Starting a New Job? Dress Smart and Impress Your Employers: 10 Comfortable and Chic Work Dresses for Women Plus Tips to Choose the Right One!

Choosing apparel for office wear can be challenging, more for women than men, yet with a variety of options, work fashion is in abundance for women. When choosing business attire it is essential to be aware of your office dress code to avoid breaking any rules. For women, typically there are several official dress limitations that call for avoidance of wearing low cuts, short dresses, etc. However, such rules also depend on the kind of business the company is in. An alternative to following your office dress code could be to observe your peers or superiors to know what kinds of clothes are in trend and what works in the office.

You’d also research for appropriate business attire on the internet or in fashion magazines. From dressing up for a job interview to wearing clothes for a typical workday or an important business meeting, such options can be immensely helpful. Pinterest boards are yet another source to look out for workplace style trends.

In this day and age of changing lifestyles and fashion trends, Indian women are making waves in the corporate world and have evolved their fashion sense when it comes to dressing for work. In the old days, especially in the 70-80s’ eras working women had just begun rising the corporate ladder and in the 90s’ there was a remarkable change in work fashion.

The modern Indian woman took the ethnic Salwar Kameez as a convenient option for workwear and included other pairs like kurtis and trousers, churidar kurtas to the choice of work apparel. Young working women prefer wearing a kurti or a business suit to work as compared to a sari. They feel that wearing western attire to meetings make for a powerful style statement and also make it easier for women to be received well in the corporate arena. Compared to ethnic wear, formal business suits are easily manageable with trousers and wrinkle-free shirts.

Dressing up for work in India doesn’t mean you should wear dull or unattractive clothes, you’d be following the official style of dressing and yet come out looking like a diva. Women working for large multinationals in the country are used to seeing their foreign colleagues in business suits which combines a perfect mix of fashion and professionalism. This makes it easier for women to dress up chic and look attractive without flouting the official dress code! Most companies, these days allow casual business attire for women, over a Friday especially or even during the week. So it isn’t unusual to see working women in denim, tees and sneakers at work. However, if you’d like to opt for smart casuals at work, look for options that aren’t sloppy.

Even though churidar kurtis and formal business suits are much preferred amongst the young Indian lot in the realm of business, the neatly worn or pinned up sari is equally popular. Symbolic of dignity, elegance and respect, a sari is the much popular choice for office attires, especially in the education, healthcare and hospitality sectors. Whilst the sari was popular office wear back in the 1980s-90s, it was also worn out of a sense of social and cultural responsibility that was morally made imperative back then. If you like wearing saris, it is wise to become familiar with the type of saris you can wear to work. For instance, well starched and ironed cotton saris are an absolute favourite, as are chiffons.

Gone are the days when office wear was viewed more from a disciplinary standpoint and avoided fashion/attractiveness in the business world. Your choice of a sari, the colours, the accessories you can pair, etc can help you dress for success and be in line with the current fashion as well. It is best to choose earthy tones, neutral shades and pastel hues that not only enrich the environment but don’t call for unnecessary attention as well. Avoid wearing bold prints in bright colours. Your blouses should complement the saris, by being of the same colours of a softer shade, should be comfortable to wear and not adorned with too much embroidery or other embellishments. Go for boat or collar necks and long sleeves with edgy back designs. For your everyday office wear, you can choose sari fabrics like rayon, chiffon, dupion silk, georgette in light colours and prints.

Here’s a Red and Navy Blue Crepe Saree from Unnati Silks that is good for office wear. With a digital print that subtly blends into the colour combination, this beautiful faux crepe saree’s quite a trend these days and its print pattern personalizes your overall look. The saree is priced at Rs.1,800 and comes with an unstitched Navy coloured blouse.

Indian women find the Salwar Kameez ensemble comfortable, be it for everyday wear or special occasions. However, for business attire, you can make it more interesting by mixing colors and styles. Keeping in mind the trends, fashion, and official dress code, you can change your office look without compromising your individuality, the business dressing style, and your desire to stay connected with ethnicity. For instance, a collar neck ethnic kameez would look chic and when paired with a tight-fitting ankle salwar, it’d work for most body types, giving off an air of elegance in addition to glamour and comfort.

