and months of chunky sweaters, clunky boots, and bulky coats, spring fashion can be just as refreshing as sunny weather and warm rains. But if you work in an office, it can be hard to make that translation to your 9 to 5 wardrobe – especially if you’re an intern or fresh out of college and you’re still a newbie at dressing for work.
Just look at the reigning trends on the runways right now – shoulder cutouts, off-the shoulder tops, and whatever this is. Perf for class or studying on the quad, but good luck pulling those off in a board meeting.
The good news is, there are several trends every spring that can work for work with some clever styling and thoughtful accessorizing. They will do wonders for pulling your work wardrobe out of the winter blahs. This season, those trends are light stripes, white shirtdresses, and utilitarian khaki.
Light Stripes
Products: Blouse – Express | Pants – Miss Selfridge | Bag – Nine West | Nail Polish – Bluefly | Lipstick – ULTA | Earrings – Target | Eyeliner – Sephora | Heels – J.Crew Factory
These soft stripes in light colors are conservative but ultra-feminine and fresh for spring, making them a great choice for anyone who works in a more conservative office. Try pairing a sweet ruffled blouse with some wide leg pants and nude kitten heels (extra style points for knee-high slits if your office is a little more lax).
A minimal bag with silver chain details and some modern hoops give this look even more fashion-forward oomph, while red lipstick and yellow nail polish provide an office-friendly dose of trendy color.
White Shirtdresses
Products: Vanity Frames – H&M | Rollerball – Nordstrom | Blush – Sephora | Dress – Land’s End | Necklace – White House Black Market | Bag – Zulily | Flats – Neiman Marcus
A white shirtdress is the perfect LWD style for work. I really love shirtdresses for easy dressing – they don’t require much accessorizing but are the perfect blank canvas for your style if you’re feeling extra jazzy, and they look sharp paired with anything from nude neutrals to pastels to bold prints.
For a cute neutral look, pair a shirtdress with strappy black flats, a sleek neutral bag, and smart vanity frames. A super pink blush provides a youthful pop of color, while a lariat necklace adds another trendy element. Finish with a fresh floral perfume before you head out the door for your commute.
Utilitarian Khaki
Products: Trousers – Dorothy Perkins | Bag – River Island | Blazer – H&M | Rollerball – Macy’s | Blouse – Roxy | Necklace – Macy’s | Booties – Topshop
No lie – utilitarian khaki can be a tall order for the workplace, because it can skew military or punky and thus, ultra casual, which won’t fly for a lot offices. If this trend is on your radar, pick pieces in an army green color with slinkier cuts and fabrics, like the trousers shown here. When paired with more conservative pieces, like a men’s blazer and button-ups, they’ll look cute and youthful without being too casual.
Finish the look with cute embroidered booties (another major spring trend), a textured black bag, and rose-gold jewelry.
What do you think?
What are you favorite trends for spring? How do you inject a bit of spring into your work wardrobe? Would you wear any of these looks? Let me know in the comments below!