How to Look Put Together and Polished in a Casual Office

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last updated
in How Tos

While meeting a good friend for coffee one weekday morning, I was suddenly (and noticeably) taken aback by her choice in casual office outfit—think: college sweatshirt, jeggings, and T-strap Birkenstocks. She then explained to me that at her work (a predominately male tech startup consisting of only about 10 employees), the dress code was pretty much “no dress code.” While some people might thrill at the idea of being able to wear whatever they want to work, my friend shared her frustration. After all, there’s something to be said for how looking put-together can positively affect your attitude and mindset. For my friend, the tricky part has been figuring out how to strike a balance between looking polished and stylish, while still maintaining that not “trying too hard” vibe. So today’s story is for anyone in the same boat.

Scroll through to see and shop six casual office outfits that still look way polished.

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1. Belted Blazer + Skinny Jeans + Oxfords
(Image credit: Song of Style)

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2. Oversized Blazer + Cropped Jeans + Ankle Boots
(Image credit: A Love Is Blind)

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3. Printed Coat + White Pants + White Oxfords
(Image credit: A Love Is Blind)

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4. Little White Dress + Sandals
(Image credit: A Love Is Blind)

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5. Striped Shirt + Trench Coat + Jeans + Loafers
(Image credit: Atlantic-Pacific)

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Related: 31 Polished Office Looks for Every Day of the Month

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6. Matching Set + Pointed-Toe Flats
(Image credit: Gary Pepper)

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Next up, check out more office style stories. 

Nicole Akhtarzad Eshaghpour
Editor-at-Large

Since starting as a fashion intern in 2013, Nicole Akhtarzad Eshaghpour has held several roles at Who What Wear. She is currently editor at large, and in her present work for the site, she focuses on a mélange of shopping content, including her new-arrivals and Trust Me—Buy This columns as well as her weekly Trust Me—Buy This newsletter. Her interest in shopping spans everything from decoding the best luxury investments to discovering on-the-rise brands to trend forecasting, affordable fashion, and more. She holds a business administration degree from USC's Marshall School of Business and has been based in New York since 2017, when she moved from her hometown of Beverly Hills.