You’d further accessorize your look with some trendy jewelry but minimalist at that. Similarly, make your office attire stylish with a simple kurta in a straight cut, paired with palazzo pants with or without a dupatta. At work, you need to keep your attire simple and not too fancy. Whilst a cotton salwar kameez is ideal for office wear, you can replace the salwar with straight pants or churidar. Whilst a cotton salwar kameez is ideal for office wear, you can replace the salwar with straight pants or churidar. Alternatively, add a pop of color to an otherwise Solid-colored Salwar Kameez set from Funky Tradition in the color Peach, which comes with a digitally printed dupatta. Priced at Rs.1,649, not only is it easy on the pocket but also makes the ensemble richer with its glorious color and floral print combination. Avoid styling your kameez neck in plunging cuts. You’d also wear a plain koti with your kameez with confidence and create your own style! But, avoid wearing a koti with heavy work or mirrors as it may not be appropriate at work.

In an office, whilst attending a business meeting or a job interview, there are quite a few challenges in terms of business dressing. It is essential to strike a balance between professionalism and style and have clear segregation of smart suits, elegant separates, et all. When choosing formal shirts for work, invest in white and black colors as they work well with your basic wardrobe and then move ahead to include softer shades or deep hues for a different look.

Priced at Rs.2,790, Meraki’s Navy Blue Linen Shirt from Tata Cliq channels your smart personality and is a comfortable don for a busy day at work. Featuring a shirt collar and full sleeves, this formal shirt is both trendy and modern, best paired with a pair of white trousers and wedges for a classy business look. Avoid getting mixed prints. A plain formal shirt with a floral printed skirt or bottom may look appealing but a bright colored shirt with a pair of trousers or skirt with big prints may come off tacky! Invest in well-fitting shirts, which complement your body type, irrespective of their sleeves or collars. Further, don’t accessorize your business attire lavishly. Avoid flashy hair accessories or jewelry and be extremely cautious of jazzy handbags, makeup or footwear as well.

A formal skirt for office wear can be both feminine and business-like, and should ideally fall just above the knees, not be too tight or too short in the realm of business work. You can explore different cuts, colors, and fabrics and not limit yourself to just black or pencil cut skirts. A-line or flared skirts can also be equally professional and stylish, and you can pair them with solid-colored blouses or printed tops that complement the skirt colors. Ensure that the skirt doesn’t have high slits and it allows you easy movement and comfort. Different fabrics work for different seasons, for instance, linen and cotton are good for summers while wool or other heavy fabrics work well in winters.

For instance, this Tartan Skirt from FableStreet is a stylish asymmetric hem tweed skirt in Brown which will look really chic in winters. It is made of warm and wool-blend tweed fabric with a poly crepe lining and has functional pockets to hold your phone, with a side zip closure. Priced at Rs.2,895, the Tweed Skirt is best for winter office wear. You can also try different shades within the same color family for a refreshing vibe and pair your formal skirts with a great pair of shoes like statement sandals or classy pumps.

One of the traditional ways of donning a blazer is to pair it with a pair of formal trousers and a formal shirt or blouse. Bring on a powerful business look, complete with a high ponytail, silver jewelry, and pumps for footwear. If your office dress code allows for ankle-length pants, then you can team the blazer with those for casual Fridays in addition to a button-down shirt and perhaps choose a khaki blazer for a business look.

You can enhance your style by pairing an A-line skirt with a ruffled blouse and a matching suede blazer for office attire giving off a professional vibe whilst also working on your feminine side. Use layering technique to give off an elegant vibe at work with this subtle but classy Beige Blazer from Vero Moda. Priced at Rs.1,500, styled with a lapel collar and full sleeves, the solid colored blazer is a comfortable and versatile choice that can be donned both for formal and casual wear. Teamed with a stylish hairdo, the right shade of lipstick, and high heels and you’re set to roll heads in the corporate world as well!

Formal Trousers come in a variety of cuts and styles like a straight leg, cigarette-style, or boot cut. Choose a style that flatters your body type in addition to keeping the length of the trouser in mind. When it comes to colors, pick neutral hues that include black, navy, or grey. In terms of fabric selection, choose cotton blends.

