When you think of women’s workwear, you probably imagine a few key items: namely, a fitted blazer; a pair of tailored work trousers; a simple, professional blouse; and a pair of business-appropriate shoes – maybe stilettos or leather loafers.

However, while this uniform may feel like the perfect outfit for women who work in ultra-corporate settings, there are plenty of us who work in sectors that are a little more laid-back. 

While you might imagine that dressing for a creative job would be easier, it can actually present us with a range of new, unexpected problems. After all, dressing for the creative sector is all about finding a balance between casual creativity and professionalism. Is this T-shirt too casual? Is this blazer too formal? Are these trainers appropriate? are all questions that probably run through your head each morning as you rifle through your closet.

While women in the corporate world have a list of clear-cut fashion rules to follow each morning, things are a little more blurry for those of us in creative sectors. So, we spoke to three stylists to get some tips on how to find the perfect balance.

Why is dressing for a creative role so hard?

First thing’s first – let’s talk about why dressing for work in a creative field can be so challenging.

As celebrity stylist Miranda Holder notes, people in the corporate world tend to know what they should be wearing. “With ultra-corporate dressing, the rules are already set; there’s an unspoken style uniform which takes the guesswork out of what to wear to the boardroom, reducing dressing-related decision fatigue in the mornings and helping us to feel professional and on the ball, as we power-dress our way through the day in sharp tailoring,” she says.

“At the other end of the scale, super casual implies a sense of sartorial freedom which is hard to get wrong – within reason, anything goes.” However, with some creative roles, the rules about what’s appropriate lie somewhere in the middle.

“The rules are unclear, leaving plenty of room for uncertainty and fashion faux pas,” she says.

According to personal stylist Emmeline Stevens, this middle ground is tricky because there are a lack of boundaries.

“In the workplace, if you don’t give clear boundaries, I think people find it hard to know how to express themselves through their clothes,” she says. “Naturally, not many companies give their employees boundaries unless they require a uniform and the words ‘smart-casual’ are commonly used.”

A lot of her clients get stuck trying to strike a balance between ‘smart’ and ‘casual’. “There is never usually a script or a visual of what exactly smart-casual means, so individuals have to work it out for themselves – it can vary from jeans and a T-shirt to blazers and blouses.

Siena Barry-Taylor, a fashion expert at Thrift+, explains that the idea of ‘professional workwear’ has also shifted over time, making things even more complicated.

“The lines have become blurred about what ‘professional’ and ‘unprofessional’ looks like,” she says. “With the rise of ‘WeWork start-up culture’, we are seeing hoodies and jeans as the uniform of super successful CEOs. Plus, the pandemic has made a lot of us question why we need to dress a certain way for work at all.”

“Dressing up has become dressing down, with heels swapped for trainers and so many more premium fashion brands rushing to collaborate with sportswear companies,” she adds. “We’re also seeing low-rise trousers and casual outfits ruling the biggest awards nights and red carpets.”

In other words, casual looks have become acceptable even in more corporate settings – so, finding a look that works for a more creative role is even more complicated than ever.

Pieces every creative could use in their closet

So, dressing for a creative role is about striking a perfect balance between casual and corporate all while expressing yourself and feeling comfortable. It’s a lot to think about, but with the right elements, you can create a capsule wardrobe that will always have the right elements to mix and match.

“Think of the work section of your wardrobe as a capsule wardrobe,” says Stevens. “Have a variety of styles that are:

1. Suitable for the workplace

2. Represent your style

3. Work together, in synch with each other”

According to Barry-Taylor, some basic essentials for creative workplaces include:

• White shirts and T-shirts: these still look crisp and look great with loose-fit black trousers or jeans.
• Jumpsuits
• Clean trainers
• Blazer: this always helps elevate a very casual jeans and jumper outfit
• Trench coats
• Tailored trousers
• Accessories: the best way to add professionalism with personality – think chunky belts, statement shoes and bags

Play with mixing elements that have different ‘levels’ of casual-ness.

“For example, adding a staple day-jacket to jeans and a T-shirt can smarten up the overall look,” says Stevens, “while wide-leg trousers with trainers and a casual shirt balances smart-casual perfectly.”

And don’t be afraid to play around until you feel comfortable. Depending on just how relaxed your workplace is, experiment with unusual colour combinations or bold accessories – whatever makes you feel your best.

“A final word of fashion wisdom,” adds Holder, “which might seem obvious but does get missed a lot in our busy lives – make sure that every garment, no matter how casual, is well-maintained.”

Whether it’s a casual T-shirt, a pair of trainers or a fancy blazer, the condition of your clothes can really make or break the outfit.

“Creases, loose threads, stains and scuffs will instantly cheapen any look and give the impression that you don’t really care,” she says. “The great Tom Ford once said that ‘dressing well is a form of good manners’, and there is nowhere that is more applicable to this quote than the workplace.”

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Images: Getty