You might work somewhere that gives you a lot of freedom in how you are able to dress and define your choice of uniform. However, there is a lot to be said for staying fashionable in your choices of workwear. There are lots of places that provide fashionable options for work uniforms, from high street stores to specialised suppliers such as Simon Jersey. What should you keep in mind when you’re trying to make sure your choice of uniform is as fashionable as possible?
Staple items to build around
There are certain items that don’t ever seem to go out of style. Plain trousers, shirts, jeans and blouses for example seem to be constant fixtures whatever the trend or whatever the season. Using these almost perennial items you can create a really strong foundation to build your workwear look from.
They can provide a strong base that you can change parts of to create a more seasonally fashionable look. For example, you could choose to wear a normal blouse but opt for a choice of trouser or skirt that’s more in fitting with the season’s current trend. Or, you might stick with a plain pair of trousers but wear a more fashionable and current choice of top. The idea is that you can mix and match these different elements to constantly mix up your uniform choices, meaning you remain fashionable at work but also avoid your uniform becoming monotonous. There might be very subtle changes to these core items as styles change over time, but you’ll often find that these more basic items remain constant, meaning they only really need to be replaced as they get worn or damaged over time.
Use seasonal colours and patterns
Keep an eye on the key colours and patterns that go with the current fashion trends. Incorporating these into your work wardrobe, either through one or two statement pieces, or your choices of accessories can help keep your working wardrobe current and on trend. These can potentially work in a similar ‘mix and match’ manner to the staple items you have in your wardrobe.
The key is to give yourself options and a sense of variety. However, keep in mind that your uniform is a reflection of your where you work. There might be some style choices and items that you can’t get away with. For example, you might not be able to wear certain colours if they don’t align with the branding for your employer, or they’re associated with a competing business.
The trick is to be mindful of these sorts of issues, and if you are unsure about whether or not something is suitable for work then ask your employer to either approve what you’re thinking of buying or offer some clarification on what is acceptable.
Keep an eye on trends
You should try to maintain an awareness of developing trends and be aware of when the shift from Spring/Summer to Autumn/Winter takes place. These are the key times to look at making changes to your wardrobe. Look at the major changes you can make to the pieces of your uniform. Think about anything that is a major addition and key piece for a season. For example, as the weather turns, and people opt for more winter-ready clothes can you incorporate any of them into your uniform? This might mean you have access to different knit-wear, or perhaps the accessories and prints you rely on aren’t as relevant anymore due to being much more summer focused.
Staying aware of what the current trends are and being mindful of them changing can be a huge help in making sure your workwear choices remain as fashionable as possible.
Evolve over time
Combining these different points can help you to create a range of workwear that evolves over time. This gives you a uniform that can change daily, from major shifts in style to more subtle tweaks thanks to splashes of colour and mixing up the accessories you twin with your outfit. Having a uniform that shifts in style and colour over weeks, months and years is a great way to avoid your workwear ever feeling dull or boring. Having a range of options allows you to pick out an outfit for the day that reflects your mood, your role, the business you work for and also stay current.
Most uniforms run the risk of feeling like they’ve taken some of the personality away from a person and made them feel like just an employee. Having the opportunity to play around and have a more fashionable and personalised choice of workwear can help avoid this, allowing you to feel more confident and engaged at work as result.