For office wear, the length of your trousers should neither be too short nor too long that they cover your feet! They should also be wrinkle-free. Look for pants that aren’t low waist and can be paired with button-up shirts, the trousers should also not be figure-hugging or too flared. For instance, these Wine Wide Legged Trousers from Fab Alley priced at Rs. 1100 nails every look with their versatile make in wine and are a perfect fit for workwear, best paired with printed tops and block heels for a comfortable and all-day chic appearance!

Looking for a long formal dress may be a bit challenging. Business dresses should be well-fitting without them being too figure-hugging. Commanding, elegant and chic, a sheath dress reflects a serious business vibe and is best chosen, keeping in mind the length, neckline, and body complementing features. The solid Black Sheath Dress from Athena that’s priced at Rs.959 on Myntra is perfect as work attire, made with a sweetheart neck, puff sleeves, and straight hem.

Paired with a belt, it will make you the center of attraction when you show up in style wearing this classy piece with caged heels. You can dress it up further with a formal blazer, or accessorize it with some elegant jewelry. With an appropriate length that conforms to your office dress code, the dress should typically finish up at the knees or below and not be too revealing either. Whilst short-sleeved or long-sleeved dresses are ideal for business attire, sleeveless dresses can be worked with as well if you pair them with a shirt or sweater underneath or a blazer on top.

A business suit makes a woman look so elegant, exuding confidence in every move and sophistication as well. Available in a variety of colors, cuts, and fabrics, the business suit makes for the perfect business formal attire. Whilst light colors in soft material work well for day time business, rich dark colored fabrics seem ideal for evening events and meetings. The formal pantsuit makes dressing an effortless experience irrespective of whether you wear them together as a set or independent of each other. With a tailored fit and straight pants, the formal business suit in black exudes a charismatic look.

Priced at Rs.6,790, the Black Pantsuit from Fable Street comes with a lapel jacket with functional pockets and buttons, while the pants have a side zip closure. Irrespective of their pairing with trousers or skirts, a business suit provides an excellent option for women in a formal environment. Stick to neutral hues, plain fabrics, and minimal to no embellishments or adornments. Pair your business suit with court shoes and you’ll instantly create a sharp and stylish look! A tailored suit befitting your body shape and size will be ideal, failing which may end up look cheap and tacky.

The fashionable Indian woman may be modern in her outlook these days but is still quite rooted to the traditions, which best reflects in her attire. Perhaps that’s the reason why ethnic wear is still one of the most sought after attires be it for personal or official wear. In the business realm, you can wear chic kurtas or kurtis paired with salwars, churidars, or leggings.

This pretty Chevron Printed Straight Kurta from Limeroad is meant for office wear from the grey color family. Priced at Rs. 999, it is made in cotton fabric with a Mandarin collar and will look really smart paired with pair of straight pants. You can replace the salwars with kanhaiya salwars or palazzos as well, which would make the attire look smart and trendy. Pair your churidars with contrasting dupattas or play around with different fabrics for a stylish twist.

Selecting the ideal formal top is just as essential as choosing the right business suit. The formal shirt should be well-fitting and complement your suit color and fabric for a perfect business formal look. Independent of a business suit also, your blouse for formal attire shouldn’t be too big or bulky, shouldn’t be transparent, and are best when made in cotton or microfiber blends. Striped prints, patterns or bold colors look good for a stylish business look in office attire.

For regular office wear, keep the tops formal and mildly stylish and you can pair them with skirts or pants. For instance, this burgundy colored Women Burgundy Solid Peplum Top from Tokyo Talkies priced at Rs.824 is an in-season designed blouse that will make you both cool and fashionable. It is also perfect for warmer days paired best with a pair of dark-colored denim. You’d build for semi-formal looks for a few casual events and add blazers or coats for proper formal events.

In addition to clothes, shoes and accessories are equally essential in a women’s business attire. Your choice of footwear can make or mar your day and style, but comfort cannot be ignored in the same breath. With some smart shopping tricks, you can keep your feet comfortable without compromising on your office dress code or style!