The Art of Dressing for the Office
Rebekah Nkirote's (@iamnkirote) guide on how to dress for the working week without sacrificing personal style.
There’s a version of “office dressing” that lives rent-free in the heads of minimalist, neutral-palette girls everywhere. You know the one.
It’s an all-black look: power blazer, black pencil skirt or cigarette pants, a pair of sleek pointed-toe heels (in my head, always a pair od black patent Oh Kate’s). It’s clean, so cool and feels very “She-E-O”.
But I think there needs to be a happy medium between “appropriate and professional” and personal, wearable style. There has to be a formula that feels like a uniform, and, if we’re honest, makes getting dressed easier at the crack of dawn. Don’t worry, this isn’t another capsule-wardrobe think piece. We’re just trying to find that balance that doesn’t feel like a costume of professionalism.
For me, my wearable uniform, whether it’s for work or anything else, always comes down to creating at least one moment of friction. A deliberate tension between two elements that shouldn’t quite work together… but do. And never in a chaotic way.
That push and pull is what actually elevates an outfit. Whether your style leans minimal, maximal, or somewhere in between, that subtle contrast is what takes a look from simply dressed to dressed well, especially in workwear.
Adding friction is easier than it sounds. Play with silhouettes. Introduce texture. Mix something structured with something fluid. As a modest, minimal girl, this has been the key to keeping my outfits from feeling bland. Because when you love beige and a maxi skirt, that’s a very real risk. Trust me.
So when FRASERS tasked me with pulling looks together from their new in section, a few key pieces stood out.
Written By: Rebekah Nkirote - Published: 06.03.26
The Boxy Blazer / Power Suiting
I hate to admit it, but there’s something about a padded shoulder, an exaggerated waist, a strong lapel, it does something to you. Suddenly you feel like you run a Fortune 500.
I’ve personally moved away from the overly oversized blazer and back toward structure padded shoulders, sharper lines, more intention. The ’80s girlies absolutely knew what they were doing.
Visible Texture
Statement dressing becomes ten times easier when texture does the heavy lifting. Box pleats. Ruched satin. Pony hair. Brushed suede. Textures you can rewear endlessly and, in the true test of wearability, take from day to night.
One of my favourite finds from Frasers has to be the ruched satin skirt from Ganni. It’s romantic, fluid, and just fun, the kind of piece that instantly brings interest to an office look. I styled it with a slouchy brown suede kitten-heel boot for a monochromatic finish that feels so chic with a midi skirt and a classic argyle fine-knit polo.
A box-pleat skirt will always have a place in my uniform. I love how structured yet playful it feels especially when paired with more understated pieces. Styling the Barbour Kirby pleated skirt with the “ugly shoe” of 2025 - the boat shoe - and a sweater vest felt like a playful, preppy way to reinterpret it
The Workhorse Bag
Now, I love a bag! I mean I’ve dedicated an entire year to building out my #BetterThanABirkin series, so of course I had to highlight the bag selection. Especially the mid-range and luxury brands that Flannels carry. So much to choose from!
When it comes to a work bag, I always lean oversized. Something that moves with you through seasons, works with multiple outfits, and still feels like a statement. I’m not talking logo-heavy or monogrammed, but proportion centric.
Styling an oversized cocoon coat with the classic Mulberry Bayswater felt like the perfect pairing. That beautifully structured shape in a soft peachy chalk against navy? Exactly the kind of subtle bit of friction that in my humble opinion makes any outfit feel a little more intentional but also look effortlessly chic? Which sounds like a contradiction but makes sense , right?
Overall I honestly don’t think workwear today is about the office. I thinks it’s a lot more about how you want to feel when you walk into any room, meeting or any space really, completely an entirely yourself!
So when it comes to creating your own workwear uniform or styling approach I doing think it should ever feel rigid or restricting. It should be able to flex, adapt just like your style, taste, personality and environment changes over the years, For me it’s sometimes a padded shoulder, a fluid satin skirt or choosing exaggerated proportion instead d predictability.
So with friction as my happy medium styling method, the point isn’t to reinvent workwear. It’s to refine it and elevate it with that deliberate tension that makes an outfit feel exciting but more importantly feels like me!