Who says comfortable officewear can’t look professional?
As someone who works from home (or anywhere that has internet and sockets, really), I sometimes find myself in a random cafe in the mall early on a random weekday. All is peaceful… until lunch break hits. As if on cue, hundreds of people troop to restaurants, cafes, and food courts—looking for something to fill their stomachs for the day.
The IDs and lanyards they bear give away that they’re office workers, but that’s pretty much where the similarity in office attire ends.
Some wear uniforms. Some are dressed casually in jeans and hoodies. The rest are clad in crisp button-downs, tailored trousers, pencil skirts, and polished leather shoes. The variety in attire I see is proof that office fashion has changed, to a certain degree.
When professionalism meant formality
For decades, office fashion has often been defined by structure and formality. To look professional, you have to wear tailored suits, starched shirts, conservative dresses, and polished shoes. No sneakers. No loud colors. No spaghetti-strapped tops. No jeans, unless it’s casual Friday.
In many industries where the workplace revolves around tradition, hierarchy, and conservative corporate culture, wearing strict business attire projects competence, trustworthiness, and authority. Dressing the part was considered just as important as performing the job itself.
While a strict dress code does help establish a sense of professionalism, it also leaves very little opportunity for self-expression and comfort. Employees are expected to look polished from the moment they time in at work until they time out at the end of the day.
Never mind that looking polished isn’t always commute-friendly or ideal for long hours of sitting at a desk and moving between meetings. “Tiis ganda,” as they say.
How office fashion is adapting to the hybrid setup
These days, however, the conversation around office fashion is changing, and a lot of that has to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. When the world had no choice but to go on lockdown and keep people at home, suddenly, there was no need for formal officewear.
It’s been six years since the worst of COVID-19, and the world has adapted. Employees have returned to the office, and while some have gone back to wearing strict business attire four or five days a week—just as tradition and company rules dictate—others have embraced much different looks.
Because if there’s any change introduced during the height of the pandemic that managed to stick, it’s the hybrid office schedule. Employees now have the option to work from home on some days and report to the office on other days, and many find that ideal.
And yes, their outfits have started reflecting that flexibility, too.
It’s no longer uncommon to see comfort-driven office fashion that signals professionalism without rigidity. Employees are now looking for clothing that can survive tiring commutes, long hours at work, and even post-work activities without sacrificing style or professionalism.
So how can employees make modern workwear both comfortable and professional?
1. Breathable fabrics
When it comes to selecting comfortable and professional-looking clothing, it’s important to take a closer look at whether it’s made from breathable fabric. A good example of which is linen.
Linen remains cool even in high humidity—perfect for those who live in a tropical country like the Philippines. It also absorbs moisture well and dries relatively quickly. Linen commonly makes up button-down shirts, trousers, dresses, and even blazers.
Cotton is also a good option for a breathable fabric, as it is widely available in the market. It is soft, comfortable, affordable, and easy to maintain. Cotton is commonly used for polos, blouses, and casual dresses that can be layered with blazers for a more professional look.
2. Relaxed silhouettes
Aiming for comfortable office fashion means doing away with stiff-looking clothing that makes movement more difficult than it should be. Instead, go for clothing with relaxed silhouettes, as they prioritize comfort, ease of movement, and a less structured appearance while still looking polished.
Instead of opting for skinny trousers or slim-fit work pants, choose wide-leg trousers. The flowing silhouette allows it to have more room around the hips and legs, making it comfortable for sitting and commuting.
Even blazers can have a more relaxed fit. Traditional fitted blazers can be replaced by those with softer shoulders, straighter cuts, and looser sleeves for a professional look without being overly formal.
Another example of pieces with a relaxed silhouette is oversized button-down shirts. While they may risk making a person look messy and lazy, oversized button-down shirts are breathable, easy to layer, and can easily be office-appropriate when styled properly.
3. Shoes for commuting or driving
Shoes are an integral part of comfortable yet professional office fashion—specifically the kind that can withstand time at the office, long hours spent driving, waiting in line for transport, or standing in a packed train.
A good example of such shoes is loafers. They’re versatile, easy to put on, and still very professional-looking. It also helps that there are now lightweight loafers with cushioned insoles and rubber soles, which make them comfortable to wear.
For those who need shoes that are more formal than loafers, waterproof oxfords and leather boots are now available in the market. When it comes to Philippine weather, you never really know what you’ll get. It can be burning hot one minute and raining like there’s no tomorrow the next minute. Having waterproof footwear guarantees comfort even on the gloomiest of days.
Comfortable pieces to add to any professional’s closet
From waterproof leather shoes to relaxed fit blazers, here are some examples of officewear pieces that are comfortable and professional-looking at the same time.
Relaxed fit blazers: Zara Trendyol relaxed fit blazer jacket (for women), H&M relaxed fit jacket (for men)
Linen button-down shirts: Gap 100% linen oversized shirt (for women), Massimo Dutti extra fine regular fit linen shirt (for men)
Wide-leg trousers: Mango wide-leg suit trousers (for women), Uniqlo premium linen wide pants (for men)
Waterproof shoes: Hush Puppies Femi pump women’s casual shoes – black leather waterproof (for women), Florsheim Forecast waterproof plain toe oxford (for men)
