Every night before bed, my sister and I stand before our open wardrobes, whining in unison: “What should I wear to work tomorrow?” This dreaded question lingers like a spectre, robbing us of precious sleep. Some days, I resort to my trusty anime graphic tee and flared leggings—functional but hardly boardroom-ready. Given all the flack my fellow Gen Z-ites have been getting about what we wear to the office, I’ve realised that perhaps it’s time to find a more elevated everyday uniform. More office siren number one à la Gisele Bündchen in The Devil Wears Prada, less Portia from The White Lotus.
For starters, I looked to the runway, where the spring/summer 2025 shows were filled with #corpcore references. Bottega Veneta offered oversized blazers and slouchy trousers that pooled at the ankles, echoing childhood dress-up play. The same exaggerated proportions were visible at Stella McCartney and Issey Miyake—think power-shoulder blazers and roomy trousers with giant pockets. At the recent Lakmé Fashion Week, designer duo Shantnu & Nikhil also leaned into the ’80s-style blazer trend, while David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore’s first runway show for Satya Paul featured ties worn with tailored shorts and printed shirts. Talk about bringing the fun to the meeting. Clearly, even designers are thinking about what we wear to work. And they’re suggesting things that are just slightly more playful than your regular white-shirt-and-trouser combination.
Below, we’ve curated a set of essentials that ensure dressing for work no longer has to be a daily nightmare.
Blazers for the last-minute meeting
Sharp cuts, structured shoulders, and double-breasted designs—the blazer of today is all about power. Look to Simone Ashley and wear yours with a pair of jeans or even, dare we say, sweatpants, if you don’t want to do a full suit. And the best part? It can take you from a sudden meeting to an after-hours party.
